Is AirTag for your dog a good idea?

With the democratization of smartphones and various related accessories, one has emerged in recent years from the depths of Apple’s laboratories: the AirTag. These little object-tracking accessories have been hijacked by a number of accessory manufacturers, who have turned them into ‘GPS’ for dogs by selling AirTag holders to attach to your dog’s collar or harness. Is this a good solution? Here are a few things to think about.

Are AirTags for dogs a bad idea?

Dog products with an AirTag inside are potentially fatal for your pet. An AirTag is not designed to withstand chewing by our four-legged friends. The risk is that they will bite them and the chemicals in the AirTag battery will be ingested, which could lead to your dog’s death.

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There is also the risk of ingesting it if it falls to the ground, for example when playing with another dog. This can lead to chemical burns inside the digestive tract, necessitating an operation to repair the damage.

Why is it a bad idea to use AirTags to locate your dog?

Unlike a GPS, an Airtag only works via the Apple locator network. This means that there have to be Apple devices within 10-15 metres of your dog for the locator to work. Contrary to what the Apple website says, the Locate application doesn’t find everything.

An AirTag operates via Bluetooth only, which limits its range as well as its effectiveness depending on where your pet is. A very simple example, a village in the countryside. The few Apple devices nearby will limit the AirTag’s location or even simply not work, not to mention a possible white zone for telephone operators.

In short, the only use for an AirTag on your dog is in town. Outside town, it’s better not to put anything on him, as he won’t swallow his AirTag if he manages to pick it up.

What should you choose if you want to locate your dog?

The only valid solution to date is to use a GPS for dogs. These GPS devices are designed for this purpose and will allow your best friend to enjoy his outings without fear for his health. Dog GPS units are hard-wearing, hard-to-swallow and waterproof.

Unlike AirTag, which depends on which Apple devices are nearby, GPS depends on three things:

• Charging the battery
• Clearance to pick up GPS position
• Telephone operators in the area where your pet is staying

The difference is that the location system is independent, and works via GPS (satellite) rather than through a network of a certain brand of nearby devices connected to the Internet.

The GPS devices sold for dogs have a smartphone application that makes it easy to locate Medor on a map, so you can go to where he is and pick him up.

There are also tags that can be used to locate your dog when it is found and the QR code or NFC on the tag is scanned.

We can only recommend that you use both a PuppyTag and a GPS so that you can be prepared for any situation and let your dog go with a clear head.