Best GPS Dog Collar for Your Pup: 2024’s Top Picks

If you have a dog who likes to go on solo adventures without you, then this post is for you! My dog Makai is such a great escape artist, he could make a full-time living teaching other dogs how to do the same! 

One great way to keep track of wandering paws is with a GPS dog collar. I have lost track of the number of times Makai has escaped from our yard, but knowing he has a GPS dog collar on him gives me peace of mind that I will find him again. 

In this post, I’ll cover the best GPS dog collars on the market, including features worth considering when selecting one. By the end, you’ll be able to pick the one that is best suited for your dog and your lifestyle.

Key Takeaways

If you already know what you’re looking for, here’s a quick overview of my top choices:

• Tractive GPS – The Most Affordable GPS tracker
• Whistle GO Explore – A Great All-Rounder GPS tracker
• FitBark GPS 2nd Gen – Pet Location + Health Tracker – Lightweight With Extensive Health Monitoring
• Garmin Astro 900 – The Best Choice for a Sports Dog
• JoiBit – The Most Precise Location

2024’s Best GPS Dog Collar: A Complete List

1. Tractive GPS – The Most Affordable GPS Collar

Key Features

• Up to 10 days of battery life (or one month for bigger dogs)
• Fits dogs over 9lb/50lb depending on version bought
• Easily clips on and off of your dog’s collar
• GPS live tracking and escape alerts
• Activity and health monitoring
• Email alerts

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Connects to AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile LTE, so it isn’t reliant on just one network
• Has a version for both larger and smaller dogs, so can fit a wide range of dog collars
• Alerts on escape, activity, and health, including email alerts
• Very affordable ($49.99 base price and $6 per month for a subscription)

Cons:

• The smaller dog version has a lower battery life than other dog GPS collars
• No warranty available

Product Overview

Much like its competitors, Tractive offers GPS monitoring, escape alerts, and health and activity tracking, which makes this a good all-rounder collar. It also has more size ranges than some of its competitors.

The battery life of the collar for larger dogs can last up to one month, whereas the smaller one only lasts around 10 days max. This collar, however, has a lower price point than its competitors and also uses three GPS networks to track a lost pup.

My Review

Tractive GPS is the GPS dog tracker that I chose for my own dog, Makai. Click here for a more in-depth Tractive GPS review.

I love that the GPS tracking collar offers two options so that most sizes of dogs are taken care of. While a 6lb Chihuahua might be able to escape being tracked, 95% of pups are going to be covered by their options, which is more flexible than some of the competitors.

The three-network coverage combined with the affordable price also made it a very attractive option, and I didn’t find that the affordable price compromised the functionality. If anything, the multiple networks made the tracking more precise. 

Product Summary

The Tractive GPS has some clear advantages, including:

• Affordability: At $49.99, this is the cheapest option but in this case, that doesn’t make it the worst by any means.
• Size flexibility: I appreciated having two options available for dogs, which is perfect for multi-dog households. 
• Escape alerts: With both app and email escape alerts, you’ll immediately know if your dog manages to take off, meaning you can try and catch them right away.

The main downside is the short battery life on the version for the smaller dog, as 10 days isn’t a long time—but as long as you’re willing to charge it, this is a great option.

Tractive GPS: GPS Tracking on a Budget

If you’ve been hesitant to splash out on a GPS pet tracker and can’t decide if it’s worth it, Tractive GPS lets you have reliable tracking at a reasonable price point. The three-network coverage and range of sizes mean you can track your dog without breaking the bank.

2. Whistle GO Explore – A Great All-Rounder GPS Dog Tracker

Key Features

• GPS tracking
• Health and activity monitoring
• Up to 15 days of battery life
• Waterproof up to six feet of immersion
• Six-month warranty on all collars

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Waterproof to ensure it’s protected in all weathers
• Six-month warranty if anything goes wrong or the collar arrives broken
• Keen activity tracking, to keep up with your pup’s exercise

Cons:

• Only 15 days of battery life, which is shorter than some of the other GPS trackers
• Only works on dogs 25lb or above

Product Overview

The Whistle GO Explore is one of the best all-rounder GPS dog tracker, also offering activity and health monitoring so even if your dog isn’t an escape artist, it has other benefits. It provides real-time tracking for your pet’s location, as well as escape alerts if your dog leaves their home or isn’t with you on a walk.

