Dog Tracer

[organicguy]

We have a problem with our lurchers, too much hunting instinct, they f*** off at the slightest chance and the wife is then distraught until they return, sometimes two days later.
We have a wire around the yard which was so badly installed that it is constantly damaged.
We would like a tracker to put on collars to find them when they leave. Does anyone have any experience?
Range? Price? Reliability? Battery life? or any other suggestions.
(I suggested a short piece of heavy chain but that was not acceptable)
TIA
OG

 

[Ramrod]

Needs mobile signal

 

[BBC]

The wire systems are fine but have their limitations and before now have seen our terriers put their head down and charge at full speed through the gate, especially if there is a rabbit the far side.

The trackers work well, but don’t buy the dongle type that hang from the collar. Made that mistake, as one of them managed to pull the others off, gave it a good chewing and subsequently ate most of it. I did track down most of the remains when mowing the lawn (??) - and no they weren’t still transmitting!

Then got the type that attach to the collar which were far better and lasted well, but not needed for a few years now as said terriers have quietened down a bit and find the sofa a far more attractive option.

 

[ShooTa]

friends use a tracker in a collar - was pricy - uses a mobile chip - and is linked to an app - but is really useful as they would feck off miles - but you can instantly tell where thay were - so peice of mind was great for them.

 

[organicguy]

friends use a tracker in a collar - was pricy - uses a mobile chip - and is linked to an app - but is really useful as they would feck off miles - but you can instantly tell where thay were - so peice of mind was great for them.

That is what we were thinking of but was hoping for recommendations or ones to avoid.
thanks

 

[Highland Mule]

Dogs shouldn’t be let out off lead, imho, and certainly not anywhere near farm animals. Get a kennel, an enclosure or a long line for them. To condone anything else would be hypocritical when we call out the general public for not controlling their dogs.

 

[Formatted]

I find it insane that as farmers we frequently tell the public that they should have their dogs on leads whilst in the countryside but that members of our fraternity are happy for their dogs to frequently disappear for days at a time.

The mind boggles

 

[organicguy]

The issue is that the dogs are not let out off the lead, but escape when a door gets left open. Rather than have them running loose we are looking for a method to recover them as quickly as possible. We spent £1000 installing a boundary wire which has proven unreliable and so was hoping someone would have some experience of the tracker system.
If they were stock worriers I would shoot them myself.

 

[Chopsy Varmint]

The issue is that the dogs are not let out off the lead, but escape when a door gets left open. Rather than have them running loose we are looking for a method to recover them as quickly as possible. We spent £1000 installing a boundary wire which has proven unreliable and so was hoping someone would have some experience of the tracker system.
If they were stock worriers I would shoot them myself.

I've owned (or been owned by) lurchers for thirty years, have home-checked for a lurcher rescue charity, and am pretty certain yours will be worrying or killing something if they're staying out for a couple of days - wildlife, cats, hares etc.

There's an easy solution to the open door issue - always keep a shut door between them and the outside world if their recall is so bad, either in the house or kennel them. Allowing them to continue to wander and just tracking them isn't the answer for them or your neighbours.

If you want to improve their recall and stop them wandering, Jim Greenwood is your man. He's a proper lurcher and longdog bloke and an excellent trainer for pointy-faces and their people.

https://www.jandjgreenwood.co.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/jim.greenwood1

 

[sidjon]

Garmin do gps collars for dogs, don't know the price but mates use them on their pig dogs and worked well when I was in NZ.

 

[Tim W]

If they were stock worriers I would shoot them myself.

That's the problem ---no one thinks their dog is a stock worrier until it happens
Last 3 dogs i shot ---all the owners say ''he's never done that before''

 

[Frantic Farmer]

Tractive GPS XL app on phone , set a virtual boundary on map and text arrives when its broken. Battery lasts 3 weeks on a charge . Unit about £45 with yearly sub. Sometimes slow to get signal ,depends on location.

 

[deleted user 837354]

That's the problem ---no one thinks their dog is a stock worrier until it happens
Last 3 dogs i shot ---all the owners say ''he's never done that before''

We had a lurcher that used to fudge off for hours at a time.

I had no doubt in my mind that it would one day be shot. Of course they will chase livestock if given the chance.

 

[reb1952]

First ask yourself why you want a dog.
To retrieve when shooting ? OK buy a Lab.
You go beating ? A Spaniel.
Ratting ? A Terrier.
Hunting animals (now illegal) ? A Lurcher
Just don't expect to train instinct out of a dog.

 

[Highland Mule]

We had a lurcher that used to fudge off for hours at a time.

I had no doubt in my mind that it would one day be shot. Of course they will chase livestock if given the chance.

I wonder how many animals your lurcher worried or killed before it was shot - hopefully none. With hindsight, I'm sure you recognise that letting it wander wasn't appropriate.

 

[TomO]

Not used one but interested to hear from anyone who has.

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[Stu]

We had a Tractive GPS tracker for our spaniel, worked well if you have a good mobile signal area. Only problem was that the bracket that attached it to the collar would come off from time to time, a brilliant app to check where the dog was/had been and the virtual fence as mentioned earlier, good feature.
Would recommend it if only the collar clip was better.