The 8 Best Smart Collars and Trackers for Labradors Reviewed

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Technology sure has come a long way, especially as it relates to our pets. Today, we can microchip our dogs so they have a better chance of returning to us if lost. In a similar vein, you can also buy a smart collar that uses GPS or Wi-Fi. What are the best smart collars and trackers for larger breeds like Labrador Retrievers?

These are the top 8 Wi-Fi/GPS collars and trackers for Labs:

  • Whistle GPS + Health + Fitness
  • FitBark GPS Dog Tracker
  • Tractive Waterproof GPS Dog Tracker 
  • Garmin T5 GPS Dog Collar
  • Jiobit GPS Dog Location Monitor
  • Dogtra Pathfinder TRX GPS Tracking Collar
  • PETFON Pet GPS Tracker
  • Cube GPS Tracker

In this guide, we’ll review each of these extraordinary dog collars and trackers so you can select the best one for your Lab. You’ll walk with more confidence each time you two go to the dog park or even around the block!

In this article

Whistle GPS + Health + Fitness

‍Whistle GPS + Health + Fitness
Whistle GPS + Health + Fitness

A favorite among dog owners who want to know more about their canines is the Whistle. This GPS-driven device tracks your Labrador Retriever’s whereabouts, wherever those happen to be at the time. 

You can select “safe places” for your Lab to go. If your dog happens to venture outside of those zones, Whistle will immediately alert you so you can do something about it. This safety feature for your Lab will surely give you greater peace of mind.

Of course, the Whistle is more than a GPS tracker. It can also monitor your Lab’s fitness levels and their health, providing valuable metrics such as how much they walked and the number of calories burned. 

You can even set health goals for your canine that are customized according to the dog’s weight, age, and breed.

The Whistle’s battery lasts for 20 days on average. If you’re walking your Lab after dark, the collar has an included nightlight with three different safety settings. The light can stay on consistently or flash slowly or quickly. 

You must subscribe to a monthly service to use the breadth of Whistle’s features. As a subscriber, you can contact a vet on-demand through VETINSIGHT to get help for your dog even when neither of you is at home. 

FitBark GPS Dog Tracker

FitBark GPS Dog Tracker
FitBark GPS Dog Tracker

The FitBark GPS dog tracker is another GPS device to consider for your Lab. 

Weighing a mere 17 grams, the FitBark is for dogs of any size, so your pup is certainly included.

If you have a Google Fit, an Apple HealthKit, an Apple Watch, or a FitBit, you can connect the FitBark to any of these devices to feed your dog’s health activity straight to your smartwatch. The two of you can get healthier together!

What does the FitBark track? Quite a lot of valuable information! You can learn more about your Lab’s behavior, distance traveled, calories burned, sleep quality, rate of activity, and more. 

Depending on how you use the FitBark, its battery can last up to 30 days before needing a recharge. 

For example, if you keep your Lab in the FitBark’s Bluetooth range, then the device will be powered for 30 days and sometimes longer. If your dog divides their time between doggy daycare and home, then the FitBark will last about 20 days.

If your Lab roams in Wi-Fi-connected locations that don’t always have Bluetooth, the FitBark is good for about 10 days. In a scenario where your dog is outside its designated safe area without Bluetooth connectivity, the device lasts for about four days. 

Tractive Waterproof GPS Dog Tracker

Tractive Waterproof GPS Dog Tracker
Tractive Waterproof GPS Dog Tracker

If your Labrador Retriever has gotten away from you one too many times on your daily walks, then try the Tractive waterproof GPS dog tracker

The tracker uses live GPS to provide tracking updates on your four-legged friend every two to three seconds. You’ll never wonder what your Lab has gotten up to this time!

Tractive features activity monitoring, which also includes such useful data as the number of calories your Lab burned, how much time they spend being active, and how much time they’re resting. 

In the location history, you can determine where in the neighborhood your Labrador Retriever’s favorite spots are. You can also track where they’ve gone. 

If you’re not so fond of their roaming, Tractive allows you to set up a virtual fence, which is a safe zone your Lab should stay within. The tracker will let you know when or if your Lab leaves the virtual fence.

What’s cool about Tractive is the GPS tracker doesn’t only work in the United States but in 150 countries in all. If you’re traveling internationally and bringing your Lab, you can feel confident that they won’t get lost in a strange new place.

To track all this data, you only need to download the Tractive app to your smartphone or tablet. The app is free to download and available for Android and iOS devices. You can also access your dog’s data from a desktop computer using an Internet browser.

You must have a subscription plan to use the Tractive app. 