It has up to 15 days of battery life to ensure there’s plenty of time to find your dog if an escape should happen, as well as a light to illuminate their location when they come into eyesight. 

My Review

In terms of an all-rounder that will get the job done in a reliable and efficient manner, the Whistle GO Explore might just win out.

I loved being able to get an idea of my pup’s location at all times, though there can be a bit of a delay on the update—perhaps not the best if your dog is on a straight zoom in the opposite direction! 

I do wish they provided an option for dogs under 25lb, as it seems this is limiting to smaller breeds since it can’t accurately track their location. 

Product Summary

Overall, the Whistle GO Explore has some great features:

• Accurate location tracking: A GPS collar’s main job is to provide an accurate location and the Whistle GO Explore certainly does this accurately, meeting what the owner is likely looking for.
• Activity and health monitoring: Accurate activity and health monitoring means being able to keep an eye on your dog for any issues and getting them early medical care if needed.
• Waterproof: When your dog is outside, chances are, it’s not always sunshine. This collar is protected for up to six feet of immersion in water. 

My main problem is the fact it only works on dogs over 25lb, so make sure to weigh your pup before purchasing!

The Whistle GO Explore

The Whistle GO Explore is a solid, reliable choice for those who want to make sure they can always keep an eye on their pup. If your dog jumps the fence and takes off or slips their leash, then you can have peace of mind knowing the Whistle GO Explore won’t let their off-leash adventure last too long.

3. FitBark GPS – Lightweight With Extensive Health Monitoring

Key Features

• A lightweight size at 16 grams
• 2-year product warranty and 30-day money-back guarantee
• Monitors mobility and anxiety as well as sleep, location, and activity
• 3-5 weeks of battery life, depending on pet

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• 3-5 week battery life
• 2-year product warranty
• More in-depth health monitoring
• Most lightweight collar at 16 grams

Cons:

• A more expensive option, at $99.95 base price and then a subscription required

Product Overview

The FitBark GPS 2nd Gen is one of the most popular options for pet and human parents, given that the app displays a dashboard for pets and humans alike to keep the family in one place.

If comfort is a big factor for your pet, then this may be the best option, as it weighs a tiny 16g compared to some of the larger and bulkier options. It also monitors not only the basics of sleep and activity, but mobility, anxiety, and even skin conditions to give you a full picture of your pet’s health.

My Review

I loved this option for a small dog, as the lightweight size means your pup won’t be weighed down by something large and heavy around their neck! 

The battery life was also impressive. For an active pup, it lasts around 3 weeks, but for dogs living a more sedentary lifestyle, the battery could go as long as 5 weeks.

Product Summary

Overall, you can expect some amazing things from this collar:

• The most in-depth health and activity monitoring: There’s nothing basic about this collar, providing in-depth monitoring of sleep, health, mobility, skin conditions, and anxiety. If you want the most information possible about your pup, this is the best choice.
• The most comfortable option at 16g: As one of the lightest GPS trackers on the market, this is perfect for smaller pups or just those who value their comfort.
• 2-year warranty and 30-day guarantee: For those who just can’t decide if it’s worth it, this product gives you the most chances to change your mind by far.

Learn Everything About Your Pup With FitBark

FitBark is the option that goes above and beyond to give you all of the information about your pup you could possibly need to know. If you’re the owner who wants to stay on top of everything—not just location—this is the one for you.

