From losing your fluffy white dog in the folds and creases of your extra cushioned, throw-pillow and blanket adorned sofa, to the scarier realisation that your pup might have run across the road to a neighbour’s garden – the full-body, enveloping fear that our furry friends might be lost is both intense and terrifying.
Similarly, training a rescue or a young puppy in proper recall is harder than it seems, with traditional dog whistles and reward-based training not always working on dogs with very particular temperaments – no matter how yummy the treats. Thankfully, the 21st century has seen technological innovations to make keeping track of your beloved pet, as well as training them, a whole lot easier.
Small, simple, and sleek dog trackers help to give owners peace of mind whether they’re at home or away from pets for a few hours during the day. Despite their name, they’re not just about locating your speedy pup lickety-split – they may also come with an array of features such as a beeper alerts to help train your active doggo, and prevent them from running off in the first place.
What are the different types of dog tracker?
- GPS: This type of tracker is the most effective, but incredibly difficult to find without a hidden subscription cost than often surpasses the price of the device itself. This is because the GPS is powered by a SIM card – much like your phone – and therefore requires monthly network costs to keep it running and allow for that all-important live-tracking.
- Bluetooth: The most common, cost-effective alternative to GPS-powered pet trackers. Bluetooth tags don’t require monthly service fees and are incredibly easy to set up with your personal smart phone or tablet.
- Radio: Trackers which operate using radio frequency are usually on the more expensive side – often used by hunters and owners of highly-trained gundogs. Though not as effective when it comes to locating dogs at a distance, radio frequency collars are great for hunting dogs which are always close by, though often obscured by rough foliage and hedgerows.
What’s the difference between subscription-based and non-subscription dog trackers?
More often than not, the sole difference is about whether the tracker uses GPS, which enables highly accurate real-time tracking. Otherwise, some subscription-based trackers offer extra features like escape alerts, beeping or vibrational alerts.
Keep scrolling for a round-up of the best dog trackers which don’t require a subscription, and don’t have any hidden costs.
Shop now.
Best dog trackers without subscriptions at a glance:
- Best for an all-round winner: PitPat Dog GPS Tracker with no subscription – £149, PitPat
- Best for gundogs: Alpha T 20 K Dog Collar – £299.99, Garmin
- Best for ease of use: Apple AirTag (4 pack) - £95, Amazon
- Best for android users: Chipolo ONE – £22, Chipolo
- Best for advanced tracking: Marco Polo Advanced RC Recovery System – £499.20, directnine
- Best for community-based tracking: Fetchtag – £9.56, Amazon
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PitPat Dog GPS Tracker with no subscription
Best for: an all-round winner
The only GPS-based dog tracker on the market without a subscription attached, the PitPat is our overall winner in the pet tracking department. Measuring just 6cm wide and weighing an impressive 30g, the PitPat tracker is hard-wearing and 100 per cent waterproof for those dogs that were otters in previous lives. It’ll even hold-up in the sea if you’re lucky enough to live close to a beach.
The PitPat GPS tracker includes fully featured activity monitoring, distance tracking, calorie tracking, feeding recommendations and weight management solutions alongside that all-important real time GPS tracking. They’ll attach to any collar or harness with the help of the included Brand Strap.
With the option to charge wirelessly, a choice between five brightly hued colours and automatic activity data updates, you’d be hard pressed to find a subscription-based GPS tracker that functions any better. Seamlessly integrated with the brand’s free app, PitPat has also taken on the burden of paying for those monthly network costs – so you can be 100 per cent sure that an astronomical credit card charge won’t randomly appear on your bank statement.
If you’re well and truly secure in your pup’s recall abilities, you can also purchase one of their handy activity monitors. This enables you to keep an eye on exactly how much exercise, rest and play they’re engaging in, without the GPS tracking.
Buy now £149.00, PitPat
Alpha T 20 K Dog Collar
Best for: gundogs
Unbeknown to most, popular smart watch retailer Garmin also has a dedicated dog tracking department. Specialising in radio frequency trackers with compatible handheld devices, Garmin’s target audience is usually limited to hunters and gundog owners.
Designed for a universal fit no matter the dog breed, this tracking collar uses high-sensitivity GPS and a Galileo receiver to keep track of your dog’s location. The collar itself transmits your pup’s location through VHF (which translates to Very High Frequency, for the technophobes) up to a distance of 6 miles, with updates every 5 seconds.
Equipped with a hardwearing, adventure-proof design as well as a bright and multicoloured LED beacon light – this is certainly our go-to recommendation for those who take their dogs on long hikes and camping trips. With the option to enable dynamic tracking, which tracks your dog based on their movement, you can get up to 68 hours of battery life. You can also purchase an extended battery pack for up to 136 hours of non-stop security.
Buy now £299.99, Garmin
Apple AirTag (4 pack)
Best for: ease of use
Using an AirTag to track your pup’s movements is controversial in the dog-owning world. This is because its Bluetooth tracking doesn’t offer accurate real-time updates. Nevertheless, many dog parents still swear by their AirTag’s precise tracking abilities, especially for young puppies in training, as well as dogs that don’t tend to stray far from their owner’s side.
Adding a little more security without any hidden costs, you can scoop up a set of four AirTags with lithium ion batteries included for under £100 on Amazon. This multi-pack option is particularly useful if you have multiple pets, or if your beloved pal is accident prone. Simply pop the AirTag in a compatible, waterproof collar holder and enjoy the peace of mind afforded by knowing where your furry friend is at all times.
Buy now £95.00, Amazon
Chipolo ONE
Best for: android users
The problem with AirTags is that they are only compatible with Apple devices. If you’re an Android user in the market for an easy-to-use Bluetooth tracker for your dog, look no further than Chipolo. What’s more, you can ring your tracker using the subscription-free Chipolo app, and even be alerted if your pup has strayed a little further from home than usual.
Once again, the Chipolo tracker was not specifically designed with pets in mind but has simply been adapted for use by savvy dog parents. The Chipolo ONE is IPX5 water-resistant but won’t stay protected if your doggo jumps in a large body of water. Additionally, the connection range is limited to up to 60 metres, so we wouldn’t recommend this product for dog parents who have often found their adventurous pets in entirely different postcodes.
Buy now £22.00, Chipolo
Marco Polo Advanced RC Recovery System
Best for: advanced tracking
The Marco Polo by Eureka Technology doesn’t require cellular service, internet connectivity or GPS satellite visibility to operate. So how does this self-contained device work, you ask? Via radio frequencies, of course.
Suitable for all dog sizes and all breeds, this durable system is 100 per cent subscription-free, and 100 per cent reliable. With an easy set-up and single-button push to enable the search function, you can look for lost dogs with real-time distance stats and direction feedback.
Thankfully, the advanced waterproof tracking tags and ballistic nylon holder will keep the tag protected and secure. The rechargeable lithium-polymer battery additionally lasts 15 days while being continuously monitored.
Buy now £499.20, directnine
Fetchtag
Best for: community-based tracking
Though reliant on members of your community finding your lost pup, we think this value-for-money tracking option is incredibly clever. The Fetch Tag is a smart pet ID tag which digitally stores all of your pet’s details and owner information through an easily scannable QR code. We can hear you asking, “where on earth does tracking come into this?” - fret not, for when a Fetch Tag is scanned, you’ll get an email notification with a GPS pinpoint of exactly where the scanning occurred.
Buy now £9.56, Amazon