Garmin T5 GPS Dog Collar

Garmin T5 GPS Dog Collar
Garmin T5 GPS Dog Collar

For a dog collar and GPS all in one, we recommend the Garmin T5

As a Global Navigation Satellite System or GLONASS and GPS receiver, the T5 includes a series of LED lights that can act as beacons if you activate them via the included handheld remote. 

The lights will always make it easy to spot your Lab, as they shine for 100 yards from wherever your dog stands. In low-light conditions such as early morning or dusky walks as well as when the weather is less than pleasant, the T5’s LED lights will certainly come in handy.

The water-resistant and durable collar and GPS combo works within nine miles, which makes it mighty hard to lose your dog!

The collar strap is an inch in size and comes in blue. Garmin says you can buy a replacement strap if you need another one or you’d prefer a different color. 

The lithium-ion battery that powers the T5 is rechargeable, lasting between 20 and 40 hours on average. 

Jiobit GPS Dog Location Monitor

Jiobit GPS Dog Location Monitor
Jiobit GPS Dog Location Monitor

Where is your Lab right this second? Wonder no more with the Jiobit GPS dog location monitor

Fun fact: this GPS location monitor is for dogs and cats alike!

Combining technologies such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and GPS, the Jiobit location tracker can determine where your Lab is not only outdoors but indoors as well. Just connect the tracker to your dog’s collar and you can begin monitoring their behavior and activity right away. 

Download the accompanying free mobile app and you can see information on your Lab in real-time. Location updates tell you where your Lab is, and geofencing allows you to control your Lab’s traveling. The Jiobit app will alert you if your dog wanders off the beaten path. 

The timeline history feature tracks your Lab’s whereabouts for up to a week. 

The Jiobit is water-resistant but not waterproof. It’s okay if your Lab is sitting poolside and gets splashed, but we wouldn’t recommend your dog jumping into the pool with this location monitor on.

Dogtra Pathfinder TRX GPS Tracking Collar

Dogtra Pathfinder TRX GPS Tracking Collar
Dogtra Pathfinder TRX GPS Tracking Collar

A heavy-duty GPS tracking collar in the same vein as the Garmin T5 is the Dogtra Pathfinder TRX

The Pathfinder TRX will track your Lab for an expansive nine miles. Get a more detailed review into your Lab’s location than ever, as the GPS collar displays terrain information and can even give you a satellite view of your dog’s whereabouts.

The GPS update rate is once per two seconds. You can also zoom in on the GPS so you can see all the small details in real-time.

Ideal for dogs weighing 35 pounds and up, if you have several Labs, the Pathfinder TRX can track up to 21 dogs at the same time. That’s right, we said 21 dogs!

Geo-fencing is available so you can contain your Lab, and alerts will indicate if your dog steps out of your comfort zone. 

Even better is that the Dogtra Pathfinder TRX does not require a subscription to use! 

PETFON Pet GPS Tracker

PETFON Pet GPS Tracker
PETFON Pet GPS Tracker

For hours at a time, you can keep an eagle eye on your Lab with the PETFON pet GPS tracker

As a Wi-Fi dog tracker, the PETFON relies on wireless access points and hotspots to determine where your canine is. 

Using LowPan wireless transmission technology and high-gain Laser Carving Antennae, the PETFON tracker can monitor your Lab for nearly four miles in an open or suburban area. You carry the control terminal and your Lab wears the tracker itself. 

The tracker is waterproof to handle snow and rain, both of which your dog will inevitably be exposed to on your regular walks. 

The PETFON tracker also includes a light and sound alarm. The lights are emitted via an LED that can display 11 different colors. As for the sound alarm, you can customize the ringing sound so it’s not too jarring to your dog (or your neighbors!). 

With the PETFON mobile app on your smartphone, you can track your Lab’s travels, set a safety e-fence alarm, and also establish dangerous zones you don’t want your dog to go. The above-mentioned alarm will sound if your Lab enters one of these zones.

The PETFON tracker does not require a subscription to use. 

Cube GPS Tracker

Cube GPS Tracker
Cube GPS Tracker

The last GPS dog collar we want to share is the Cube

Tracking your Labrador Retriever couldn’t be simpler with the Cube. Erect geofences from your free Cube smartphone app. 

You can also review location history, including where your dog is at current, how fast they’re traveling, and how long they spend time in where they are.

You can even share Cube data with other devices belonging to your friends or family. 

Whenever the Cube doesn’t move for several minutes, it goes into sleep mode so it’s not sucking up battery life unnecessarily. The battery can last anywhere from 10 to 60 days! With a low-battery alert, you always know when to recharge.

You must have a monthly subscription to use the Cube.

Conclusion

With so many great Wi-Fi and GPS dog collars and trackers on the market, there’s no need to ever wonder about the location of your Labrador Retriever again. Even if your dog usually isn’t so rambunctious, having one of these trackers is still a good idea!