4. Garmin Astro 900 – The Best Choice for a Sports Dog

Key Features

• Highly sensitive GPS tracker that can zone in really quickly on a dog’s location
• Compass pointing you towards the dog
• Water-resistant and durable

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Built for sporting and hunting dogs
• Realtime pointing towards your dog’s location
• More specific location

Cons:

• Expensive, at $849.99
• Maximum 5-mile radius
• No activity and health monitoring

Product Overview

If you’re looking for a dog GPS collar that will help you keep on top of your hunting or sports dog while out in the field, than the Garmin Astro 900 the obvious choice. The 5-mile radius means you can find your dog quickly, and it provides navigation clues so it’ll lead you right to them.

However, this is only a good choice for a dog you’re out in the open with, and not necessarily one who is looking to escape their owner and take off on their own adventure. 

My Review

If you have a sporting dog with decent recall and are just looking to track them in the field, this navigational collar and remote duo are great for being able to point you towards your dog! However, when the 5-mile point was surpassed, the collar no longer worked—meaning it’s not actually useful for a lost dog. 

Product Summary

There is one obvious advantage:

• Navigation: This is the only collar and remote that will point you right towards your dog’s location as you move toward them.

It also has precision tracking, but the 5-mile radius means it’s not great for a lost dog—especially for that steep price.  

Perfect for Sporting Dogs, Not for Lost Dogs

If the goal of your purchase is to stay on top of your hunting dog, there’s no better choice than this. However, I can’t deny that it doesn’t work as well for your typical pup and probably shouldn’t be worn all the time on walks due to the bulky size.

5. JoiBit – The Most Precise Location

Key Features

• Real-time location tracking
• Unlimited 5G-compatible cellular data
• Up to 30 days of battery life
• 30-day location history

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• 5G compatible, unlike most of the location collars
• Location history for 30 days
• Real-time tracking
• A long battery life at 30 days

Cons:

• This isn’t built for dogs, but for children, so many features (such as 911 emergency dispatch) don’t work for or apply to them
• No activity and health monitoring 

Product Overview

If your focus is purely on location for your Houdini pup and you aren’t so worried about the health or activity tracking, then this is likely the best choice for you. With its 5G-capable tracking and real-time updates, there isn’t a collar that compares in terms of being able to pinpoint your pet right away.

The important thing to note is that Joibit is actually built for children. Many features the other collars have are absent and many features this tracker does have are irrelevant to your pup, who doesn’t have the opposable thumbs necessary to hit a button for a 911 dispatch. 

My Review

In terms of tracking location, JoiBit wins for its precision and quickness. It can pinpoint a location lighting fast and does the best job at staying on top of things.

But it’s missing a lot of the features other collars have because it was never intended for dogs. You might miss having the activity and sleep tracking, and for the price point, most of the features went to waste on a dog. 

Product Summary

Despite it not being built for dogs, there are two key advantages:

• Location monitoring: Nothing beats the precision of the location monitoring.
• 911 dispatch: If your dog is stolen, then it’s easy to send 911 right to the location from the app.

However, these are the only advantages, as everything else would be relevant for another person and not a furry friend!

If Location Is Key, Choose JoiBit

If location is most important to you, then choose JoiBit, as nothing beats the precise tracking it offers. However, be aware that it doesn’t come with many features that actual GPS dog trackers do. 

How to Decide Which GPS Collar Is Best for You

There are a few questions to ask yourself when deciding which is the best GPS dog tracker for you.

The first thing you should do is check that your dog meets all of the requirements, such as the weight. You then need to decide what’s most important to you—is your purchase purely based on location, or does the activity monitoring matter too?

Budget is also an important consideration. With some of these dog GPS trackers retailing as low as $49.99 and others as high as $849.99, there are some big differences!

Final Thoughts

In 2024, it’s never been easier to keep track of your dog. With a dog GPS tracker around their neck and a keen eye on your phone, they’ll never be truly lost; and the panic your furry escape artist can induce is over!

Depending on your purpose, you can’t go wrong with any of the GPS pet trackers on this list as long as you do your research. Let us know which one you end up going for!