Microchip vs Smart Collars For Dogs: What's the Difference?

Keeping track of your pet's location has never been easier. Thanks to GPS technology, the "lost dog" flyer tacked to a telephone pole is increasingly a thing of the past. With recent advances, technology can help you monitor more than just your dog's location. When you're evaluating the merits of a microchip or smart collars for dogs, there are three key considerations to keep in mind.

A pet microchip is a device the size of a grain of rice that's painlessly embedded between a dog's shoulder blades. The chip includes a unique code linked to your information that's available upon it being scanned. Unfortunately that's one of the limitations to having just a microchip; it's helpfulness depends on someone finding your dog and taking it to be scanned, more than likely by a local vet. Because the chip is not linked to one of your devices, it's impossible to independently track your pet's movements. Another important consideration of having a microchip is that you need to keep your information up-to-date.

Unlike a microchip, the LINK AKC Smart Collar provides multiple functions. In addition to tracking your dog's location and giving you timely answers if your dog goes missing, it stores vet records and alerts you of appointments, and includes a sound feature to assist in recall or positive reinforcement, clicker-style training. Just like a human fitness tracker, the Smart Collar keeps track of your dog's daily and historical activity, an important data point as obesity becomes increasingly prevalent in dogs. The collar also has a built-in LED light that, like the collar's other features, can be accessed by a tap on your phone screen.

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Just as it enhances other parts of your life, technology can help do the same for your beloved canine companion. When thinking about the best device for you and your pet, you've got options. While a microchip can ensure your dog is safely returned home if found and scanned, a GPS dog collar is a comprehensive approach to your dog's health and safety. Both give you peace of mind and provide a technological safety net to bring your pup home.