Localization through GPS ?
By inu1711
@inu1711 (5285)
Romania
January 22, 2011 6:30am CST
As some of you may know, yesterday I signed the papers for the land where we'll build our dream house.
You may ask what does this have to do with dogs interest? 
It has. The notary where we signed the papers has proved to be a dog lover and we all ended up talking about dogs.
He was complaining that his dog, a German Shorthaired Pointer, is an escape artist. No matter what measures he took, the dog managed to exit his property and he got lost several times. He said the last time when he got lost, he was found a week after.
He was asking if I know a device for localization through GPS, one small enough for being attached to the dog's collar. He said it would be better if there were some microchip to be implanted, as the device can be lost together with the collar, and then the dog is gone for ever.
To my ashame I didn't know anything about this subject, I knew only about the microchips used for identification purposes.
Then I came home and I performed some search on the Internet. I found out there is such a device like Global pet finder. It comes attached to the dog's collar but I don't think it's too safe, as it can be lost or destroyed if the dog engages himself into a dog fight.
What's your opinion about this kind of devices?
Would you buy one for your dogs?
You may ask what does this have to do with dogs interest? It has. The notary where we signed the papers has proved to be a dog lover and we all ended up talking about dogs.
He was complaining that his dog, a German Shorthaired Pointer, is an escape artist. No matter what measures he took, the dog managed to exit his property and he got lost several times. He said the last time when he got lost, he was found a week after.
He was asking if I know a device for localization through GPS, one small enough for being attached to the dog's collar. He said it would be better if there were some microchip to be implanted, as the device can be lost together with the collar, and then the dog is gone for ever.
To my ashame I didn't know anything about this subject, I knew only about the microchips used for identification purposes.
Then I came home and I performed some search on the Internet. I found out there is such a device like Global pet finder. It comes attached to the dog's collar but I don't think it's too safe, as it can be lost or destroyed if the dog engages himself into a dog fight.
What's your opinion about this kind of devices?
Would you buy one for your dogs?2 people like this
3 responses
@inu1711 (5285)
• Romania
22 Jan 11
I haven't thought about that. But you know I will now!
Who doesn't want to see how do our dogs see the world? Especially when they are off for an adventure. Though I'm afraid that all you will see is female dogs' bottoms.
I thought about installing a camera at home, to see what Binne does when she's home alone. It seems she sleeps most of the time, but who knows?
@inu1711 (5285)
• Romania
22 Jan 11
The same here, but only for registered dogs. This means only for pure breed dogs but even for them it is not mandatory to wear the microchip as long as they don't want to enter any dog competition. The funny (if not sad) part is that the devices for reading the microchips are not so many. For instance, in my small town there is no such device. I've asked all the vets and even the local veterinary authorities, but nobody has a microchip reader. So if my dog gets lost (God forbid!) her microchip won't be any use.
But my concern was a device for tracking the lost dog. I mean a tool that could help you "see" where the lost dog is. Like the GPS tracking tools for cars. Have you heard or used such a device?
1 person likes this
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
22 Jan 11
Oh my, when I read the part about the German short-hair dog, I couldn't wait to reply. This is what my neighbors dog is, and I can confirm, they are escape artists. My neighbor has a nice size kennel in his yard for the dog. It has a dog house and shade to protect him from the bad weather, yet this dog will escape every time and this is why I have to let him out during the day..
As for the GPS collar, I don't know, maybe if I had one dog, but that won't last with my puppies, it will only look like a treat for the other one to chew on..lol I don't know what you mean by safety other than it getting caught on something? If that happened, would they be able to just slip out of the collar?
2 people like this
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
23 Jan 11
Oh yeah, that is true, if they knew the cost of the collar, they wouldn't bother with the dog, (though that is good, we don't want our dogs taken) they would take the collar..
And yes, my girls would be the culprit if their collar is lost...Crazy dogs..But I love them..
And yes, my girls would be the culprit if their collar is lost...Crazy dogs..But I love them..2 people like this
@inu1711 (5285)
• Romania
23 Jan 11
If thieves knew how much we love our dogs, they would steal the dogs too.
I would give everything they ask for returning Binne safe to me.
Hey, Carmelanirel, our dogs are not crazy, buy we are! Imagine how they think when we put on them "stupid" collars or (worse!) clothes.
I would give everything they ask for returning Binne safe to me.
Hey, Carmelanirel, our dogs are not crazy, buy we are! Imagine how they think when we put on them "stupid" collars or (worse!) clothes.1 person likes this
@inu1711 (5285)
• Romania
22 Jan 11
You know that when I wrote about safety I was thinking about your girls, how would they chew each others Global Pet Finder. It would cost you about $900!
I was also thinking about the way Binne lost her collar in the woods and it was a regular collar, not one with a big device attached on it.
In my country, the worse part about those devices would be the thieves. Wheather they are interested in stealing the dog or not, they would surely steal the $450 collar.2 people like this
@topffer (42156)
• France
22 Jan 11
Hello inu1711,
The only use that I saw here for them is for hunt dogs, because of the small autonomy of these GPS, sometimes less than 48 h -- the best have a week -- : a hunter can use it for a dog for the time of a hunt, but you can't charge the battery of your dog collar every night like a phone...
1 person likes this
@inu1711 (5285)
• Romania
22 Jan 11
Hello Topffer,
I think this may be the major problem such a device has. If you are away from home and the person who is supposed to take care of the dog doesn't take the proper measures to find the lost dog right away, when you come back it might be too late, as the batteries run off.
Of course, another problem may be if the lost dog is found by some malicious people who don't want to return him to his owner. They may destroy the device or throw it away so you won't see any benefit from it.
Hunters, yes, they may enjoy this devices as their dogs may corner the pray somewhere in the woods and the hunter can't hear the dogs' barking. With the GPS tracking device they may find out where the dog is and they can go in that direction to follow the dog.
1 person likes this
@inu1711 (5285)
• Romania
22 Jan 11
One month! Wow! 
This means I could go on vacation and see what Binne is doing at home. 
Of course I wouldn't imagine a vacation without her, but for those who really have a problem with escape artists like my notary's dog, it may be a relief.
I still see a problem which must be solved soon by these devices' manufacturer: the size! If they were smaller, the chance of getting hooked into a fence or bush would be smaller, too.
This means I could go on vacation and see what Binne is doing at home. Of course I wouldn't imagine a vacation without her, but for those who really have a problem with escape artists like my notary's dog, it may be a relief.
I still see a problem which must be solved soon by these devices' manufacturer: the size! If they were smaller, the chance of getting hooked into a fence or bush would be smaller, too.