Can The Ring Pet Tag Actually Find Your Lost Dog?
Can a pet tag QR code help you actively track and find your dog if they’ve bolted outdoors? Let’s find out.
Staying on top of your home security? You might’ve come across Amazon’s Ring and its range of devices – from doorbells, indoor and outdoor cameras, alarms, and also the Ring Pet Tag. A lightweight device with a unique pet tag QR code. But how does it work? Can it help you track your dog via real-time updates or GPS functionality? And most importantly: can it help you take an active role in finding your dog if they get lost outdoors?
Short answer: no. Long answer: keep reading. Because when it comes to finding your lost dog, you’re best off investing in a dedicated smart dog tracker. Keep reading to find out how to best ensure your peace of mind as a dog parent.
Key Takeaways
The Ring Pet Tag functions primarily as an identification device, similar to a microchip. It relies on the Ring community and the kindness of strangers. You’ll be notified only if someone scans the QR code on your dog’s tag.
The tag does not offer real-time location updates, GPS functionality, or Bluetooth tracking. Meaning you can’t actively track a lost pet with it.
If you’re worried about leaving your dog at home alone, a smart dog tracker (like Tractive) offers real-time GPS tracking, virtual “safe zones”, and even Separation Anxiety monitoring.
Always know your buddy is healthy & safe
Read moreHow does the Ring Pet Tag work?
The Ring Pet Tag is a small, attachable device you can hang off your dog’s collar. It includes a custom QR code that links to your pet’s profile on the Ring app. Now if your dog gets lost, you can switch on Lost Pet Mode. It makes your pet profile public and notifies the Ring community. So if a helpful stranger finds your lost dog, you’ll be notified if they can scan the QR code on your dog’s Pet Tag. They can then contact you via the Ring app to get in touch with you.
Pet Tags are actually similar to microchips. Aka, small pet identification devices you can implant into your dog’s skin. So if someone (like a vet) scans your dog’s microchip, it can help identify your dog. Meaning they can contact you right after. With the Ring Pet Tag QR code, you’ll be notified via the related app instead. (So no skin implantation required.)
⚠️ Importantly, neither Ring Pet Tags nor microchips can help you take an active role in finding your lost dog. They can help another person identify your dog. This person then needs to contact you to come pick them up. But neither of these devices offer any GPS or Bluetooth tracking functionalities that can help you track your dog’s live location yourself.
At present, Ring Pet Tags are also only available for shipping to the US or Canada. If you’re based elsewhere, you’re better off exploring your options with dedicated dog trackers that ship internationally or offer authorized international resellers.
Pros of using a Ring Pet Tag
- Lightweight
Clocking in at less than an inch in size, the Pet Tag is so small and light, your dog likely won’t even notice it. - Affordable
At $9.99 a piece, Ring Pet Tags are a budget-friendly option to get you started. - Community-focused
The Ring app connects you to fellow dog parents in your vicinity. You can also upload your lost dog’s picture to Petco Love Lost. This is a large national database of lost and found pets. It’ll notify you of similar animals found at nearby shelters or around you – which may include your lost dog.
- Data privacy
Usually, someone who’s found your lost dog can reach out to you via call or text – directly on the Ring app itself. No need to share any personal contact info. - Sharing essential info
Your Ring pet profile also helps you store your dog’s medical details and other info. Like what your dog tends to get spooked by or how a rescuer can help calm them down. - No charging required
You can just attach the Ring pet tag to your dog’s collar – and you’re done. Now you just need to scan its QR code to identify your dog. No need to replace or charge any batteries.
Image source: The Verge
When combined with products like Ring’s indoor and outdoor cameras, the Pet Tag can help you create a secure home environment for your dog. For example, if you invest in a Ring camera, it’s immediately compatible with your Ring app. So you can keep an eye on your dog when they’re at home or out patrolling your backyard – and you’re away.
⚠️ But even with all these perks, your dog might still jump the fence or sneak through a forgotten backyard door someday. So once they have, can a Ring Pet Tag alone keep them 100% safe?
Why the Ring Pet Tag doesn’t 100% guarantee your dog’s safety
When it comes to actively finding and tracking your lost dog, Ring Pet Tags can only help someone identify them. They’re also a smart option to intervene if your dog is about to knock over a plant or get up to something mischievous. (But only while they’re still at home.) In fact, Ring Pet Tags might even limit your ability to find your dog safely and on time. Here are a couple of ways how.
You’ll be stuck waiting for another Ring app user to find your dog
You’ve set up your pet profile, switched on Lost Mode…now it’s up to another well-intentioned Ring app user to contact you. With Ring, you can broadcast your call for help with a wider community. But in an emergency, you’re still limited to the information you receive via the Ring app. So the most you can do is hope your dog hasn’t wandered off too far and that some kind stranger notices their pet tag QR code. (And then actually gets in touch with you to let you know they’ve found your dog.)
