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As a doting Great Dane parent, your dog’s health is a top priority. You make sure your Great Dane eats the best foods, gets regular veterinary care, enjoys plenty of playtime, and takes regular walks.
Gauging just how much activity your Great Dane is getting can be difficult, though. But outfitting your best friend with one of the best dog activity trackers on the market can be beneficial in your quest to keep your pup their healthiest.
With a fitness tracker for your Great Dane, you can monitor activity levels, track weight and nutrition, and even set daily fitness goals. Some trackers also come with GPS, so you always know your dog’s location. Plus, keeping track of your pup’s fitness and other health aspects can deepen your bond and increase your understanding of canine behavior.
But with so many options out there, choosing the best dog activity tracker can be tricky. Here are a few things to keep in mind when shopping for the tracker that best fits your needs.
Factors To Consider When Choosing Your Best Great Dane Activity Tracker
Purpose
Their base reason for existence, fitness trackers are made to track your dog’s activity. But many of the choices on the market offer additional monitoring features for calorie burn, GPS-tracking, geofencing, and body composition, while even alerting you to a ramp-up in scratching and anxious behavior. But you may not need all those bells and whistles, so as you begin the search for your dog’s activity tracker, think about what health aspects you’d like to monitor.
Cost
Dog activity trackers aren’t cheap. That’s why it’s essential to do your research and know just what you need from one. But remember this, just because a tracker is more expensive than others doesn’t automatically make it better than cheaper models. Also, check whether or not a tracker offers free services or if you’ll be committed to monthly subscriptions in order to use their services.
Range and Connectivity
Always consider range and connectivity when shopping for the best dog activity tracker. If you’re buying for location monitoring or want geofencing options, you’ll most likely need to look at GPS-powered trackers. Plus, you’ll want to be aware of what interface a tracker uses to deliver data and alerts. Does it connect with your phone or smart home system? It’d be a bummer to get a tracker and realize it doesn’t work with the brand of your phone.
Size and Weight
This one’s pretty obvious; you don’t want to hang a huge and heavy tracker on your dog’s neck. Talk about uncomfortable! Be sure the tracker or tracker collar is lightweight and comfortable in fit. Rough material or hardware rubbing your pup’s neck is no fun for anyone!
Battery Life
And don’t forget to look at battery life when shopping for the best dog activity tracker. In use 24/7, fitness trackers use major battery power, so look for a manufacturer’s battery information and read comments to see what users have to say about the time between charging. If you’re waffling between two tracker choices, let your deciding factor come down to battery life. Less charging means less worry over a dead tracker.
Now, after studying the field and keeping these considerations in mind, here are our picks for the best dog activity trackers!
The 10 Best Great Dane Activity Trackers for 2023
1. Maven Collar
Dogs don’t talk, so the Maven Collar tracks your best friend’s health and well-being with an activity tracker collar that offers health tracking, activity and sleep monitoring, and early-stage illness detection for eleven out of the fifteen most common conditions in dogs and cats. And when you choose a Maven collar, you’ll also receive personalized recommendations, weekly virtual check-ups, and 24/7 vet support via chat and video calls. Plus, it’s easy to use and transmits data to an app on your phone. Simply buy the Maven Collar Kit and then download the Maven app to get started. Membership plans begin as low as $25 once you’ve purchased your kit.
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Pros
- Captures detailed health data about your dog
- 24/7 instant availability via chat or scheduled video calls
- Health problems are captured earlier
- Two weeks battery life between charges
- Rechargeable sensor that can be removed from collar
Cons
- No GPS tracking
- App for iPhone only
2. Tractive Waterproof GPS Dog Tracker
A top-of-the-line option, the Tractive Waterproof GPS Dog Tracker accurately reports your dog’s location with live GPS tracking, with updates every 2-3 seconds. Virtual fencing allows you to set safe spaces and receive notifications when your dog leaves and reenters. You can also monitor activity time, sleep patterns, and burned calories.
