The most advanced GPS dog tracker I’ve tested rivals the AirTag (with some caveats)

ZDNET’s key takeaways

• The Petcube GPS Tracker is now obtainable for $40.
• Held in a silicon case, the Petcube GPS tracker goes in your canine’s collar, allows you to monitor your pet’s location in real-time, set protected areas by way of geofencing, and activate “misplaced canine mode.”
• The tracker can solely be used with a month-to-month subscription, which begins at $5 per 30 days — there is no option to monitor your pet’s location totally free. The system can be too large and heavy for some small canines.

Why this deal is ZDNET-recommended

Petcube simply launched a brand new Petcube GPS Tracker that permits you to preserve tabs in your canine’s location. The tracker matches right into a silicon case that goes on a canine’s collar. The system, which has an LED mild and a beeper managed by way of the Petcube app, can also be waterproof.

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Anybody who has raised a pet doubtless is aware of the panic of getting a bit fur ball slide previous your legs by way of an open door. This exercise is usually adopted by a panicked proprietor chasing a canine that has but to grasp recall and is fueled by a scarcity of frequent sense and a need to wreak havoc, as puppies often are inclined to do.

My canine is one and a half years outdated, and though his recall is considerably dependable due to coaching, he nonetheless prefers an excellent two minutes of freedom to poop within the neighbor’s yard, reasonably than coming again to me instantly after I name him when he will get out. 

Getting the Petcube GPS Tracker provides me peace of thoughts that I am going to be capable of discover my canine if he wanders put up poop, but in addition if I take him climbing or exploring within the woods behind my home.

I do not let my canine out unleashed past our fenced-in yard, however this tracker additionally lets me set protected zones by way of geofencing. If my canine leaves these protected zones, the Petcube alerts me with a telephone notification. This alert lets me relaxation straightforward that he is at all times the place he is alleged to be.

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Though I am at all times engaged on coaching my canine out of his crazed pet antics, I like the concept of him having a GPS tracker to forestall him from getting misplaced and to strengthen his recall. The Petcube GPS Tracker has a beeper you can ring on the Petcube app out of your smartphone. I am presently instructing my canine to search out me when he hears the beep, so he learns that beeping equates to me calling him.

The system matches my medium, 35-pound canine effectively, however I can see how its 2.3″ x 0.9″ x 0.7″ dimension and nearly three ounces in weight may very well be too large for some small canines.

This GPS tracker additionally gives exercise monitoring, which tracks your pet’s burned energy, exercise time, and distance walked, all with historic knowledge. While you enter your canine’s info, together with its weight, the app will advocate a day by day aim of exercise time to maintain your canine wholesome and pleased.

A canine health tracker won’t be a precedence for a lot of pet homeowners, however it may be a welcome addition for individuals who wish to work out with their pets or these with a pup that should shed pounds. The historic knowledge is a enjoyable addition that offers the GPS tracker additional performance.

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The most important draw back to the Petcube GPS tracker is that it requires a month-to-month subscription, beginning at $5 per 30 days. The subscription contains GPS and exercise monitoring, entry to the Petcube Tracker’s options, such because the built-in mild and beeper, and even a Vet On-line chat seek the advice of, which provides you entry to a licensed veterinarian within the app — for the following time Fido chews on that bizarre plant from the neighbor’s yard.

Petcube provides you completely different choices, from a primary subscription to a premium one, throughout month-to-month or annual funds. You may even pay for as much as 5 years upfront. On the finish of the day although, it is one other subscription added to your listing of month-to-month funds.

ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation

I like how I can at all times see exactly the place my canine is and that I’ve peace of thoughts due to monitoring his steps by way of “Misplaced Pet Mode,” a high-sensitivity monitoring mode you may activate if you assume you have misplaced your canine. After testing the system for over every week, I might advocate the Petcube GPS Tracker for locating your pets shortly and simply by way of GPS, so long as you do not thoughts paying for a subscription.

Should you’re seeking to keep away from a recurring price, you might go for an AirTag with a waterproof case, as is frequent follow for some pet homeowners. The AirTag would not use GPS. As an alternative, the system employs the iPhone’s Discover My community to speak its location. This strategy means an AirTag has the chance of not being present in distant areas with no iPhones close by, similar to in case you go climbing or tenting and lose your canine.