6 Best Dog Activity Trackers & FitBits: Monitoring Your Pup’s Health and Fitness
Movement insights show your pup’s patterns and help you catch wellness changes early.
6 Best Dog Activity Trackers & FitBits: Monitoring Your Pupâs Health and Fitness
Keeping your dog healthy and happy is every pet parentâs priority, but understanding their daily activity, sleep patterns, and whereabouts can be challenging. Dog activity trackers and FitBits for pets are designed to help you monitor your dogâs health, set fitness goals, and ensure their safety with real-time GPS tracking and alerts. In this detailed guide, we unveil six of the best dog activity and health trackers to give you peace of mind and help your pup thrive.
Why Choose an Activity Tracker for Your Dog?
Dog activity trackers have revolutionized pet care by transforming how owners monitor their dogsâ health, activity levels, and even sleep patterns. The primary benefits include:
- Health Monitoring: Track daily activity, rest, calorie burn, and sleep habits to detect any underlying health issues early.
- Location Tracking: Use GPS-enabled trackers to locate lost pets or set safe zones for extra safety and security.
- Fitness Goals: Set customized activity or step goals based on breed, weight, and age, supporting healthy growth and weight management.
- Behavior Insights: Some trackers can reveal behavioral patterns, including anxiety or excessive licking and scratching, alerting you to potential problems.
- Peace of Mind: Remotely monitor your dogâs well-being from your smartphone, wherever you are.
The 6 Best Dog Activity Trackers and Pet FitBits
Letâs dive into the top-rated pet activity trackers available today, highlighting their standout features, strengths, and concerns.
1. Fi Series 3 Smart Collar
Best for tracking steps and safety alerts
The Fi Series 3 Smart Collar is a favorite among step-counting pet parents and those who want real-time GPS safety features for their dog. This collar goes beyond basic tracking:
- Step Tracking: Customizable daily step goals tailored to your dogâs breed, size, and age for precise fitness management.
- Leaderboard Competition: Engage in fun challenges and see how your pup ranks locally among other Fi users.
- Long Battery Life: Up to 3 months on a single chargeâsignificantly more than many other options.
- Safe Zone Notifications: Instantly alerts you if your dog leaves a designated safe area.
- Sleep Monitoring: Tracks your pupâs sleep patterns, aiding in holistic health monitoring.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Long battery life (up to 3 months) Impressive step tracking Safe zone notifications Sleep monitoring | Higher cost than other trackers Doesnât track calories or nutrition Distance only calculated for walks, not all activity |
If you want in-depth nutritional and calorie tracking, consider the FitBark 2, which supplements Fiâs features.
2. FitBark 2
Best for holistic pet fitness, health, and behavior tracking
The FitBark 2 is the gold standard for pet fitness and comprehensive health monitoring. Like a FitBit for dogs, itâs designed to give you actionable insights and even integrates with popular fitness wearables:
- 24/7 Activity Monitoring: Measures activity, sleep, mobility, anxiety levels, and health concerns (including skin issues).
- BarkPoints System: Uses its own points-based approach to track progress, offering goals like âAverage,â âActive,â and âOlympian.â
- Family Dashboard: Share your dogâs stats and history with family, your veterinarian, or trainers via an intuitive app or the web.
- Human-Dog Integration: Seamlessly links your own fitness tracker (including Apple Watch) for a unified health dashboard.
- No Monthly Fee: Operates without a subscription for core features, keeping costs down if you donât need GPS.
While the FitBark 2 lacks built-in GPS, it offers an optional FitBark GPS model with real-time location tracking (subscription required). Its point-based fitness metrics make it suitable for all lifestylesâincluding dogs who may not take traditional walks or have variable mobility needs.
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3. FitBark GPS
Best for GPS tracking plus advanced fitness monitoring
The FitBark GPS merges robust activity tracking with the power of GPS, ensuring you always know your dogâs location.
- Comprehensive Fitness Data: Tracks steps, distance, calories, sleep, and behavioral trends alongside location data.
- Custom Goals: Enter breed, age, and weight to personalize your dogâs activity targets and monitor progress.
- BarkPoints Motivation: Reward and motivate your pup to hit new milestones daily, with adjustable targets.
- App Notifications: Get real-time escape alerts and instantly share your petâs location data with trusted contacts.
- Subscription Required: Enables GPS tracking functions with an affordable monthly or annual plan.
FitBark GPS is ideal for pet owners who want a reliable combination of health monitoring and safety assurance through location tracking.