Small and lightweight, the Tractive is an affordably-priced tracker, but keep in mind using it requires a monthly subscription with plans starting at $4.99. Tractive offers a 30-day money-back guarantee if you decide this isn’t the option for you.
Pros
- Real-time escape alerts
- Live GPS tracking
- Location history
- Flexible and lightweight
- Durable
Cons
- Doesn’t track steps
- Mandatory monthly subscription
Related: Improve Your Dog’s Health And Get To Know Him Better Than Ever With Animo!
3. Whistle Go Explore
The Whistle GO Explore is one of the ultimate choices in dog activity trackers, offering GPS tracking that updates every 15 seconds and customizable alerts that arrive via the Whistle app or text message. It also allows pet parents to set fitness goals based on age, weight, and breed and then receive weekly reports breaking down their dog’s stats. You can set reminders for grooming, vet visits, and meds too. And with a battery life that lasts up to 20 days, you won’t have to worry about the tracker going offline before you get a chance to charge it. Plus, Waterproof IPX8 technology allows for submerging in up to 6 feet of water, and the built-in night light offers extra security so you can always locate your dog.
Pros
- Strong battery life
- Comfortable and durable
- Accurate
- In-depth health and activity monitoring features
- Night light for visual tracking
Cons
- Requires WiFi connection
- Monthly subscription required
4. FitBark 2 Dog Activity Monitor
The FitBark 2 also makes our list of best dog activity trackers thanks to in-depth monitoring capabilities that track minute-by-minute activity, calories burned, sleep quality, distance traveled, and overall health and behavior of your dog. Plus, it features a 3D accelerometer used by research institutions and vet schools to give you more precise activity monitoring. And because Fitbark works with your Fitbit, Apple Watch, Apple HealthKit, or Google Fit wearable device or smartphone, you and your pup can work out side-by-side and create a healthy lifestyle together.
More than just a lightweight and rugged activity tracker, it also monitors mobility, anxiety, and skin conditions through changes in the FitBark Health Index. The FitBark 2 provides up to 6 months of battery life, so you can worry less about recharging and more about bonding with your dog.
Pros
- Waterproof and lightweight
- Easy to set up
- Strong battery life
- 3D accelerometer for precise activity monitoring
- Links up to your fitness tracker
Cons
- No GPS outside of the US
5. PETFON Pet GPS Tracker
This PETFON Pet GPS Tracker provides real-time movement and location information by combining GPS, WiFi, Bluetooth, and long-distance wireless technologies. This Radar technology allows you to keep tracking your dog even if the GPS signal is lost. And setup means simply downloading the app and following the quick and easy instructions.
One of the features that landed this choice among our best dog activity trackers, PETFON also includes the Geo-Fence, which lets you customize a danger zone and safety fence for your dog. And it can track up to three dogs in the app simultaneously and offers light and sound alarms along with a customizable voice command system. Also, it has advanced wireless transmission technology, which lets you track your pup for up to 0.65 miles in an urban area and up to 3.5 miles in an open field. Regarding battery life, PETFON promises a battery life of up to 8 hours in normal mode and up to 72 hours in Power Save Mode. And you get all these features without subscribing to a monthly subscription service, which means no monthly fees.
Pros
- No SIM card needed
- Rainproof
- Real-time tracking through GPS and Glonass
- Lightweight and small
- Works in all countries with a GPS signal
- No monthly fees
Cons
- On the pricey side
6. Jiobit Dog Activity Monitor
Jiobit Dog Activity Monitor provides great technology packed into a lightweight, tiny, durable option with excellent battery life. It offers real-time tracking at any distance and immediate alerts about your dog’s location. And Custom Geofencing allows you to set up safe zones like doggy daycare or home and get alerts immediately if your dog escapes or wanders away. There’s also a Bluetooth feature that allows you to detect the distance between you and your dog. Plus, Jiobit is a U.S. company with 100% U.S.-based support from its headquarters in Chicago, IL.
