GPS trackers, smart collars and pet cameras: how to choose

PawTrace is not a vet or a law firm. This guide shares what we found in the sources listed below; ask your vet or a lawyer about your own situation.

Key takeaways

• The Ontario SPCA says microchips have no battery and last a lifetime, and that they “cannot be used as tracking devices” (Ontario SPCA, February 23 2024). A tracker finds a dog. A chip identifies one.
• A location signal needs a network to reach you. The CRTC says rural and First Nations reserve coverage lags well behind the Canadian average, and there is no reported 5G in the Territories (CRTC, February 24 2026).
• Bluetooth range is not a fixed number. The Bluetooth Special Interest Group puts it at “More than a kilometer. Less than a meter.”, depending on frequency, power, antenna and obstacles such as walls and metal (Bluetooth SIG).
• One collar-mounted activity sensor was validated in 51 healthy dogs over 10 kg: over 95% of records were correctly classified for walking, trotting, cantering or galloping, eating, drinking and headshakes (den Uijl et al., PLoS ONE 2017). That is one device, not every smart collar.
• The OPC says Wi-Fi and Bluetooth can also track location, and advises avoiding “always on” microphones (OPC, Smart devices and your privacy).
• We found no Canadian source for tracker subscription prices, so this guide gives none. It gives the questions to ask a seller instead.

The four kinds of device, and what each does not do

The table describes what each technology does and where it stops. Where a point comes from a source it says so. Points marked “our analysis” are reasoning from those sources, not facts we could look up.

Device	What it does	What it does not do
GPS tracker that sends its location over a mobile network	Works out position from satellite signals, which GPS.gov (U.S.) says for smartphones is “typically accurate to within a 4.9 m (16 ft.) radius under open sky”. Our analysis: to show that position on your phone away from home, it needs a connection to a mobile network.	GPS accuracy worsens near buildings, bridges and trees (GPS.gov, U.S.; the page covers smartphones, not pet trackers). Our analysis: with no mobile signal there is no way to send the position to you. It does not identify your dog to a finder.
Bluetooth tag	Connects to a nearby phone over Bluetooth. The Bluetooth SIG says range runs from under a meter to more than a kilometer, depending on frequency, power, antenna and obstacles.	Range depends on those conditions, so a tag is not a fixed-distance tracker. It does not identify your dog to a finder.
Smart collar with activity tracking	Records movement. In one validation study, a collar-mounted triaxial accelerometer correctly classified over 95% of records for walk, trot, canter or gallop, eat, drink and headshake, and over 90% for sleep and static or inactive, in 51 healthy dogs over 10 kg (den Uijl et al., 2017).	The study tested one device in healthy dogs over 10 kg aged 6 months to 13 years, so it does not show how other devices work, or how any device works in small dogs or puppies. It tested activity classification, not diagnosis. A collar does not replace a vet exam.
Pet camera	Shows video of your dog while you are away. AVSAB (U.S.) says video of a dog home alone is the most effective and accurate way to tell if she has separation anxiety.	A camera records and shows. It does not explain why your dog behaves as it does. AVSAB advises consulting a veterinary behaviorist if you see signs. Cameras also raise privacy questions, covered below.

None of the four does the job of a microchip, and a tracker does not replace a licence tag. That distinction matters most on the day a collar comes off.

The microchip is still the permanent ID

The Ontario SPCA explains that a microchip is passive, with no battery, and lasts a lifetime. Its page adds that a chip must be registered and kept current, and says “Microchips cannot be used as tracking devices.” The CVMA position statement (March 1 2022) supports microchips that meet ISO standards 11784 and 11785, says the number must be linked to a reliable database whose information is kept up to date, and recommends scanning chipped animals once a year to check the chip works.

Our analysis: a collar tracker can run out of battery, lose its connection or come off, while a chip stays with the dog. Use both if you wish, and keep the chip record current: see our guide to microchipping in Canada, registries and why updating matters.

Licences have their own rule. Ottawa says the numbered metal tag must be worn on your pet’s collar or harness, particularly when outside your home, and renewed every year (City of Ottawa, pet registration). A tracker clipped to a collar does not replace that tag. Other cities have their own rules: see dog licences in Canada’s big cities.

