Some dogs are master escapologists, capable of slipping a leash and getting out of the dog park in the blink of an eye. Others can dig under, jump over, or chew through garden fences and other barriers.

Whatever your dog’s chosen method of escaping your grasp, a GPS tracker enables you to determine their location at any time. Some double up as daily movement trackers, measuring the total distance covered by your pet. If you’re curious how far you walk with your pup, or you are encouraging a strict daily walking regimen for your furry friend, one of these exercise GPS collars enables you to track the distance your dog covers, rather than the distance you cover.

Buy a GPS collar according to how long the battery lasts, the tracking method used by the collar, and whether it offers additional features like step tracking.

There are a lot of GPS collar options available, including those from brands like Garmin and even Black and Decker. To help ensure that you choose the device that best fits your needs, and those of your dog, we have put together reviews of the 10 best dog GPS trackers and collars.

A Quick Glance at our Favorites of 2024

The 10 Best Dog GPS Trackers and Collars

1. Whistle Go Explore Dog GPS Tracker – Best Overall

The Whistle Go Explore is a GPS tracker but it can also help your dog get fit. It uses AT&T’s cellular network, combined with Google Maps, to pinpoint your dog’s position. You can set a safe zone so that if your dog leaves this area, you receive an alert message warning you. The tracker records positional data and, using the app, you can see where your pooch has been over the past 24 hours. These services do come at a cost, and as well as a moderately priced GPS tracker device to buy, you have to pay a monthly subscription to AT&T to enjoy tracking and coverage.

The device itself has a decent battery life, with a single charge lasting up to 3 weeks. It has a buckle fitting and you can set fitness goals for your dog to achieve. The tracker is waterproof up to 6 feet and it even includes a night light to make it easy to find your dog if he goes missing when it’s dark.

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2. Cube Shadow Bluetooth Tracker – Best Value

The Cube Shadow Bluetooth Tracker is cheap, works via Bluetooth so does not require any monthly subscription, and it is rated as waterproof. The Cube is really just a GPS tracker that is designed to keep any item safe, and this can include your dog. It is light and small enough that it can even be used on your cat in the same way, although if yours is an outdoor cat, the 200-foot range likely won’t be enough.

The device can connect to a cell phone app or other mobile device and will ring to alert you of the device’s last known location when it goes out of range. Alternatively, you can use the app and have the Cube emit a ringing noise to let you know where it is. It is very light, inexpensive, and it doesn’t require a monthly subscription fee, but the ringer is quiet and a feature that is best for use when hunting for lost keys or a lost wallet.

Although the manufacturer claims the battery will last for a year, it will only last for 2-3 months, and the tracker isn’t pinpoint accurate, although this is less important when trying to find a dog. Overall, the low cost and lack of a subscription make this one of the best dog GPS trackers and collars for the money.

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3. Halo Collar Wireless Dog Fence GPS Tracker & Activity Monitor Dog Training Collar – Premium Choice

This GPS Tracker and Activity Monitor Dog Collar from Halo allows you to create a wireless dog fence instantly with just a few taps on the Halo Collar App. Halo’s proprietary AI-driven GPS uses machine learning for accurate wireless fence creation and allows you to build unique wireless fences that can be accessed anywhere you go—even without Wi-Fi or cellular connection.

The Halo app also helps you track your dog’s activity levels on a daily, weekly, and even monthly basis. Lastly, Halo’s training program is developed by renowned dog behaviorist Cesar Millan to help you not only build a bond with your dog but support positive habits too.

The only downside we found is that some owners claimed the boundary setting would “drift” at times, sending alerts that the dog was outside the boundary when it actually wasn’t.

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4. Jiobit GPS Dog Location Monitor

The Jiobit GPS Dog Location Monitor is a dog tracker that uses a combination of Bluetooth, GPS, Wi-Fi, and cellular technology to monitor your dog’s position and alert you if he escapes or gets lost.

It can monitor location indoors and outdoors, and thanks to the combination of tracking methods, it isn’t restricted by walls or other items. The device is light and will easily and conveniently connect to your pup’s collar. It has an unlimited range and the rechargeable battery will last for around 7 days before it needs recharging. You can set up geofenced areas, receive alerts as soon as your dog leaves those areas, and you can enjoy live monitoring and tracking to see exactly where your pet is, whenever you want to.

The device is expensive and you will require a subscription to get the most from its features, especially if you want cellular tracking, and the 7-day charge duration isn’t great, but it is an effective device and does have some very advanced features.

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5. Link AKC PLUS Sport GPS Smart Dog Collar

The Link AKC PLUS Sport GPS Smart Dog Collar is an attractive leather collar that includes a host of features. It works as a GPS tracker, although this does require a monthly or annual subscription to allow you to locate your dog away from home. The tracker itself is 5 inches long and bigger than most other comparable devices.

While this won’t impede a larger breed, because it does curve around the natural shape of your dog’s neck, it will prove cumbersome for smaller breeds. It has a bright LED night light, too, and the app will even advise you how much exercise and how often, according to the breed, age, and other factors, your dog. You can track walks, take pictures using your phone’s camera to log your walk, and it has a few other features.

There is a note-taking feature of the app that lets you record details like the last time your pup was de-flead or the last time he went to the vet. You can even receive notifications of extreme temperature changes. However, these features come at a cost, and this is not only a steep one-off cost but an ongoing monthly cost, too.

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6. Tractive LTE GPS Dog Tracker

The Tractive LTE GPS dog tracker is a GPS tracker that uses the LTE cellular network for tracking. You can set up a geofence zone and receive live alerts as soon as your dog leaves the designated area. The app also enables you to see a full history of the locations your dog has visited, so you can see where he goes when he gets out and potentially use this information to help prevent further escapes.

