Why is the AirTag Dog Collar Not Recommended for Dogs?
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.
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.
Table of Contents
1.Disadvantages of AirTag Dog Collar
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. Parents cannot use it to track their dogs in real time. If dog parents go hiking and camping with their dog, they will not be able to find their dog quickly if they lose it.
2.GPS Dog Collar Recommendations
GPS dog collar is a device specifically designed to serve the purpose of tracking your dog's location in real time. Compared with the AirTag dog collar, it has a wide tracking range and more accurate positioning.
In addition to that, GPS dog collars are more versatile. Some GPS dog collars have virtual fences and the ability to monitor your dog's activity data.
I will recommend suitable GPS dog collars for dog parents according to the conditions of different areas. Dog parents can choose by themselves to buy the best GPS dog tracker for their dog.
2.1 City
The cellular signal is good in the city. Dog parents can use GPS dog collars like Tractive and Whistle. They use cellular networks to transmit the dog's location data. Dog parents can view their dog's location in real time in a cell phone app.
However, these types of GPS dog collars require users to pay a monthly subscription fee to the cellular carrier. Otherwise, some features will not be available. Dog parents can choose different subscription fee packages according to their needs.
2.2 Rural or Suburban Areas
Rural or suburban areas have fewer cellular base stations, so the cellular signal in these places is poor. If you use a GPS dog collar like Tractive, it won't work properly.
Dog parents who live in this part of the region can purchase GPS dog collars like Aorkuler or Garmin. They use radio technology to transmit information about the dog's location. So, they can track the dog in real time in areas without cellular signals.
Dog parents don't need to download a cell phone app to receive location data. They can see their dog's location using a handheld controller. And there is no subscription fee for this type of GPS dog collar. Dog parents don't need to pay extra after purchasing the product.
3.Summary
The tracking range of the AirTag dog collar is too small and depends on Apple products. If the dog runs to a place where there is no Apple product, then the dog's parents can't see the location of the dog. What's more, Airtag poses a health risk to the dog due to misuse and other reasons.
So, to effectively track your dog's location in real time, it is better for dog parents to buy a professional GPS dog collar.