GPS TRACKING SYSTEMS - FOR DOGS.

[Discussing Labradoodles & Goldendoodles]

O.K. I am on a roll with this, I posted this on the Breeders Forum, and now here, what about tracking systems for dogs? We microchip them for identification, what about a similar device for tracking? Is there allready one? There are so many dogs and cats lost each year, someone should have thought of this allready. The gentleman that purchased Lindsay works with tracking systems, he is going to check it out.

This site reaches a wide range of people in various fields, do any of you know anything about tracking systems? I am very interested...

[Leslie and Halas]

It looks like there are a few things available. I just googled "gps for dogs" and it pulled up a bunch of links. Here are a couple of them below. I'm thinking I saw an ad in a magazine recently, too, but I can't remember what magazine. I'll check tonight when I get home. It's a great idea. It would be great if it could be something small, like the microchip. If it's just on a collar, it might not help in a lot of situations, including the one your Lindsay is in now.

http://www.petsafegpslocator.com/?gclid=CLOSneeNuZYCFRKAxgodM1cyLQ

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp;jsession...

[Patty Barnes]

Hi Ann, I am unfamiliar with tracking systems, but am very interested in finding out about them. Thank you for starting this discussion.

[Carole (*Koda*Monty*Bindi)]

I actual did a product test for the pet safe locator. The link to it is below. I used it during 6 weeks study period. To be completely honest with you, the concept is wonderful but until they make the devise smaller it was too big for my 120# Shepard mix to wear and that's saying a lot! I made that suggestion so hopefully they'll product test it a bit more and work on the size. The batteries also wore out VERY quickly. They do send you a rechargable battery set with it and you are notified ALOT (via either email, cell phone or house phone) when the batteries are getting low but it concerned me that the battery would/could fail if and when you actually needed to track your dog. I think it has some wonderful features but needs to be tweaked a bit in my opinion. :) I think a tracking microchip would be fabulous instead of a collar!

[Tante & Jordan & now Annie!]

I agree, If they make Nike's or a watch with GPS they can make a micro chip too.

[Dianne Carter ~ Trinity Doodles]

I had shared with Ann yesterday about a gps system I had looked at, it is called zoombac. It would seem that while the pup is in transport with its new family and until it responds to them they would be at their most vulnerable time. I have actually considered adding a deposit charge when new pups go to their homes initially. Of course since this is a collar attachment a slip lead or choke chain would also be a requirement. Once the pup is clearly responding to his new family and out of this extremely vulnerable time if he were to get loose I would refund this amount upon return of the devise.

Ultimately a permanent form of gps would be best, but in the meantime we must put our heads together and do the best we can.

[Jessica]

My cell phone won't work in the woods where I walk Finn, so I'm not sure a GPS system would, but I like the idea, especially if Finny was stolen, God forbid.

[Jacquie Yorke (DRC)]

You know Ann...it's such an interesting and important discussion....When Blake was microchipped I said to the vet, what good is it unless it truly has a tracking device?....I now understand the importance of a microchip but while watching a commercial for Lojack ( a car locating and anti-theft device)I myself have inquired about the possibility of a product with a similar feature for animals....

When scientists are tracking animals in the wild you always see these huge radio collars attached to them and you have to wonder if they get in the way of them acting and functioning like normal wild animals....I know that they actually make location devices that implant under the skin and have a battery life of about a year...( I think it's the equivalent of a watch battery that powers them)but they are expensive, certainly not cost effective and require minor surgery to implant which is why you see these animal researchers opting for the radio collars....obviously with domestic dogs it's a bit different as they can be anestisized for the period of time required to implant...but the cost is still great.....

If a cost effective tracking and location implant hasn't been introduced to the pet market yet, someone should get on it!!....Can you imagine?.....Dogs ( like cars) walking around with little stickers that say "This dog is protected by Lojack?"...lol.....Pretty soon we'll be microchipping and radio collaring children.....lol.....

[jlnda]

Just reading this Discussion and i found it, cause i am looking for the same device, not a collar, not a scanner microchip, a GPS Microchip for my dog. If anyone gets information on this, I would love it. Thanks

[2hl9mp3c2fuam]

So funny you bring this up - a guy at my work was just thinking of this and asking me the same thing.