Dog Gadgets

Can I Use Tile To Track My Pet?

Can I Use Tile To Track My Pet?
Written by Mark Braeden

Tile Tag is one most popular devices to find your things: keys, phones, remote controls. But what about dogs? Can you use tile on a dog or any other pet collar? Spoiler: yes, you can! However, as with anything that isn’t specifically designed to track dogs, there are some caveats. Keep reading to learn more!

Can I Use Tile To Track My Pet?

The biggest fear of a dog owner is losing our beloved pet. Unfortunately, it can happen to even the most diligent owner. We do everything that could be done to keep them safe. We buy expensive dog GPS trackers, install invisible fences, use treat-dispensing cameras to keep an eye on them when we’re away,  keep our dogs on leashes, and even crate them when we’re at work.

All of those things add up to huge expenses, though. We don’t want to cut corners when it comes to our dogs’ safety, but at the same time we do want to find a way to cut back on some costs, right?

Enter Tile, a popular tracking device that has been a game-changer for many pet owners. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll delve into the world of using Tile to track your dog, covering the pros and cons, how-tos, and important considerations.

Tile Mate Bluetooth Tracker (Up to 250 ft. Range). Water-Resistant. Phone Finder. iOS and Android Compatible.
$24.88

Tile helps you keep track of your things. Attach the Tile Mate to everyday things like keys, backpacks or purses. Use our free app to find them.

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03/12/2024 10:07 am GMT

*This post was completely updated on 1/12/24

Advantages Of Using Tile Tag To Find Your Dog

First, it’s important to note that Tile is not primarily built for tracking pets. It’s actually built for keeping track of your essential items like your keys, wallet, bag, laptop, and etc.

However, these Tile tags can also be used as a GPS tracker for your beloved pooch. Let’s go over some of the advantages of using them in this “off-label” way. 

Real-Time Location Updates: A Game-Changer for Preventing Lost Dogs

One of the most significant advantages of using Tile for dog tracking is the capability to receive real-time location updates, effectively eliminating the fear and stress associated with losing a beloved pet.

Imagine a scenario: your adventurous pup slips away during a walk or manages to escape the backyard. In the past, the anxiety of not knowing your dog’s whereabouts immediately set in.

With Tile’s real-time location updates, that worry becomes a thing of the past. The moment your dog goes missing, you can open the Tile app and access their precise location in real-time (as long as he’s still within Bluetooth range).

Tile uses advanced GPS technology to provide pinpoint accuracy when tracking your dog. This means you can identify not just the general vicinity, but the exact location where your furry friend is at any given moment.

Whether they’re exploring a nearby park, wandering down the street, or even hiding in a neighbor’s yard, you’ll know exactly where to find them.

Tile Is Four Dog Trackers in One

Some might actually say that the Tile Combo Pack is costly (check the current price here). The truth is, it saves us from purchasing multiple tracking devices to prevent many valuables from being lost.

The cost of the average dog tracking device, e.g. Whistle or Petfon is about $100-200 (and some even hit the $1000 range!). If you’re a dog parent who owns multiple dogs, the Tile finder will save you from buying several tracking devices for each dog! So basically, a single GPS tracking collar costs the same as four Tile Tags.

It’s also worth noting that the Four Tile Tags can be split up between four people! You and your friends can share the purchase price and take one Tile Tag each! Each person will just need to have the Tile app. 

Long-Lasting Battery Life

One of the things I loved about using Tile as a pet tracker is its the long-lasting battery! The battery is non-replaceable and not rechargeable so you wouldn’t have to worry about spending more for your Tile tags. The battery of each Tile Tag lasts a year, which for me is worth it when you’re using it every single day!

User-Friendly App

The Tile app is designed to be user-friendly, making it accessible for pet owners of all tech levels.

Checking dog location with tile app/

Community Find Feature

The real-time location updates seamlessly complement Tile’s unique Community Find feature. If your dog goes missing in an area with other Tile users, the community becomes an extended network working collectively to help locate your pet. The real-time updates enhance the effectiveness of this feature, allowing you to track your dog collaboratively with other Tile users in the vicinity.

Versatile & Affordable

Tiles are versatile and can be attached to your dog’s collar, making them a convenient choice for pet tracking.

Usually, the Tile Combo Pack consists of two Tile Slim and two Tile Mate Bluetooth Trackers. This means that you can have four Bluetooth trackers in one purchase! The Tile Mate model is the smaller version, designed with a hole to loop onto keychains or your dog’s collar. On the other hand, Tile Slim is as thin as two credit cards that slide into your wallet and pocket and stick to thin objects. 

With the four Tile Tags I have, I can easily find my wallet, Airpods, keys, and most importantly, my beloved pooch! These four Tile Tags I have are all connected to one app – the Tile app, which automatically records the last time and place it saw your Tile. So if your item (or your pet) goes missing, you’ll know where to look first! 

The function of the Tile Tags doesn’t end there because you can also use it to find your lost phone. If your phone goes missing, simply double press the button of one of your Tiles. It will make your phone ring even on silent mode! With Tile, I don’t have to look all over my house just to find my keys… or my dog!

