why cant they shrink this down and make it more user friendly
 

I was talking with a friend recently and they told me about how when thear dad goes hunting with his dogs he puts tracking collars on them so he can get back to them quicker.
I looked up dog tracking collars and found this
Tracker SupraLite Collar - Dog Tracking System
you buy the receiver and the collar and they work sorta like homing beacons to tell you wear your dog is if it is within the distance the device can read.
Why has someone not shrunk this down so it can be used every day for all domestic dogs?
I don't know a single pet owner that would not buy one if it was not so bulky.

or is there something like this out on the market and i did not find it?

I agree! If they can locate your iPhone, they should be able to come up with a device small enough to fit on a tiny dog's collar.

or better yet. lots of us microchip our pets. i know for a fact that on quail and small game the MDC (Missouri Department of Conservation) puts the same microchips into animals with a tracking code and can track using radio telemetry. i've DONE IT. so why are we not adding radio transmitting devices to our microchips or better yet a satellite device to our microchips to find out pets when needed?

Hubby and I did a lot of research on GPS devices that would be small enough for collars. The problem isn't the device it's the power source. Apparently these little jewels are power hogs.

I was all set to offer GPS collars, but alas, we had to shelve the idea for the time being. Maybe one day soon we will be able to find the components.

People already think the microchips are being used for tracking devices, and are paranoid about it. They think the government is trying to find out too much about us. The microchips don't emit much of anything and you can't read them unless you have a reader, therefore, they are very safe. However, a dog wearing a tracking device 24/7 might be exposed to harmful substances. I would like a tracking device put on my glasses, they really get around.

I would like a tracking device put on my glasses, they really get around.

:lol tears

Me too!!!

Nancy1999 that's hilarious and too, too true. I wish I could convert money for all the time I spend looking for mine. Good one!

for me it is my mobil phone... it is so embarrassing when I ask my dh to call my number so I can fine my phone and it is my pocket!!!

My hubby has a tracking system for his hunting dogs. It would be big and bulky for a dog to wear constantly. But it's pretty neat!! You can name the dogs on the screen so you know which one you are looking at. And you can see what they Are doing sitting, running, walking. It is nifty.

:thumbup::thumbup:

I agree! I had no idea about the quail & small game microchips but if they can do that for sport, they darn sure should do it for our beloved pets! I know regular microchips are great but the pups have to be found and scanned before they can do any good. A thief just doesn't take them to the vet.

Maybe we need to band together and start asking for this technology! If anyone is involved in an electronics business that would like to make some serious money, I bet this could be very lucrative! I would buy them for my pups.

Great thread Miss Lissa! You have a great point.

I am reluctant to tell you what seeing your picture instantly brought to my mind..... I live in Florida -- Gator land. We had a particularly dangerous alligator that was attacking and making off with MANY dogs in the area. It finally took one that was wearing a collar just like that one. They had a picture of it in the paper after they were able to track the gator by the collar that it had swallowed. I know that is such a morbid story but at least they were able to euthanize the gator and put an end to its dog-napping. They attributed MANY dog disappearances to this one gator, so the collar put an end to his rampage.

If they can make wristwatch batteries that can run off of the movement of your arm, why can't they use the same power source for a gps collar? Wouldn't the technology be similar? I know I would buy it!

With all the great ideas coming out here -- you all ought to put your heads together and start a business! You know you have 69,000 potential buyers right here on Yorkietalk (I know the # might not be entirely accurate -- pls only going for a tongue in cheek sort of post).

*like* lol, I would totally get a GPS micro-chip for Rizzo, even Fatso the cat would get one...

Yeah right, i know if i could find something (a microchip a small collar) that i could leave on my pets at all time I would buy two for all 5 of the animals in my care, 2 of them are cats and 2 of them are my foster butts

I agree, the technology is in place - we have done enough research to know that -- the components are cheap to produce, but manufacturers deal in very large ##'s and the initial outlay would be quite hefty. There are a lot of other factors involved such as import fees, having someone to act as a quality control person at the plant, etc.

Big Sigh -- this is so frustrating because hubby has the skills to do all of the programming and offer some really neat features, and I have the sewing skills to produce the product -- if only we could get the chips and power source. Shoot, I even have a design in mind that would work with a harness or a collar. Bah Humbug!!!

I remember posting a thread about this a while ago.... I think it's such a FANTASTIC idea. I was interested, not for him wearing 24/7, but we live on 3 acres and we have 90 acres behind us. I would like to let Jackson be able to run around (with me there supervising, of course) and be able to put the collar on him just in CASE. Unfortunately, they're all so bulky, the batteries don't last long, and there's a large monthly fee that you often to pay for the service.

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/gen...t-locator.html

They do that around here too when they are hunting coyotes.. they let thier dogs track them down while they drive up and down the road with thier tracking devices, waiting for the dogs to chase the coyotes into open fields so they can be shot.
I have thought about getting one for my beagle, going along with brits idea we have a camp up in a very remote wooded area and I would love just to let her run for awhile but Im afraid she would either get to far from us or the batteries would die so I havent purchased on yet. Its a great idea and it def. would bring runaways home, Im sure they will be coming out with something soon for these little guys.

I would definitely buy a tracking microchip for my pets if it existed! :thumbup: It would be nice to make it combined with the information chip.

I'll have to ask some of my techy friends about this! :D

I would pay a monthly fee no problem my biggest issue is the bulkiness I mean even the batteries I would replace every month if i had to

I got curious after reading the original post and did some web surfing. I've been having a conversation with Stephen Greenberg at Pet Tags: Dog tags, Dog Collars, Pet Id Tags, Cat Tags, Dog Name Tags & Pet Collars from America's Favorite Pet Tag . They are developing a product that they hope to bring to the market in a few months called Pet Detective - which looks like a device that's attached to the dog's collar. They have a short video about it at Untitled Document . I can't see it clearly on my screen, but it looks like it may be a little bulky for a small dog's collar, but might work well attached to a harness. I got on their mailing list for more info as it's available and will share it here.

In the meantime, Stephen set up a coupon code for a 20% discount for YT members on their pettags.com site. You just enter YT36Z to the coupon field at the top of the checkout page. They currently have a 16% coupon code displayed on their site, so this is a little better savings. I haven't done any business with them, so I can't say how reliable they are -- but they do have some nice looking tags and I think I may order one for Tallulah -- I'm trying to make sure there is some ID attached to her breakaway collar and each of her several harnesses just in case. This last part about the coupon code probably belongs in the products forum so I will post it there as well.

Before I started my current website I did a small amount of research on GPS pet collars as I thought it was a great niche. It was quite complicated and for my first website I didn't think it was a good fit.

However, I'm now researching the idea again. I'm currently in contact with a couple of electronics manufacturers to see if my ideas can come to fruition. I think if designed and constructed properly, with overall user friendliness it could be an incredible asset to any pet owner.