Leaving your dog’s safety in a stranger’s hands isn’t the best choice to ensure it. Rather, tracking and finding your dog yourself helps you take a more active role in keeping your buddy safe.
A pet tag QR code is an identifier – not a pet tracker
If you check your Ring app and see that someone’s scanned your dog’s QR code, it’s still no guarantee that they’ll actually return your dog to you. Or that you’ll find them safe and sound. Using Ring’s Pet Tag means you’re leaving their safety in the hands of a stranger. Which, in a world where dognapping is on the rise, can actually put your dog at great risk of harm.
💡When it comes to actively finding your pet, you’re best off using a dedicated smart dog tracker. Ideally one with LIVE tracking and real-time updates every couple of seconds. So you always know where your dog is, with just a glance at your phone or device.
You’ll need multiple Ring products for a pet-safe home environment
Ring products are designed for creating a secure home environment. For example, you could keep tabs on your dog via their indoor and outdoor cameras. Or let them out for some outdoor times with Ring’s smart locks. Or use their Video Doorbell or Stick Up Cam to check in on where your dog might have wandered to – within your house or your backyard.
All these devices are separate purchases.
So while the Pet Tag itself is on the affordable side, you’ll still end up with higher upfront and ongoing costs in the long run having to buy a whole range of Ring devices. (And then install and maintain them over time.) You’ll also have to watch your dog non-stop throughout the day to catch the exact moment a home invader breaks in or they bolt off outside the fence. Which might then be too late for you to intervene to keep your buddy safe.
A regular pet ID tag and microchip are more affordable
And even more so, they may actually be legal requirements depending on where you live. A simple, engraved ID tag can cost you anywhere between $5-$20. If someone finds your lost dog, they’re way more likely to just call the number right there on the tag than to whip out their phone, find a QR code scanner, and then actually scan it. It’s all about making it super easy for a good Samaritan to help your dog get home. Plus, you can even add “Microchipped” to the tag. This tells anyone who finds your dog to take them to a vet or shelter for a quick scan.
Microchips, likewise, are implanted quickly and painlessly into your dog’s skin. They act like a permanent ID tag for your dog and cost anywhere between $25-$60 as a one-time fee. Unlike a tag, a microchip won’t fall off or get smudged. While it can’t help you FIND your dog, it’s solid proof that you’re their owner. In fact, whenever a lost pet shows up at a vet or shelter, the very first thing they do is scan for a microchip. If your dog has one, your contact info pops right up, and boom – reunion time! In fact, many places even require microchipping, which just shows how important they are.
Where a smart dog tracker makes sense instead
If you’re concerned about leaving your dog at home alone, the right pet tracker can help you ensure they’re safe – always. Pet parents around the world are using Tractive’s life-saving GPS technology to find their lost pets – dogs, cats, and even a wild buck!
Strapped to your dog’s collar, you can now:
- Track your dog in real-time
Just switch to LIVE mode via your Tractive mobile app – and follow your dog’s every step, as they make their every step. Better yet, unlike AirTags, Tractive devices don’t need a network of compatible devices to work. Nor are they limited by any range. - Get alerted if your dog escapes home
By setting up “safe zones” and “no go zones” via your Tractive mobile app. If your dog leaves a safe zone, for example, you’ll get an escape alert on your phone.
- Locate your dog at close range
Your trusty Tractive device also includes short-range Bluetooth tracking for areas with poor network or where GPS isn’t helpful. (Like indoors.) So you can locate your dog is they’re hiding at close range through your tracker’s Bluetooth-powered Radar Mode, Light & Sound, or even Augmented Reality. - Spot potential health issues before they worsen
Beyond GPS, your tracker also includes Health Monitoring features like vital signs monitoring, activity tracking, and even Separation Anxiety monitoring. Just switch on the Separation Anxiety monitor before leaving home to get alerted if your dog is showing signs of anxiety, like excessive barking or restless pacing.
Take an active role in finding your lost dog – with the right tech
Ring products are built for home security – not dogs. The Ring Pet tag might seem cool and modern, and it’s pretty inexpensive upfront (around $10-$20). But honestly, relying on a QR code and a community app can be a bit of a gamble. What if the person who finds your dog isn’t familiar with the Ring app? Or doesn’t even have a smartphone on them? That’s where a simple, easy-to-read ID tag and a permanent microchip really shine. They’re a super reliable, affordable, and widely recognized way to make sure your best friend makes it back to you.
Finally, with a dedicated smart dog tracker like the Tractive GPS, you;ll always know where your dog is – no matter where you are in the world. So you can take your buddy’s safety into your own hands and secure your peace of mind for the long term.
Follow your dog anywhere
Get real-time location information, wherever they go. And find out when they try to make an escape, or just when they go somewhere they shouldn’t, with Virtual Fences.
And if you’ve liked this post, share it with a friend or a loved one – and let’s help build a safer, kinder world for our furry friends together.
