GPS trackers

[ArklePig]

Does anyone have a GPS tracker for their dogs collar? Looking at the PitPat but open to recommendations. Have seen airtags mentioned but neither of us have an iPhone. We're going to Galway and Limerick for Christmas and neither of our parents have fenced gardens and nearby fields have cows and sheep and obviously farmers with guns. We'll obviously be vigilant and she's not really a flight risk but accidents happen so was thinking about some extra peace of mind that if she does manage to run off we can find her quickly. Would rather have it and not need it and all that!

Thoughts/recommendations please?

 

[Kunoichi73]

Garmin do trackable collars. I don't have one, but my Garmin watch is great.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Does anyone have a GPS tracker for their dogs collar? Looking at the PitPat but open to recommendations. Have seen airtags mentioned but neither of us have an iPhone. We're going to Galway and Limerick for Christmas and neither of our parents have fenced gardens and nearby fields have cows and sheep and obviously farmers with guns. We'll obviously be vigilant and she's not really a flight risk but accidents happen so was thinking about some extra peace of mind that if she does manage to run off we can find her quickly. Would rather have it and not need it and all that!

Thoughts/recommendations please?

A tracker won't stop her being shot, if she is out of your sight. My thought is the best thing is to not let her off her lead, even in the garden.

 

[ArklePig]

Well yes but just so if she does get out we at least know where she is immediately, and hopefully would be able to get her before she worried anything or any other harm came to her. She will be on a lead when we bring her out. My worry tbh is that one of his parents will open the door without remembering she's there.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

A bag of small cubes of cheese or ham in your pocket can help to make sure a dog never goes too far, I also use a word for treats every time I feed one so if you need to shout that word they recognise it and it gets there attention, my word is biscuit but my dog knows the words dinner and breakfast as well amongst others ?

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Well yes but just so if she does get out we at least know where she is immediately, and hopefully would be able to get her before she worried anything or any other harm came to her. She will be on a lead when we bring her out. My worry tbh is that one of his parents will open the door without remembering she's there.

If you need a tracker, rather than just eyesight you won't be able to get to her immediately. If at all possible keep her behind a door that doesn't open to outdoors. Otherwise, I would keep her on a lead inside the parents' house.

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

A bag of small cubes of cheese or ham in your pocket can help to make sure a dog never goes too far, I also use a word for treats every time I feed one so if you need to shout that word they recognise it and it gets there attention, my word is biscuit but my dog knows the words dinner and breakfast as well amongst others ?

I wish Goose was reading this. I’ve tried hotdogs, cheese (appears allergic, all his bits went bright red!), roast beef. He likes the treats and always comes-eventually, but has an independent streak a mile wide. My OH is researching a tracker that is basically like having a phone contract. I’ll ask him which one when I see him tomorrow-first shift as sergeant tonight!

I would not let my lot out of the house in a new area that wasn’t totally secure, particularly with livestock about. Farmers can and will shoot on sight and nobody will say they were wrong, even if the dog isn’t actively chasing the sheep.

 

[Cherryblossom]

We had tractives which were good- our land is pretty secure but it’s nice to know where to go to find them! Stopped using them as they kept getting knocked off the terrier’s collar and then we’d have a panic to find them before they went dead! I’d suggest a baby gate out on a door before the one that will be opened- keeps them away from the door and serves as a visual reminder for everyone.

 

[Marnie]

I have a tractive on Bunny - it seems to work well, when she is round the farm and I lose sight of her I can just put it on 'live' and it finds her pretty quickly and is accurate. You have almost like a phone contract for the GPS, I paid the first year up front and I think it was around £45 which seemed a bargain for a bit of peace of mind!

You can see it on her collar her - the little white box. It is on her collar all the time and seems pretty robust, I've had it about 10 months.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I wish Goose was reading this. I’ve tried hotdogs, cheese (appears allergic, all his bits went bright red!), roast beef. He likes the treats and always comes-eventually, but has an independent streak a mile wide. My OH is researching a tracker that is basically like having a phone contract. I’ll ask him which one when I see him tomorrow-first shift as sergeant tonight!