4. Tractive LTE GPS Dog Tracker
Best for global GPS coverage and live location tracking
The Tractive LTE GPS Dog Tracker is a versatile, travel-friendly tracker with worldwide cellular coverage. It stands out for pet owners who are frequently on the move or want to ensure their dogâs safety wherever they go.
- International GPS Coverage: Works in 150+ countries using multiple cellular networks for reliable tracking everywhere.
- Safe Zones and Real-Time Alerts: Create custom geofenced âsafe zonesâ and get instant notifications if your pet leaves the area.
- Live Tracking: Updates your dogâs exact location every 15-60 seconds in the app. Useful for active escape artists.
- Activity & Sleep Monitoring: Tracks active time, calories burned, sleep amount, and calm momentsânot just activity.
- LED Light & Speaker Functions: Helps you locate your dog visually or audibly, even at night or in low light.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Works worldwide Affordable subscription Waterproof design Live tracking and safe zone alerts Long battery life (8-10 days) | Subscription required for GPS features Battery drains faster on live mode Tracking accuracy depends on cellular coverage Does not monitor behaviors like licking/scratching |
5. Tractive Health & Fitness Monitoring
Best for balanced health and wellness insights
Beyond GPS, the Tractive trackerâs health metrics are easy to use and meaningful for wellness-minded dog parents:
- Customizable Activity Tracking: See how your dogâs active minutes and rest times compare to breed and size averages.
- Calorie Burn & Sleep Data: Supports weight management and signals possible health issues early.
- App Dashboard: All activity and sleep stats are easily accessible in the Tractive companion app.
- Easy Setup: Enter your petâs height and weight for tailored tracking and recommendations.
While it does not monitor behavioral actions like eating, drinking, licking, or scratching, Tractive provides the foundational health data most owners need.
6. PETKIT Fit
Best for lightweight, budget-friendly pet fitness tracking
The PETKIT Fit prioritizes simplicity, making it a great choice for small or medium dogs and owners interested in step counts and basic health:
- Lightweight Design: Comfortable for even petite breeds without weighing them down.
- Affordable Price Point: Suitable for dog owners starting out with wearable technology.
- Core Activity Monitoring: Measures steps, distance, and light exercise, with data synced to your mobile phone.
While it lacks advanced features such as GPS or deep health insights, PETKIT Fit provides a fuss-free entry point for pet activity data.
How to Choose the Best Dog Activity Tracker for Your Needs
When selecting the best fitness tracker for your dog, consider these important factors:
- Primary Purpose: Do you need GPS for safety, or are activity and health metrics your priority?
- Dogâs Size and Age: Not every collar is suitable for small dogs or puppies; check product sizing guidelines carefully.
- Subscription Costs: Most GPS-enabled devices require a monthly or yearly fee. Activity-only trackers often do not.
- Battery Life: Frequent charging can be inconvenient; models like the Fi Series 3 excel in lasting power.
- Integration: Some trackers can link to health apps, human fitness wearables, or share data with your vet easily.
- Durability: Waterproof and tough designs matter for active pups who love the outdoors.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the best overall dog activity tracker?
The FitBark 2 stands out for comprehensive health, sleep, and activity tracking without a subscription, while the Fi Series 3 and Tractive GPS are top picks for those prioritizing step counting and GPS security, respectively.
How do dog activity trackers work?
Dog activity trackers use built-in accelerometers and GPS modules to measure movement, steps, rest, location, and sometimes behaviors. They sync data with a mobile app for real-time monitoring and analysis.
Are subscriptions required for all dog trackers?
No. Trackers focusing solely on activity and health (like FitBark 2) generally do not need a subscription. Devices with GPS tracking (FitBark GPS, Tractive, Fi) require a subscription for location services and alerts.
Can I use a dog activity tracker on a cat?
Some models are small and light enough for cats. Always check manufacturer recommendations and fit guidelines before use on other animals.
How accurate are pet fitness trackers?
Accuracy varies by brand and technology. GPS is typically accurate outdoors, while activity and step counts are estimated using movement patterns. Data should be interpreted as trends rather than absolute numbers.
Is it safe for dogs to wear a tracker all day?
Yes, most are designed for 24/7 wear, made of safe, durable, hypoallergenic materials. Remove devices if your pet develops an allergy or skin irritation, and check the fit regularly.
Final Thoughts
Dog activity trackers are an invaluable addition to the modern pet parentâs toolkit. Whether you want to boost your dogâs daily exercise, monitor their health, or maintain their safety with real-time GPS, there is a tracker tailored for every dog and household. Take into account your pupâs needs, your lifestyle, and the trackerâs capabilities to discover the perfect fit for your best friendâs health, happiness, and safety.
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