Pros
- Real-time GPS tracking
- Geofencing with escape alerts
- Lightweight
- Comfortable
- Bluetooth feature
- Waterproof and durable
Cons
- Needs to be recharged every day
- Requires a subscription plan
7. PitPat Dog Activity and Fitness Monitor
While PitPat isn’t GPS-enabled, it still makes our list of the best dog activity trackers, thanks to its simplicity. There’s no monthly subscription, and it does what it was made to do—track activity and report calories burned. If you’re not worried about tracking your dog’s location and just want to keep up with their movement and calories, you’ll find this dog activity tracker a perfect fit for your needs. Waterproof and lightweight, your dog will never even notice you’ve slipped a tracker on their collar. As for battery life, PitPat uses a replaceable CR1632 battery that should work for over a year. With this battery, you don’t need to worry about daily or weekly charging.
Pros
- Lightweight, durable, and waterproof
- Three-axis accelerometer for precise movement reporting
- Tracks calorie burn
- Small design makes it ideal for any dog
Cons
- Some users report difficulty in setup
- No GPS tracking
Related: How Sharing Your Bed With Your Dog Can Affect Your Sleep
8. PetKit P2 Smart Activity Monitor
The PetKit P2 is an intelligent activity-tracking device that tracks movement, sleep, and mood. There’s also a temperature sensor to monitor your dog’s body temperature. While there are no GPS capabilities, all activities are saved to the cloud and can be accessed via the app on all Android and iOS devices. Moreover, it features a 3D accelerometer, LED indicator, 32-bit ARM processor, and water resistance for bathing. Plus, housed in a lightweight aluminum casing, it’s one of the lightest dog activity trackers on the market. And PetKit also promises an impressive 4-6 months of battery life.
Pros
- Sleep, calories, and activity tracking
- Lightweight, sleek design
- Durable and water-resistant
- Six months battery life
- Available in 5 colors
Cons
- Faulty LED light
- No GPS tracking
9. Link GPS + Activity Tracker
With the Link GPS + Activity Tracker, you’ll get real-time GPS tracking, built-in tone & vibration training tools, and activity monitoring with up to 14 days of battery life. A lightweight collar attachment your pup will never notice, its setup is a breeze through the Link app and also includes Bluetooth, WiFi, and cellular data capabilities to help GPS deliver even more accurate monitoring. Customize your pup’s activity goals and watch their progress over time with the app’s calendar views.
Impact and water-resistant, there’s even an LED flashlight built into this handy dog activity tracker. And the LinkVet symptom analysis tool allows you to monitor your dog’s health and then connects you to a veterinarian via their built-in televet service.
Pros
- Real-time GPS location
- Bluetooth safe zones
- Waterproof and shockproof
- Wellness features with access to televet services
Cons
- Pay subscription required
- Only works in the US
10. Eureka Technology Marcopolo Advanced Pet Monitor
While the price might surprise you, the Eureka Technology Marco Polo Advanced Pet Monitoring makes the expense worth it because this tracker is totally self-contained, working anywhere with no need for GPS or cell networks while requiring no monthly service contracts. It’s ideal for traveling with your dog, especially when camping and hiking. Plus, you can set up safe zones and receive warnings in less than 80 seconds when your dog wanders outside the set zone. Waterproof and rugged, your pup can throw their worst at the Marco Polo, but it keeps on working.
Simple to set up and use, the system includes everything needed for one dog but can be used to track three dogs when you buy additional tracking tags. And with an internal, rechargeable battery that lasts up to 6 weeks on a single charge, you won’t have to worry about your tracker going dead.
Pros
- Lightweight but durable
- Waterproof with the ability to handle prolonged swimming
- Pre-configured systems and safe zones
- Highly accurate personal radar system
- Rechargeable battery lasts up to 6 weeks between charges
Cons
- Expensive
- Not for use by dogs or cats under 5 lbs.
Activity trackers have proven to be highly beneficial in monitoring your Great Dane’s wellness, and with this list of the best dog activity trackers on the market in 2022, you’ll find the right one to help you keep your Great Dane their happiest and healthiest. When your new tracker arrives, strap up your pup and get outside for some fun together!
Dog Product Reviews
Toledo, United States.
