Whether he’s been gone hours or days, or maybe never come back at all, if you have ever lost a pet then you will know that unbearable sense of anxiety associated with losing your furry friend. Not knowing where to look when your four-legged friend goes missing can be greatly distressing, but with a dog GPS collar you can save yourself from unnecessary worry.

With ever-increasing demand, the market for GPS collars is growing. Currently there is not a great range of different collars to choose from, and those collars being marketed are generally quite big still. Advances are quickly being made however, that will allow manufacturers to produce smaller, cheaper and more effective trackers.

GPS Dog Collar

Different collars use different combinations of radio, satellite and cellphone coverage, and sometimes all three to ensure optimum tracking ability. Because they are designed to be worn by pets, they are usually made to be extra durable and water resistant.

Hunting dogs present the biggest market for pet GPS collars. They are helpful for hunters, as they save what otherwise might be hours of searching for a dog that has chased its quarry down a hole or into a cave. While they might be easier to find when howling at a tree-bound critter, a GPS collar for hunting dogs will provide accurate information as to their whereabouts.

The best collars currently on the market for hunting dogs are probably the Garmin range. They offer collars and harnesses in a variety of styles, sizes and capabilities. Each utilizes an array of tracking mechanisms to provide data on your dog’s position across a range of terrains. The Garmin Astro system makes use of the most up-to-date technology. They have incorporated weighted collars that will always point to the sky, for the best transmission, and a hand-held device that will receive updates of the dog’s position on a five-second basis. It will even be able to indicate if the dog is standing or sitting, treeing quarry or on point.

Naturally, not every pooch is bred to be a hunting hound, but that doesn’t mean that the household pet is any less precious. For those worried about Houdini-style escapes or theft of their pet, there are a range of devices that can alert owners of missing animals. Generally they work like this: you establish a “safe zone, ” like your backyard, and program this into the tracking device. If Fido leaves the yard, you will receive an instant SMS alert.

After this you can either call the company’s information line and have an operator give you instructions leading to your pet, or you can access their website for ongoing support. Those who have internet capabilities on their cellphone will benefit most from this feature. Alerts are also given if the collar’s battery power is running low.

PawTrack makes a good brand of dog GPS collar for smaller breeds of dog, as this company has chosen to focus on producing small, lightweight devices that won’t weigh your dog down. Also highly recommended are brands such as Petsafe, Retrieva and Tracker.

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