Cons of Using Tile for Pet Tracking

While Tile has many advantages in terms of a simple dog tracking device, there are some drawbacks.

It’s not REALLY a dog tracking device

The first major advantage is that Tile isn’t actually designed to track pets. Even their dedicated Tile Cat Tracker (they don’t make one designed just for dogs) specifically states that it’s not a real-time GPS cat tracker and is “best used for locating indoor cats within Bluetooth range.”  So, as with using Apple Airtag to track pets, Tile can’t be held responsible if you end up losing your dog.

Shorter Range Than GPS Trackers

Tile only finds lost pets that are still within Bluetooth range. Even the newer Tile Pro only tracks up to 400 feet (120 meters). On the other hand, specialized dog GPS trackers have a range over 1-2 miles and the high-end dog collars for tracking like Garmin have 9 miles range with no online connection needed.

That said, as mentioned above, Tile has a global network that can help you find your missing dog. When any user Tile user comes within the range of Fido, you will be notified of his most recent location.

However, while the community find feature is beneficial, it relies on other Tile users being in the vicinity. In less populated areas, this feature may be less effective. That said, according to Tile’s statistics, over half a million items are found with Tile! You will be surprised to find numerous Tile users in your neighborhood! 

It drains your phone’s battery

While the Tile tracker itself has a great battery life, there’s a trade-off. The biggest problem that I found is the phone battery usage because Tile pet finder requires Bluetooth to stay on in order to work. 

How to Use Tile for Dog Tracking

If you decide to use Tile as a dog tracking device, here’s how to do it.

  1. Attach the Tile: Secure the Tile device to your dog’s collar. Opt for a secure attachment method to prevent it from falling off during play or exploration.
  2. Download the Tile App: Install the Tile app on your smartphone and follow the setup instructions.
  3. Pairing the Tile: Pair the Tile device with your smartphone through the app. This step is crucial for seamless communication between the two.
  4. Configure Settings: Adjust settings according to your preferences, such as notification preferences, tracking intervals, and more.
  5. Monitor Battery Levels: Regularly check the battery levels on the Tile device to ensure uninterrupted tracking.

Tile Dog GPS Locator Alternatives:

Name
Fi Smart Collar
Best Budgeted
Tractive
Best For Hunting
Garmin Alpha 200i
Top Pick
SpotOn GPS Dog Collar & Fence System
Preview
fi Activity tracker collar for dog in yellow colour.
tractive GPS Tracker for Dogs - Waterproof, GPS...
Garmin Alpha 200i/TT 15 Mini Dog Tracking and Training...
SpotOn GPS Dog Fence, App Based Wireless Dog Fence...
Paid subscription?
Range
Unlimited
Unlimited
Up to 9 miles (no cell coverage required)
Unlimited
Battery Life
Up to 3 months
7 days
Up to 20 hours
18 hours
Required Internet?
Price
$150
-
-
$1295
Name
Fi Smart Collar
Preview
fi Activity tracker collar for dog in yellow colour.
Paid subscription?
Range
Unlimited
Battery Life
Up to 3 months
Required Internet?
Full Review
Price
$150
More Information
Best Budgeted
Name
Tractive
Preview
tractive GPS Tracker for Dogs - Waterproof, GPS...
Paid subscription?
Range
Unlimited
Battery Life
7 days
Required Internet?
Full Review
Price
-
More Information
Best For Hunting
Name
Garmin Alpha 200i
Preview
Garmin Alpha 200i/TT 15 Mini Dog Tracking and Training...
Paid subscription?
Range
Up to 9 miles (no cell coverage required)
Battery Life
Up to 20 hours
Required Internet?
Full Review
Price
-
More Information
Top Pick
Name
SpotOn GPS Dog Collar & Fence System
Preview
SpotOn GPS Dog Fence, App Based Wireless Dog Fence...
Paid subscription?
Range
Unlimited
Battery Life
18 hours
Required Internet?
Full Review
Price
$1295
More Information

As a dog parent, I am willing to try every method to keep my furry friend safe and healthy. Overall, Tile is a great investment, however, I’d rather buy a dog GPS collar or smart collar that was specifically designed for these purposes just because of the range because I consider this as the most important factor. However, like Airtag dog collars, Tile makes a good backup tracker to add to your dog’s existing GPS collar.

Author

  • Mark Braeden

    Mark is a Boston University graduate and former electrical engineer. In 2017, he decided to combine his tech knowledge with his love for dogs. He spent a year familiarizing himself with the latest GPS tracking collars, invisible fences, and other hot pet gadgets before he wrote his first product review. After selling Technobark, Mark remained a writer and consultant but spends more time on his other passion now: raising and training his growing family of dogs.

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2 Comments

  • The actual #1 most important factor to me, which wasn’t addressed, was SAFETY. Are the frequencies safe for a dog? It would be just like holding a phone against the dog all day. FI I know is safe. Is Tile Safe? Has this been researched?

    • As safe as you feel having wifi at home. The signal is a high frequency low power and therefore should not cause any problem.

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