Keeping your dog safe is every dog lover’s number one priority.
Countless books, websites, and training guides stress the importance of making sure your pet always has their ID tags attached to their collar. And, most recommend microchipping your dog.
Why Microchip Your Dog?
A tiny chip, about the size of a grain of rice, is injected under the skin around your dog’s neck (between their shoulders). This chip can be scanned by veterinarians, shelters, rescues, and other doggie allies.
Each chip has an electromagnetic transponder with a code – kind of like the barcode you see on products – that is registered with different lost pet finding services. Home again and Avid are two of the biggest. Before putting the chip into your dog, it is scanned, validated, then scanned after implanting in your dog’s skin to make sure it worked.
Because of it’s ability to be easily read and help identify your lost dog, microchipping has become very popular. And, it sounds like a great idea.
The Shortcomings of Microchips
The biggest reason that microchips fail your dog is that they need to be scanned in order to work.
If your pup gets lost, then is picked up by animal control, a helpful neighbor, or simply wanders into a friendly shelter, this is great. They can be scanned, and you’ll be notified quickly that your dog has been located.
An Unfound Dog Remains Unfound
However, if you’ve lost a dog, you know that the chances of them being randomly found is just short of a miracle.
Dogs can roam enormous amounts of territory in a short time.
Couple that with the dangers presented by:
- High traffic areas
- Dog thieves
- Countless places to hide
- Vast amounts of wooded areas
- Speeding, Texting-and-Driving drivers
and any hope that your dog will be found and scanned diminishes greatly. This is why microchips fail more often than they succeed.
GPS Trackers Are Better Than Microchips
Now, imagine your dog slips out of your yard. You’re away at work. When you come home, you can’t find your furbaby!
Instead of drawing up Lost Dog posters, or posting your pup’s info on social media… or praying that they’ll be found and scanned, imagine if there was a way to know exactly where they are…
Now there is: GPS Dog tracking device.
It can:
- Track your pet’s location – accurate to 10ft!
- Monitor your pet’s activity level – know if they’re on the move
- Read your pet’s body temperature – if they escape in the cold, or if they’ve been injured, you’ll know if they’re body temp is in the healthy range
- Transmit your dog’s location, including turn-by-turn directions, to your cellphone
Most of my day is spent playing with dogs. When they nap, I’m here working on my blog. You’re welcome to reach out and connect with me.
