Keeping track of your pet when you’re out and about (or when they are!) can be tough at the best of times and a continual fear of pet owners everywhere is the possibility of their animal going missing.
The latest breed of smart pet trackers and GPS enabled collars is looking to make lost pets a thing of the past, making it easier than ever before to track down and find your cat or dog if they go AWOL.
We sniffed out the best in class and our guide to the top pet trackers and best activity monitors will help you find the device to bring peace of mind that your four-legged friend is always safe and sound, whatever they get up to.
The Best Smart Pet Trackers and GPS Collars
Wearable tech is rapidly moving beyond the remaining the preserve of humans alone.
With smart tech attachments and upgrades to GPS collar wearables and smart pet tracker attachements, you can now track, monitor and record the well-being of your pet through your smartphone or tablet for peace of mind wherever you (or they) are.
While your feline or canine companion may not be able to partake in an awesome smart watch, the best smart pet collars and GPS tracking systems are rapidly bringing the world of connected wearable tech to the four legged world in a stylish and intelligent way.
We’ve fetched the best smart pet collars, harnesses and gadgets from far and wide to bring you the definitive rundown of some of the finest (and smartest) wearables for your pets.
Link AKC
When you’ve got the backing of the American Kennel Club, you know you’re onto a winner, and in the world of smart pet wearables, the Link AKC is undeniably awesome.
The Link AKC is both stylish and functional, allowing you to always know the exact location of your dog as well as letting you monitor the activity and health of your pet in real-time.
Offering the ability to create virtual ‘safe zones’ using the companion Link AKC app, the device will track your dog and send you alerts whenever he or she leaves your designated zone.
As well as offering some of the more traditional pet tracking smarts, the Link AKC also features a sound which can be used as a training aid for your dog, while the collar itself includes an LED for illuminating nighttime walks.
Learn More About the Link AKC Smart Pet Tracker Here
Scollar Smart Collar
If you’re after a smart pet collar that covers a wide range of bases for a connected pet tracking solution, then the latest device by smart pet brand Scollar is an excellent choice.
One of the unique selling points of the Scollar over other smart pet trackers and collars on the market today is that it’s built around a ‘modular’ system with the option to purchase several upgrade component modules which increase the functionality of the base unit even further.
In terms of smart features, Scollar offers tracking and perimeter fencing (buzzing the device if your pet goes somewhere he shouldn’t), as well as the ability to open certain electronic pet doors using a built-in radio frequency chip. Scollar is also able to monitor ambient temperature and sends an alert if your pet is at risk from excess cold or heat.
Utilizing Bluetooth BLE and WiFi, Scollar operates without monthly fees.
Learn More About the Scollar Smart Collar here
Whistle 3 GPS Pet Tracker & Activity Monitor
A standalone device that simply clips onto your existing collar (with at least 1-inch of width), the Whistle 3 brings GPS smart tracking technology to your dog or cat’s wardrobe so you can pull real-time location data as well as setting up geofencing and alerts if your pet strays outside of the designated zone.
While currently only available within the mainland US, the Whistle 3 offers advanced GPS tracking on a subscription basis to pinpoint the location and let you know wherever your animal ends up.
Closer to home, if your pet leaves the perimeter you’ve set up, the system utilizes WiFi to alert you to the event within the app or via SMS or email.
As well as providing smart pet tracking capabilities, Whistle 3 is also a highly effective activity monitor, allowing you to keep track of the physical wellbeing of your pet based on breed, age, and weight.
Learn more about the Whistle 3 GPS Pet Tracker & Activity Monitor here
FitBark 2 Dog Activity Monitor
Using an accelerometer to record the activity of your dog, the Fitbark utilizes stats about your pet (breed, weight etc) to let you know how far he is from smashing those fitness related goals each day.
One of the things to note off the bat is that the device doesn’t use a GPS signal and so is not tied to a subscription service like some of the other smart pet trackers on the market. This is good when it comes to cost effectiveness but is a consideration if you’re looking for a smart pet tracker that will locate your dog wherever they wind up if they decide to go for an impromptu walkies.