The activity monitor also allows you to monitor your dog’s activity level and determine whether he needs more or less exercise. The tracker is moderately priced, and you can choose subscription lengths as short as one month, allowing you to test the service without committing to a full year. The trackers also automatically update every 2 minutes, allowing you to find your escaped dog quickly. Even better, if you activate the live mode, the updates are instant.

Unfortunately, the device is quite cumbersome and not as attractive as other trackers. Plus, it does require a subscription to use.

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7. FitBark GPS Dog Tracker

The FitBark GPS Dog Tracker is a moderately priced GPS tracker that is small enough to fit on most collars. It has an embedded Verizon 4G LTE-M sim card. You will need a subscription to benefit from the tracker and safety features of the device, but this is true of most similar devices. However, because this uses Verizon’s network, you will need to check whether you get decent Verizon coverage in your area. If not, the network may not recognize the tracker, which means that you will not receive alerts or reliable location updates.

The FitBark allows users to set up multiple Wi-Fi safe places, which means that you can establish geofences at your home, at family and friends’ houses, at the kennels, and at other locations, and have the app message you whenever your dog leaves these locations. It will also track activity levels, can be set up with individual targets and goals, and can be integrated with your own FitBit or another fitness app.

The range of features and how well they work highlights this as a device that is better suited to those looking for a canine fitness device rather than a GPS tracker.

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8. Garmin T5 GPS Dog Collar

The Garmin T5 GPS Dog Collar is a GPS tracker device. It has a range of 9 miles and does not require a monthly fee, which is good considering the initial price of the device is easily the most expensive on our list.

To work over this kind of distance, the collar does have an antenna, which is far from subtle and may be prone to chewing and potentially even getting caught. It also requires the purchase and use of a separate Garmin transmitting unit for the collar to work. The batter has a life of about 40 hours, which is lowered considerably if you use the bright LED lights that provide extra visibility.

This is a serious collar that will prove useful for hunters and even for service dog handlers, but its high costs are prohibitive and are further compounded by the necessity to buy a very pricey transmitter unit as well as the collar itself.

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9. Dogtra T&B Dual GPS Tracking Collar

The Dogtra T&B Dual GPS Tracking Collar is a rather expensive GPS collar that is aimed primarily at hunters and service dog handlers.

The bright orange hard collar may be uncomfortable for a lot of dogs, but it is waterproof and is colored bright orange so should be visible in the limited visibility of a dense forest or other location. It has a 1.5-mile range, and it operates as a training collar with 127 levels of vibrating stimulation, plus Momentary Nick, Constant Stimulation, Non-Stimulating High-Performance Pager Vibration, Beeper Point-Only, Run/Point, and Locate modes. You can create a geofence and receive live alerts when your dog leaves the area.

While this unit is very expensive and doesn’t require the purchase of an additional device, it won’t work with smaller dogs—it’s only suitable for dogs 35 pounds and up.

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10. PLAYPET Dog Training Collar

This dog training collar from PLAYPET has 3 distinct training modes to cater to your specific training needs, with almost no delay in response. The collar also features a beep for auditory cues, a vibration mode, and shock levels ranging from 1 to 16 when necessary.

It has a range of almost 3,000 feet, so provides great options whether you’re training your dog indoors or outdoors. Plus, the receiver collar and remote control both have a battery life of up to 10 days, so you don’t have to worry about charging too often.

Unfortunately, only the shock level can be controlled, not the volume or vibration intensity. Plus, it’s an expensive choice when compared to other options available.

• Related Read: Does a GPS Implant for Dogs Exist?

Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Dog GPS Tracker

Some dogs have a serious sense of wanderlust. They will take every opportunity to dig, jump, or otherwise escape from the confines of their garden or home. They may try to escape when let off their leash while at the dog park, or while you’re out hunting or partaking in some other activity with your pet pup. GPS trackers make it easier to locate your dog, minimizing the time they’re left to fend for themselves and making your task easier. Some models may offer additional features, such as fitness and activity trackers, 2-way audio, and even the ability to integrate the collar’s fitness tracking with your own fitness tracker activity.

Connection Methods

The primary purpose of GPS collars is to track or monitor the location of your dog. You could monitor your dog’s position because they have gone missing or got out of the yard, or potentially to check that the dog walking and pet sitting service is giving them regular exercise. In any case, the following tracking and connection methods are available:

See Also: 10 Best Fi Dog Collar Alternatives : Reviews & Top Picks

Conclusion

GPS collars come from a variety of manufacturers, including Garmin, who are well-known in the GPS tracking world, Black and Decker, who are better at making power tools, and Whistle Go, who benefit from having several generations of GPS tracking collar behind them. This selection can make choosing a decent tracking collar a difficult decision.

As well as considering features like tracking method and range, you will have to decide whether you want a simple Wi-Fi device that barks an alert when your dog leaves the range of your home network or something with full cellular coverage but that requires a monthly subscription. Hopefully, our reviews have helped you find the device that best meets your requirements, the activity levels and escapology skills of your dog, and your budget.

Whistle Go’s experience in making effective GPS tracking collars really shows and the Whistle Go Explore GPS collar is the best model we found. If you’re on a tighter budget, or you only have relatively basic tracking requirements, the Cube Shadow Bluetooth Tracker is a discreet, light, and cheap alternative.

Related read: 7 Best Cat GPS Tracker in the UK – Reviews & Top Picks