Need a Smart Dog Collar? Consider These Smart Choices

Dog collars of old were a simple way for owners to restrain their pets on the end of a leash. Eventually they served additional purposes, from holding ID tags to providing flea and tick prevention. Today, however, digital technology has turned this humble device into an advanced tool that helps you protect your dog's safety and wellness. Let's look at the fascinating world of smart dog collars -- including some popular models that boast their own particular strengths.

What's So Smart About Smart Collars?

We live in a world of connected wireless devices, from smartphones and smart watches to self-driving cars, GPS maps, and fully-equipped smart homes. Smart dog collars offer similar features, but in ways that allow you to check your dog's wellness, location and behaviors. In some cases, the devices are built into a collar; in others, they're meant to be attached to an existing collar.

Most smart dog collars offer the same basic functionality, although some may specialize more in one type of area or another. These features may include:

• GPS tracking for pinpointing your dog's location and following its movement patterns.
• Geofencing, a technique for training your dog to remain within a specific area (such as your back yard).
• Health monitoring, in which the device monitors and records your dog's vital signs and/or warns you of potential health concerns.

Smart dog collars work in conjunction with phone apps. Information is sent directly to your phone so you can see exactly what's going on with your furry friend. Let's break down some of the most promising options depending on what's most important to you.

Track Your Dog With the Garmin T20

If your top priority is keeping an eye on your dog's current location (or to see where it wanders off to when you're not watching), go for the Garmin T20. Although the Garmin T20 works with a separate, proprietary handheld controller instead of your phone, it offers an amazing nine-mile tracking range. This makes it ideal for hunters who need to let their dogs run free while sniffing out game -- but it works just as well for off-leash fun in the park.

Geofence Your Dog With Spot-On

Sometimes you don't want your dog to run free at all; instead, your goal is to keep it within a small, supervisable area. The Spot-On GPS Dog Fence's accompanying smartphone app lets you map out a specific area within which you want your dog to stay put. When your dog approaches this invisible border, the collar gives it some mild electrical stimulation to discourage it from going any farther. This geofencing feature is a highly-effective training tool.

Monitor Your Dog's Health With the Invoxia Minitails

How's your dog's health? You can get some quick answers with the Invoxia Minitails Health & GPS Tracker. This amazing device provides not only GPS tracking but also an impressive range of health and behavioral monitoring features. It can monitor your dog's heart rate, cardiac "signature," respiration, and sleep quality. It can even show you valuable data on how much time your dog spends playing and eating.

Put Your iPhone to Use With the Apple AirTag

If you live your life within the Apple ecosystem, you probably own an iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Macbook etc. Now your dog can join the party with the Apple AirTag. While you'll have to find a way to attach this tiny device to your dog's collar, it tracks extremely well -- you can even attach it to other things that need GPS tracking when you're using it on your dog. You may also be impressed by the low purchase price and the fact that you don't need to buy a subscription plan.

Get a Great Mix of Features With the Fi Series 3

For a smart dog collar that does just about everything you could want or expect, check out the Fi Series 3 perfectly. Fi calls it "the world's most advanced GPS collar," and it certainly covers a wide range of desirable features, from GPS tracking and geofencing to health and activity monitoring. This smart collar may also prove the best choice for durability. In addition to being waterproof, the Series 3 can also withstand up to 400 pounds of pulling or chewing force.

Send Real-Time Data to Your Vet With the PetPace V3.0

Are you looking for a way not only to monitor your dog's health, but also to relay that data directly to your veterinarian? The PetPace V3.0 makes it possible. This product, and its subscription-based service, give you a wealth of information about your pet's vital signs, sleep patterns, and other wellness markers. Better yet, it sends that data to your vet in real time. Its AskaVet feature even lets you confer with veterinarians about this data through the modern miracle of telemedicine.

Now that you've seen the possibilities, it's your turn to select the smart dog collar that best suits your needs. If you can't decide, ask your vet for additional recommendations and guidance!