One of the things we really appreciate with the Fitbark however is the way in which it provides an overview of activity information and data to allow you find out exactly when your pet is most active, and when not so much.
Learn more about the FitBark 2 Dog Activity Monitor Here
PetPace Smart Collar
The PetPace smart collar and activity monitor is visually in-line with how you might imagine a more traditional pet collar to look.
However, looks are where the similarities with old-school collars end with the device offering the full range of features you’d expect from one of the best smart pet trackers out there.
PetPace packs in a ton of smart features to allow you to comprehensively monitor your pet’s health, providing details on everything from pulse, respiration, and temperature, through to activity levels and calorie burning stats. All of this information can then be accessed directly by your vet, meaning if things don’t seem quite right, they’ll be ready to help at a moment’s notice.
Learn More About the PetPace Smart Collar Here
Pod 3 – GPS Pet Tracker and Activity Monitor
Pod is a GPS pet tracker that lets owners know what their pet is up to at the touch of a screen.
Activity monitoring and smart ‘Escape alerts’ are viewable from your smartphone and you can record up to 8 hours of what your pet’s been up to with a continuous recording mode.
The best smart pet trackers are those which work across multiple animals and it’s here that the Pod shines, delivering suitability for use with any pet, from cat to dog to goat – just attach to the collar and you’re all set.
Fully waterproof, small and light, and with 6 days power on rechargeable batteries, the Pod GPS pet tracker lets you locate your pet and monitor their activity wherever they end up.
Learn More About the Pod 3 – GPS Pet Tracker and Activity Monitor Here
WÜF
If you’re on the hunt for an all-in-one smart pet tracker and activity monitor, then WÜF could be exactly what you’re after.
One of the amazing things about WÜF is that it not only includes GPS for knowing the whereabouts of your four-legged friend but also integrates two-way audio so you can stay in touch when you’re out and your pet decides to ‘go exploring’ on their own.
Available for pre-order now, the full launch specs of the device aren’t known, but we’re definitely excited based on what we’ve seen and heard so far.
PitPat 2 – Dog Activity Monitor
The PitPat 2 Dog Activity Monitor is one of the best smart trackers if you’re looking for a canine-centric wearable that’s built around device durability and longevity.
Among a couple of the stand-out features of this smartphone compatible pet activity monitor are the fact that it offers a year’s worth of battery life as well as being housed within a unit which is totally waterproof, both of which will be welcome news to dog owners.
By allowing you to keep an eye on the activity levels and movement of your dog all day, the PitPat 2 Dog Activity Monitor will not only provide you with a record of exercise levels but will also provide you with a rundown of the calories burnt during the day.
Learn More About the PitPat 2 Dog Activity Monitor Here
TabCat
Designed by GPS brand Loc8tor, the TabCat is a feline-specific locator that works slightly differently to some of the other smart pet trackers out there.
Using an RF receiver (as opposed to a dedicated app on your smartphone), TabCat is a bit like cat-sonar, feeding the signal of your cat’s collar tracker back to the receiver as a beep, helping you to locate your missing mog when you’re within 400 feet.
While the technology behind TabCat may seem less sophisticated than some of the other GPS and app-based devices out there, the major benefit to this smart cat tracker is the relatively small size of the unit which makes it perfectly suited for your cat to comfortably wear. This is one of the reasons that in the smart pet tracking sphere, more devices tend to be aimed at dogs due to the larger footprint of smart collar trackers that utilize GPS.
Another major benefit of the TabCat system is that as it uses RF rather than GPS, you don’t need to pay for a dedicated subscription to get going which is a definite benefit if you’re looking for one of the best smart pet trackers that maintains a focus on cost-effectiveness.
Learn More About TabCat Here
GoPro Fetch Dog Harness
So we just had to mention the awesome GoPro Fetch in our rundown of smart pet wearables.
Although requiring a GoPro Camera to get started, this harness then allows you to capture everything your dog sees and experiences – wherever they go.
Padded and elasticated to ensure maximum doggy comfort, the GoPro Fetch is washable and ready for swimming, mud, splashing, chasing, jumping – you know, everyday dog stuff!
Learn More About the GoPro Fetch Dog Harness Here
