Geo Fencing and GPS Dog Collars

Geo-fencing and Tracking Your Dog Using a GPS Collar

GPS Collar

Forget about the chip for locating your lost pets. With a GPS tracking collar, you can now know where your pet is at any moment from a number of new GPS/GSM pet tracking devices and products. These devices can alert you by way of phone, email, IM, SMS or pager giving you details on the location of your pet.

This is a relatively new application for GPS but one we're quite ready for. Pet chipping, where a pet wears an implanted microchip using radio frequency technology to id itself, is becoming a dated technology. Microchipped pets can take weeks to turn up, if at all. Dogs with a GPS collar attached can give their owners a precise location of their whereabouts with just a few key presses on a cell phone.

GPS Dog Tracking Products

Devices like that of Global Pet Finder offer allows you to load an address with boundaries to which your dog may roam into your dogs tracking device. If your dog roams too far, you'll receive automatic updates to your cell phone every 15 seconds alerting you of the position of your wandering dog. With their service, you'll also be able to track your dog's movements online using their geo-fencing software.

Petsmobility ™ is soon to be offering the first waterproof cellular phone for pets. This isn't just your ordinary cell phone however. PetsCell™ has one key that when pressed, auto-dials the owner and allows for two-way communication. It will also be equipped with GPS for geo-fencing and relaying position using SMS messaging. And for those you who feel guilty for not spending enough time at home with your dog, the PetsCell™ allows you to call your pooch up and talk to him, even listen to him talk back!

GPS Dog Collar Caveats

All of these GPS Collars need batteries for their transponders to work. Operating on rechargeable batteries, they can last anywhere from a few days to a week and the GPS tracking device can alert you by phone when the battery power is low. As these devices mature, they will likely become smaller, lighter and more power efficient. Smaller is necessary to be applicable for small dogs and cats.

GPS Dog Collar Follow-Up

GPS dog collars like these will soon become more widespread as the technology reaches the market and consumer awareness is built. Owners of expensive field dogs or law enforcement canines will likely see this technology employed first as a measure to protect their highly trained investments. But just the same, this technology will be well suited for the family pet. Whether your dog is an escape artist or is on a family back-packing trip with you, GPS tracking collars will become a perfect fit to keep track of your pooch.