Should I put an AirTag or a GPS tracker on my dog?

If you're not a tech guru but are looking for a tracker for your dog, it's easy to see the AirTag and GPS devices made for pets as similar. Both are small, can be attached to a collar, and both come with a mapping app. But when your dog disappears from view, it matters what technology gets its location to your phone, and when you can expect an update.

Apple developed the AirTag for finding objects, and every smartphone maker has its own competing product (e.g. the Google Pixel Tag). Although these are generally designed to track objects, rather than people or pets, this does not mean that an AirTag attached to a collar can never provide useful information. However, the way it works can be an important limitation when trying to find a moving animal.

The advantages and disadvantages of Bluetooth

AirTags and similar devices emit a Bluetooth signal that can be detected by nearby smartphones participating in the network. These relay the location data, which you can then see in the mapping app. Most importantly, AirTags and other Bluetooth trackers do not have an independent GPS receiver or mobile internet connection. For remote tracking, they therefore rely on the presence of another properly functioning device nearby. Every smartphone owner who walks past the tracker helps pinpoint its position, and that is how you receive information. So the GPS data comes from the surrounding smartphones.

But what if there is no one nearby?

This means that on a busy street, there may be a greater chance of such encounters than on a rarely used forest path. If your dog comes near a compatible device, new location data may appear about it. But if there is no device nearby that can detect and relay its signal, no new position will come from this network.

An urban environment is not a guarantee of continuous updates. And a location update from several minutes ago is not very useful: the dog may already have moved on.

This is where a direct connection comes in handy.

A cellular GPS tracker sends data to the owner in a different way. It determines its position with its own satellite receiver, then transmits it to the service through its built-in mobile connection. The owner can then view the received location in the app. This is how the Vadalarm Pet Tracker works as well.

This is where it offers the biggest advantage in a field or a less populated area: to transmit the location, there is no need for someone with a phone to walk past the dog. However, it does require usable satellite positioning, an available mobile data connection, and a working, charged device.

But this also has drawbacks.

Based on this, it may sound like GPS is the perfect solution, but its two main drawbacks should not be ignored either. On the one hand, an active independent data connection requires its own mobile internet subscription (this is included in the affordable monthly fee of the Vadalarm Pet Tracker). On the other hand, this connection and the built-in GPS receiver use much more energy than a Bluetooth transmitter that operates passively for most of its life. As a result, it needs to be charged much more often, which is why it is also important that before walking your dog, it is always worth checking the battery level, and then turning off the tracker afterward.

GPS reception and mobile network coverage are two separate conditions. It may happen that the device can determine its location, but cannot send it immediately due to a lack of data connection. Indoors, under dense tree cover, or near obstacles that block satellite signals, the accuracy of positioning may also decrease. For this reason, you should not think of a cellular GPS device as something that shows a fresh and accurate location in every situation. Of course, you can start the search with much better chances in sparsely populated areas than with Bluetooth trackers.

Energy-saving options

It is also worth understanding the update frequency of a GPS device. More continuous tracking, less frequent location reports, and energy-saving operation can all place different loads on the battery. The term “GPS” alone does not tell you how often you will receive new data. That is determined by the specific device’s operation and settings. The Vadalarm Pet Tracker, for example, detects when there is at least 25 meters of movement and then sends updated data. But if you stand still with it for several minutes, it detects that too, and temporarily turns off the GPS module to save energy.

If you already have an AirTag or a Bluetooth tracker compatible with Android, that is certainly useful. But if you are choosing a device specifically to find a dog that has wandered off, the operating differences mean that a pet tracker with its own positioning system and mobile connection is a more targeted solution.

The Vadalarm Pet Tracker is a collar-mounted GPS tracker that comes with a built-in SIM card and its own app. Mobile internet and data service are provided through a monthly subscription. Its built-in battery can last for days even with continuous movement, but you should still expect to charge it regularly. You can check the battery level in the Vadalarm Smart app at any time.

Buying considerations

Before making a choice, think about where you and your dog usually go, and in what situation you would expect the tracker to help. Check the app’s phone compatibility, the device’s size, how it attaches, its battery life, and the service terms. And when searching, always check when the location data shown on the map arrived: this tells you how fresh a lead you are starting from.

Frequently Asked Questions

How far can I track my dog with a GPS tracker?

With cellular GPS tracking, the distance between the owner and the dog is not a limitation in itself. The device needs usable satellite reception and a supported mobile network connection, and your phone needs internet access to display the updated location data.

Does the AirTag work if my own phone is not near the dog?

Yes, if another Apple device participating in the Find My network comes near the AirTag and relays its location data. So it does not have to be your own phone that is nearby. However, if there is no suitable device close by, no new position will arrive.

Does a GPS tracker work without mobile signal?

Satellite positioning can work without a mobile network, but a mobile internet-based tracker cannot immediately transmit its position if there is no data connection. Because of this, the point shown on your phone may reflect an earlier location data point. Always check the time of the most recent update!

Why do I need to pay a monthly fee to use the Vadalarm Pet Tracker?

The monthly fee covers the built-in SIM card’s mobile internet and the data service needed for tracking. This allows the device to transmit its location on its own, and you do not need to buy a separate SIM card or arrange a mobile internet subscription.

Why doesn’t the Vadalarm Pet Tracker send new location data continuously when it is standing still?

The device works in an energy-saving way: if it does not move for several minutes, it temporarily turns off the GPS module. While moving, it sends updated data after at least 25 meters of position change. So an unchanged position while standing still is not necessarily a sign of a fault.

Should you leave the tracker turned on at home too?

If you also want to track a dog that slips out through an open gate or a cat that wanders off from the garden, then yes. A turned-off tracker does not send location data, so only switch it off when you do not need tracking. Check the battery level regularly in the Vadalarm Smart app.