Microchip vs GPS Dog Tracker: Debunking The Myth Of The Dog Tracker Chip
Is there a dog tracking microchip? What can microchips and GPS trackers do exactly? Get the facts to keep your dog safe!
Last Updated: 22 October 2024
Dogs run away all the time. And when they do, we understandably want to find them and bring them back to safety as soon as possible. So maybe you’ve been thinking – can I track my runaway dog with a dog tracker chip? While it’s not possible to track your dog with a microchip, a better option does exist. In this post, we explain why that is, what a chip for dogs can and cannot do, and what GPS trackers for dogs offer that microchips don’t.
Key Takeaways:
A microchip can only help someone identify your lost dog and contact you.
Only a true GPS dog tracker lets you track and find your dog in real time.
Microchip for dogs: what they are (and what they aren’t)
What is a dog microchip?
A microchip for dogs is a radio-frequency identification (RFID) implant1. As this name suggests, the chip is used for identification purposes only. It’s composed of a tiny, electronic chip, each of which carries a unique ID number.
provide a permanent and safe solution for identifying your dog
mean your buddy won’t be mistaken for a stray and sent off to the pound
can serve as some kind of proof that you’re the rightful caretakerof your dog and prevent your buddy from being re-homed
How big is a chip for dogs?
Microchips for dogs are incredibly tiny. Enclosed in a glass cylinder, about 11-14 mm long and 2-2.3 mm thick, dog microchips weigh roughly 0.025 grams.
Around the size of a grain of rice, microchips for dogs are too tiny to contain GPS or other location technology.
How do dog microchips work?
Dog microchips only serve one purpose – to help reunite you with your lost dog. Here’s how they work:
First you have to get your dog microchipped.
Then, if your dog is found by a stranger, they can take them to a vet or animal shelter.
There professionals can scan the dog for the microchip.
Finally, they can contact you and you can pick up your dog.
In order for microchips to work, you have to keep your contract information up to date in the microchip database.
A vet checking a dog for a microchip
Can a microchip help me find my lost dog?
Unfortunately, microchips are extremely limited in their use. The only way to make use of a microchip is for someone to find your dog, bring them to a vet and read the chip.
While you’re on the search for your missing dog, a microchip is of no help.
A microchip also limits you to the goodwill of strangers around you. Meaning, a kind stranger has to actually:
Approach your lost dog – who might be a mess of panic, nerves, and adrenaline,
Check them for an ID tag (which hopefully indicates that your dog is microchipped – or includes your contact details)
Contact you – or get your dog to a vet or a shelter where…
someone has to scan your dog for a microchip…
and hopefully if you’ve kept your contact details updated, the staff can get in touch with you to let you know they’ve found your dog.
Which, if you ask us, is a lot of “Ifs” – especially when your dog’s safety is concerned.
But just imagine if your lost dog ispicked up by a dognapper instead? For this reason alone, depending on a microchip to reunite you with your lost dog is not optimal when you need to act fast to find your beloved furry friend.
Luckily, GPS dog trackers provide the solution to safely track and retrieve your lost dog in real-time.
GPS trackers for dogs: real-time tracking device for runaway dogs
“The [Tractive GPS DOG] tracker is very reliable! It’s comforting to know that it will show the exact location of my dog no matter where we are or who is walking him – which his microchip cannot do.”
Unlike a microchip, a GPS dog tracker allows you to track your dog in real-time, so you can find your dog immediately, should they ever go missing.
How do GPS dog trackers work?
Most GPS dog trackers work using a combination of GPS, mobile network, and other fancy technology.
First, the tracker uses GPS satellites to detect it’s own (and therefore the dog’s) location.
Then, it sends that information to the tracking software automatically (using the same cell technology that allows you to send text messages).
Finally, watch as your dog’s location is updated on the map in the app in real-time.
So you need both mobile coverage and a good GPS signal in order for a dog tracker to work – luckily that’s no issue in most parts of the world!
How big are GPS dog trackers?
GPS dog trackers are of course larger than microchips – they have to be to contain all that helpful technology. Still, they’re built to be compact and comfortable enough for your dog to wear on their collar. For instance, the bestselling Tractive GPS Dog Tracker has dimensions of 71 x 29 x 17 mm (2.8 x 1.1 x 0.7 in) and weighs only 39 grams (1.4 ounces). At such a small size, they’re suitable for all dogs 4 kg and above.
What are the advantages of a GPS tracker over a dog chip?
GPS trackers, unlike microchips, allow you to track your lost dog in real time; dramatically increasing your chances of retrieving your runaway dog.
Besides the main advantage of being able to LIVE track your dog, popular GPS dog trackers come with so many other features that make them loved by pet parents worldwide. Including:
Virtual Fence – get notified if your dog leaves a Safe Area (or enters a No-Go Zone)
Wellness Monitoring – keep track of your dog’s activity and sleep stats
Health Alerts – get alerted about abnormal behavior in your furry friend
Location History & Heatmap – see where your dog has been & where they spent the most time
Comfortable, small & lightweight – fits collars and harnesses of most sizes (up to 1 inch wide)
Light & Sound – activate the LED light or buzzer to help you find your dog in the dark
Worldwide tracking& unlimited range – for the price of a cup of coffee per month
100% Waterproof – adventure-proof, too
Durable & shock-resistant
Family & Public Sharing – let trusted friends and family track your dog
Radar Mode – find your dog even at close range or indoors
Power Saving Zone – connect your home’s Wifi so the battery lasts even longer
Alexa compatible
The tracker can be easily attached to your dog’s collar or harness using the included mounting clips.
Not be to dramatic but… understanding which technology to use to keep your dog safe could literally be the difference between life and death. Just ask Imogen, who was rescued from a frozen lake thanks to her mom’s good decision to invest in a Tractive GPS dog tracker.
“My name is Imogen, and today my Tractive GPS collar saved my life.
Mom knew something was wrong. Our GPS trackers told her we were far away.Mom came to where the map on her phone said I was, and she found me, very still in the ice and water.
I was about 20 feet from shore, broken through the ice and had been there a while. She couldn’t reach me and my legs wouldn’t work to try to get to her.”
Summary of differences: dog tracker vs. microchip for dogs
Both microchips and GPS trackers were built for keeping your dog safe in case they get lost. But in terms of how they do that dog trackers and microchips couldn’t be more different.
So here’s a quick summary of the differencesbetween microchips for dogs and dog GPS trackers:
A GPS dog tracker tracks your pet in real time; a microchip cannot track pets at all.
A GPS dog tracker comes with loads of pet-friendly features like Health Alerts, Virtual Fences, and more; microchips only contain basic info.
A GPS dog tracker can be tracked anytime via smartphone or web browser – on multiple devices at the same time. Microchips can only be scanned by a professional with a special device.
A GPS dog tracker is worn comfortably on a dog’s collar; microchips are injected under a pet’s skin.
What do I need to keep my dog safe?
Losing your dog can be a heartwrenching experience. But the good news is,you can take an active role in keeping your buddy safe – no matter where they end up wandering off to. To ensure that your dog is never lost again, we recommend using all of the following:
Identification collar tags with your name and phone number clearly visible.
GPS dog tracker, which will allow you to track your dog in real-time, anytime they leave your sight.
Microchip implant for identification purposes.
This way, your furry friend will always be by your side!
