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Apple's AirTag has a small form factor that dogs often accidentally eat. It uses a CR2032 lithium 3V button cell battery. Veterinarians say that if a dog bites through or swallows the battery, it can cause burns to the dog's mouth or gastrointestinal tract.

There is even a risk of fire when the dog bites through the battery. Recently a user on YouTube uploaded such a video.

In addition to this, Apple officials say that AirTag is a device that is only suitable for tracking small items such as wallets, keys, and headphones. It uses a combination of Ultra-Wideband technology (UWB) and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) to realize the locating role.

What are the limitations of AirTags for pet tracking?

With a Bluetooth connection, users can track items using AirTag. They can see the location information of the item in the Find Me app.

When AirTag is disconnected from the user's iPhone Bluetooth connection requires the user to set it into lost mode. Users will be notified when an Apple product is in the vicinity of the AirTag and range of the Find My Network.

1.Disadvantages of AirTag

1.1 Need Enough Apple Products

The original purpose of dog parents to wear AirTag dog collars for their dogs is to protect their dogs. But in the scenario where the dog is moving in a wide range, it needs a lot of Apple devices to track the location.

If there is no Apple product near the dog, an AirTag dog collar will not work. Especially for dog parents living in rural areas, are not suitable to use AirTag to track their dogs.

There is still a possibility that the dog may pass by the Apple device in the city, but in rural areas, it’s highly unlikely. Under the question about whether AirTag can still see the location of the dog after disconnecting the Bluetooth connection, someone made this answer.

1.2 No GPS Location Function

AirTag is not a GPS tracker. Dog parents cannot use it to track their dogs in real time. If dog parents go hiking and camping with their dogs, they will not be able to find their dog quickly if they lose it.

2. GPS Dog Collar Recommendations

A GPS dog collar is designed to track your dog's location. Compared with AirTag, it has a broader tracking range and a more accurate positioning function.

In addition, GPS dog collars have more features. Some GPS collars also have electronic fences and activity data monitoring functions.

I will recommend suitable GPS dog collars for dog parents based on the characteristics of different regions, and you can freely choose the most suitable product for your situation.

2.1 Urban areas

Cellular signals in cities are usually excellent. Dog parents can use GPS dog collars such as Tractive or Whistle. These products transmit the dog's location data through the cellular network, and the user can check the dog's location in the mobile app.

However, these GPS dog collars usually require a monthly subscription fee or will not work. Users can choose different subscription packages according to their needs.

2.2 Rural or Suburban Areas

Cell phone signals are poor in suburban or rural areas due to fewer cellular base stations. Using a dog GPS collar like Tractive that relies on cellular signal often does not work correctly.

Dog parents who live in these areas or take their dogs hiking or camping can choose a GPS dog collar for rural areas that work on radio signals, such as the Aorkuler or Garmin dog GPS tracker. These GPS dog trackers use radio technology to transmit the dog's real-time location data, so real-time tracking is possible even in areas where cellular signals are unavailable, and tracking distances can typically reach several miles.

These off-grid GPS dog collars do not require a cell phone app; users can view their dog's location through a handheld receiver. Moreover, they do not have a monthly subscription fee, so there is no need to pay extra for other costs after purchase, and long-term use will save a considerable amount of expenditure.

👉 Aorkuler dog GPS tracker for family companion dogs

👉Garmin GPS dog tracker for hunting dogs

3. Summary

AirTag's tracking range is too small due to its reliance on direct Bluetooth connection or reliance on surrounding Apple devices. If there is a lack of Apple products in rural areas with spotty cellular signals, then the dog's parents won't be able to see where the dog is. In addition, Airtag poses health risks to the dog due to improper use and other reasons.

Therefore, dog parents should buy a professional GPS dog collar according to their needs to track their dog's location in real time and keep it safe.