Coverage in rural and northern Canada

A tracker that reports by mobile network is only as good as the network where your dog is. The CRTC publishes the national picture each year. These are the figures from its 2026 report, which mostly covers the year ending December 31 2024.

Measure	What the CRTC says
Mobile access overall	“Nearly all Canadians have access to mobile networks.”
5G	5G reaches 94% of the population.
Rural areas and First Nations reserves	Coverage “is expanding but lags well behind the Canadian average.”
Roads and highways	Over 100,000 kilometres (87%) of major roads and highways are served by mobile networks.
Territories	“There is still no reported 5G coverage in the Territories.”
The CRTC’s own target	100% of the population and as many major highways as possible with 4G LTE or better by 2026.

On October 2 2026 the CRTC announced a mobile reporting standard (Telecom Decision CRTC 2026-258). It phases in from the next Annual Facilities Survey in early 2027, sends data to Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) for the National Broadband Map, and lets Canadians report places where the map does not match their experience (CRTC news release).

We did not find a territory-specific 4G LTE figure, a Canadian test of pet tracker accuracy or a Canadian source on satellite-connected pet trackers. So we do not state any. Our analysis: before you rely on a mobile-network tracker on a cottage road, a trail or a farm, check the carrier’s coverage map for those places and keep your dog on a leash or in a fenced area where you cannot be sure of a signal.

Subscriptions and what to ask before you buy

We found no Canadian source for what pet tracker subscriptions cost, so this guide gives no numbers. It explains the structure instead. A device can have one price on the box and further charges before it works as advertised. The Competition Bureau says that promoting a price that is not attainable because of fixed charges or fees that consumers must pay is against the law, unless the charge or fee is only an amount imposed on purchasers by an Act of Parliament or a provincial legislature, and that a variable charge or fee could still raise concerns (Competition Bureau, drip pricing, modified August 24 2026). We do not say how that law applies to any seller or product. Use it as a prompt for the questions below.

Question to ask the seller	Why it matters
Is a recurring plan needed for the location feature to work?	So you can compare the total you pay, not only the shelf price.
What happens to location history, and how long is it kept?	The OPC’s guidance to device makers says the law requires personal information to be kept only as long as necessary, and encourages makers to let users delete it.
Which mobile network does it use, and does it cover the places I walk?	The CRTC says coverage in rural areas and First Nations reserves lags the national average.
How do I turn off location sharing, the microphone and recording?	The OPC advises turning off location tracking and background recording unless you need them.
Are security updates provided, and can I change the default password?	The OPC advises changing default passwords and updating firmware.
How do I reset the device before I sell or give it away?	The OPC advises resetting devices to factory defaults before you dispose of them.

Privacy: your data and other people’s

The OPC has guidance for both smart devices and cameras. For smart devices (updated August 20 2020) it advises changing default passwords, using a separate guest network, updating firmware, turning off location tracking and background recording unless they are required, and resetting devices to factory defaults before disposal. It notes that Wi-Fi and Bluetooth also track location and advises avoiding “always on” microphones.

For cameras (November 24 2022) it advises changing the default password, using two-step authentication if possible, checking that firmware can be updated, using a guest network, and disabling the camera and microphone when you do not need them. It says to keep cameras out of bedrooms and bathrooms, and to make sure outdoor cameras do not reveal a street number or licence plate.

The OPC also publishes guidance for makers of connected devices. It lists geolocation among the data they collect, says information should be retained only as long as necessary, encourages makers to give users easy ways to delete their information permanently, and says individuals have a right to access their personal information (OPC, IoT guidance for manufacturers). Our analysis: a location trail of your dog is also a record of where you live and walk, so treat it as personal data.

Cameras can also record visitors, neighbours, a dog walker or a sitter. Tell anyone who comes into the home that a camera is running, and keep it off private spaces. That is general good practice, not legal advice. Our guide to dog walkers and daycare covers what to check before someone enters your home.