I would not let my lot out of the house in a new area that wasn’t totally secure, particularly with livestock about. Farmers can and will shoot on sight and nobody will say they were wrong, even if the dog isn’t actively chasing the sheep.

?? ok most dogs! my friend had one that wasn't really bothered with most treats but the liver stuff in a tube did work he absolutely loved that might be worth a try.

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

?? ok most dogs! my friend had one that wasn't really bothered with most treats but the liver stuff in a tube did work he absolutely loved that might be worth a try.

I’ll try, but he’s so determined that I don’t think it would make a difference. Maybe if it was his only food like CC does, but green tripe and chicken drumsticks aren’t great for handing out from pockets! ? He’s definitely better for me than my OH, total mummy’s boy, currently on my knee despite being a bit muddy and damp.

 

[MrsMozartleto]

I've got the Samsung version of the Airtag. Can't think what it's called... All the dogs have one, as well as all the sets of keys, etc. etc. etc. (I've not really used it to track down D, honest ).

Lil'dog will find any gap no matter how tiny and go visit the neighbours, which is a bit of a bobber though they like her. The Grots are behind locked gates. I just err on the side of caution as we're next to a big forest and open land.

 

[Britestar]

Friend uses a Tractive on one of hers.
They own a large farm and Goldie does like to wander off given the chance. Gives them an idea of which direction to head looking for her.

 

[ArklePig]

Thanks for suggestions. Every precaution will be taken but I just like to think of it as doubling up, an insurance policy in the worst case scenario. I'm fully aware I'm overly anxious about her but if this eases that anxiety slightly then it'll be money well spent.

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

OH says tracktive or the We connect is what he is looking at. Goose was a good boy today, Mitch lost his ‘Best Boy‘ halo and was gone for 2 minutes, unusually. I was stood at a 4 way ‘junction’ in the woods, called them and all 3 came from different directions!

 

[CorvusCorax]

I know this wasn't the question but dogs will not recall for food with any consistency if they know for sure they are going to get fed some other time anyway. If I sat at my desk and my boss kept walking past and handing me tenners, I probably wouldn't work very hard.

It can take about a month to create very good food drive in a young dog if you only feed him his normal food for checking in/engaging with you and using markers.
It takes five or ten minutes two or three times a day, yes it takes consistency and commitment and is not as easy as plopping down a food bowl, but it does not take as much time as it takes to watch a soap opera.
If the dog doesn't want to eat, his problem, try again next time.

However if the dog has already experienced the thrill of freedom then what you have to offer them for coming back or the consequences of not coming back will probably not mean so much.

If one is using something like liver cake for something basic like recall then you have nowhere to go when there is a bigger issue to crack.
Also, if the dog is allowed to dick off for minutes and then get something extremely high value, it's not reaaaallly a deterrent.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I’ll try, but he’s so determined that I don’t think it would make a difference. Maybe if it was his only food like CC does, but green tripe and chicken drumsticks aren’t great for handing out from pockets! ? He’s definitely better for me than my OH, total mummy’s boy, currently on my knee despite being a bit muddy and damp.

Maybe a little tupperware box with the stinky treats ?

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

Maybe a little tupperware box with the stinky treats ?

Still euw! They recall, it just takes a minute. I think me saying eventually earlier gives the impression they dick off forever. They don’t.

 

[CorvusCorax]

Still euw! They recall, it just takes a minute. I think me saying eventually earlier gives the impression they dick off forever. They don’t.

Two minutes as you said earlier, will become three minutes then five if the rules don't change for a young dog, IME. You have a window of opportunity, I would take advantage of it

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I know I didn't think for one minute that
They were a problem but they all get distracted sometimes no matter what you do it's just dogs and life in general.

 

[druid]

Yep, I've got a clients 8mo spaniel here currently who is on work for your food bootcamp as his owners let him off to run about on walks without a good recall and let him out of their sight which is just asking for trouble imo