Last year we got a new Labrador puppy. You might think Labradors are just cuteness, cuddles and adorability but they are also full of energy and need a lot of exercise! I’ve never been so exhausted in my life. Bertie was off like a rocket the first chance he got and he hasn’t stopped since. He loves nothing more than a good run (over the horizon!) and my nerves were shot. That was until I discovered the PAJ GPS Pet Finder Dog Tracker. Here’s how it works, how you can get your hands on one and how it’s saved my sanity – and my dog.
Why buy a dog tracker?
As a scanner for my local Facebook group Animals Lost and Found in Gloucestershire, I’m acutely aware of the number of dogs that go missing on a daily basis. Many are sadly never found again. I lived last year in fear that Bertie would join the the thousands of dogs reported missing every year and my heart was in my mouth on every single walk.
With a dog tracker you can keep track of your dog at all times and pinpoint its location should it go out of sight on a walk. This makes it easier and quicker to find and retrieve your dog in an emergency.
What to consider when buying a dog tracker?
My main concern when choosing a dog tracker was the reliability of location tracking on the 4G network because we live rurally. Luckily the PAJ GPS tracker has a multi-SIM so can lock on to the best available network.
Another concern was the need for a robust tracker which wouldn’t fall off two seconds when Bertie was in full flight across the fields. No worries on that score either as the PAJ GPS dog tracker is lightweight, comfy and clips firmly on to his own collar. You can alternatively use the one which comes with the tracker. It’s even waterproof so he can’t destroy it by taking a dip either.
What features does the PAJ GPS Dog Tracker have?
With the PAJ dog tracker, you can rest easy with live tracking and geo fencing so that you receive alerts when your dog leaves the designated areas. We’ve set one up for the perimeter of our garden and another which covers a wider area for local walks. Bertie triggers them both on a regular basis and it’s always such a relief when we are notified of his safe re-entrance.
WIFI and 4G Sim location tracking means faster and more reliable connectivity wherever we are and any alerts you set up are instantly received. There’s a nifty light sensor which can be used at night. This is particularly useful when you have a black dog like we do and there is no street lighting on rural country roads.
The PAJ Online Portal can be used on any device. I prefer the desktop for reviewing Bertie’s activity (and land speeds!) but the mobile PAJ Portal v2 app is perfect for getting notifications when on walks and also for long-life battery checks. From my experience if switched off when not needed then the battery can last a good 2-3 days without charge.
One feature which fascinates me (and admittedly is a work in progress because Bertie is as daft as a brush) is the sound emit function. The idea is that you can train your dog to come to you when they hear a unique sound emitted from the app.
To start with I sent the signal and rewarded and praised him if he looked at me. Now we’ve moved on to being in the garden and eventually after that’s been proofed, I’ll try it further afield. It’s always amazed me how tone-deaf dogs can be (especially mine) to any verbal recalls yet will zoom back at the sound of a whistle. I’ve been playing around with this function and shall keep you all posted!
Was the PAJ GPS Dog Tracker easy to set up?
I might be good with words but anything remotely technical is always referred to His Lordship to sort. Typically, after I’d spent ages looking through the support manual Anleitung-PET-Finder-4G-online-EN-jg-1 he set it up in minutes just by instinctively navigating his way round the Finder Portal.
Although, there isn’t a user guide per se to refer to, every query I’ve raised has been responded to super quickly and efficiently. PAJ Headquarters is in Germany so the online chat is the quickest and easiest form of contact or you can email the team at support@paj-gps.com for advice. They can even send a ping to the device with update commands if needed.
What’s my verdict on the PAJ GPS Dog Tracker?
I LOVE it! Lightweight, durable, sleekly designed, very reasonably priced and worth its weight in gold for the peace of mind it brings when Crackerjack is wearing it. The geo fencing and tracking features mean that I can get to him quickly if he is in danger. The PAJ dog tracker can also be used to improve recall with the sound emit function and it is able to monitor Bertie’s activity and health.
By far the best feature for me is the speed notifications. Bertie’s notched up an incredible top speed of 25mph to date! It’s no wonder I needed a tracker, blink and he’s gone!
The only thing I’ve found a bit fiddly is switching it on and off. Press the button 3 times within 3 seconds to switch off and hold it down for 5 seconds to switch on. You need to do this properly for it to work.
If the tracker doesn’t seem to be picking up activity just try a little kick start by switching it off (3 presses within 3 seconds) then wait 30 seconds then switch on (hold down for 5 seconds)
How much does the PAJ GPS Dog Tracker cost?
You can find out more about the tracker on the PAJ website and it’s available to purchase for just £29.99 from Amazon. I was gifted the device and a 6 months subscription in exchange for an honest review but I think the subscription options are really good. I will definitely be renewing when the current offer expires and will also purchase one for his big brother, Barney the labradoodle.
Happy tracking! Let me know what you think of it in the comments?
Disclaimer: This is a paid post and it contains affiliate links. Please note I only ever honestly review the best products on the Lady Janey blog and couldn’t be happier to have the opportunity to share this one.