How to choose

1. Start with the job. Finding a dog that slips out needs a tracker. Showing who is at the door or what a dog does alone needs a camera. Counting activity needs a collar sensor.
2. Check coverage where you go, using the carrier’s own map and the CRTC’s National Broadband Map reporting when it starts.
3. Ask the questions in the table above, in writing if you can, and keep the answers.
4. Set it up safely: change the default password, use a guest network and turn off what you do not need.
5. Keep the microchip registered and the licence tag on. Those are your dog’s identity, whatever else you add.
6. Ask your vet before you act on what a collar seems to show about your dog’s health.

Myth vs fact

Myth	Fact
A GPS tracker means I do not need a microchip.	The Ontario SPCA says a chip is passive, needs no battery and lasts a lifetime. A tracker needs power and, for a mobile-network model, a signal (our analysis).
A microchip lets me track my dog.	“Microchips cannot be used as tracking devices” (Ontario SPCA).
Mobile coverage is the same everywhere in Canada.	The CRTC says rural and First Nations reserve coverage lags well behind the average, and there is no reported 5G in the Territories.
A smart collar tells me if my dog is sick.	The validation study tested whether one device correctly recognized activities such as walking and eating in healthy dogs. It did not test diagnosis.
Bluetooth always reaches across the park.	Bluetooth SIG: range is more than a kilometer in the best case and less than a meter in the worst, depending on obstacles and equipment.

Frequently asked questions

Do I still need a microchip if my dog wears a GPS tracker?

Yes. The Ontario SPCA says a chip has no battery and lasts a lifetime, and the CVMA says its number must link to a database whose information is kept up to date. The Ontario SPCA says a chip works only if it is registered and your contact details are current. A collar tracker can lose power or come off.

How accurate is a pet GPS tracker?

We found no Canadian test. GPS.gov (U.S.) says GPS-enabled smartphones are “typically accurate to within a 4.9 m (16 ft.) radius under open sky” and that accuracy worsens near buildings, bridges and trees. That page covers smartphones, not pet trackers.

Will a tracker work on a rural property or in the North?

It depends on the signal for mobile-network models. The CRTC says rural coverage lags the national average and there is no reported 5G in the Territories. Check the carrier’s map for the places you walk.

Is a pet camera a good way to check for separation anxiety?

AVSAB (U.S.) says video of your dog while she is home alone is the most effective and accurate way to tell if she has separation anxiety. It advises consulting a veterinary behaviorist.

What privacy settings should I check?

Change the default password, use a guest network, turn off location tracking and recording you do not need, keep cameras out of bedrooms and bathrooms, and update the firmware. The OPC lists each of these.

Can I use a smart collar to monitor my dog’s health?

One study validated one device’s activity classification in healthy dogs over 10 kg. For health concerns, ask your vet. Our guide to the signs of illness versus ageing can help you note what to describe.

Keep reading

• Microchipping in Canada: registries and why updating matters
• Dog licences in Canada’s big cities
• Dog walkers and daycare: safety checks before you book
• Is my dog getting old or getting sick? 10 signs to tell apart
• Puppy-proofing a Canadian home and yard

Need help finding a vet to talk through your dog’s needs? Find a vet near you.

Sources

All links were checked on October 23 2026.

• Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada: Smart devices and your privacy (modified August 20 2020)
• Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada: Someone could be watching, tips for securing web-connected cameras (November 24 2022)
• Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada: Guidance for manufacturers of Internet of Things devices (modified August 20 2020)
• CRTC: Canadian Telecommunications Market Report 2026 (issued February 24 2026)
• CRTC: news release, October 2 2026, cellphone coverage information (Telecom Decision CRTC 2026-258)
• CRTC: Mobile wireless (modified August 21 2026)
• ISED: National Broadband Data information
• GPS.gov (U.S.): GPS accuracy
• Bluetooth Special Interest Group: Range
• Ontario SPCA: Why microchip? (February 23 2024)
• Canadian Veterinary Medical Association: Position statement, Microchip identification in small companion animals (March 1 2022)
• den Uijl I et al. PLoS ONE 2017;12(11): external validation of a collar-mounted triaxial accelerometer in dogs
• American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (U.S.): How to tell if your dog has separation anxiety (August 15 2021)
• Competition Bureau Canada: Drip pricing (modified August 24 2026)
• City of Ottawa: Pet registration

General information only. This guide is not veterinary advice or legal advice. Ask your vet for advice on your dog’s health. Written by the PawTrace Team.

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