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We want the best for our dogs: good health, deep sleep, nutritious food—essentially, all the things that ensure a long, happy life together (a hundred years and counting). And what better way to see what’s working and what’s not than a pet fitbit or activity tracker?
While these devices might seem a bit over the top, we’ve found dog activity trackers can be surprisingly effective tools to monitor your dog’s overall well-being, from fitness and calorie intake to changes in behavior.
We’ve rounded up the best and taken a close look at what distinguishes each model from the others to help you find the right fit to meet your goals.
How To Pick the Best Dog Fitbit or Activity Tracker
It’s hard to gauge the amount of exercise your dog is getting. A more accurate understanding of the distance you’re covering—and what it means for your pup’s metabolism and calorie intake—can help with weight loss and even behavioral issues. If those are your goals, prioritize a tracker that specializes in step tracking and has an app with an interface specifically for nutrition.
If you have a dog with allergies or prone to infections, the best dog fitbit might be one with good behavior-monitoring features. It can alert you to changes in your pup’s normal sleep, licking, and scratching routines to help you catch a problem early. We’ve seen activity trackers spot ear infections and even an embedded foxtail before anyone was the wiser.
LightFieldStudios via iStock
If you’re looking for a fitness buddy for your own journey, pick an activity tracker that can sync with your own Apple Health or Fitbit app. Or if you have a competitive spirit, try one that lets you see local leaderboards.
If GPS tracking is important to you, you’ll want to make sure there’s good local cell coverage for whatever service provider the device has partnered with. It might be worth starting this from the other direction and choosing the dog GPS device that has what you need safety-wise, with activity tracking as a secondary priority.
Finally, we say choose the tracker that looks the most fun—after all, we’re at our healthiest when exercise and nutrition are enjoyable. Dog activity trackers are about the journey, not just the results.
| Name: | Step tracking | Calorie tracking | Mood/behavior tracking | Subscription required |
| Fi Series 3 | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| FitBark 2 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Whistle Go | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Tractive | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Sure Petcare Amino | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| PitPat | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| PetPace | No | Yes | No | Yes |
Best for Tracking Steps: Fi Series 3 Smart Collar
Step counting enthusiasts unite. This dog fitness tracker is great for pet parents who want to monitor their dog’s walks and activity levels but also see the breakdown in steps. Taking breed and size into account, Fi helps you create customizable step goals. And they even have a fun leaderboard where you can compete with other dogs in the community and see how your pup ranks in the region.
As reviewers have pointed out, however, the Fi smart collar doesn’t calculate distance based on total steps. So if you’re romping around with your pup in a smaller area, your step count will be accurate, but your distance will be stagnant (think: 26,000 steps at 0.4 miles). And while the device offers in-depth sleep monitoring, it doesn’t have as wide of a selection of health and behavior tracking as its competitors.
| Pros | Cons |
| Long battery life, up to 3 months per charge | Doesn’t track calories or nutrition |
| Sends notification if a dog leaves a safe zone | Higher cost compared to other trackers |
If you like this concept but want more features like calorie tracking, consider the FitBark 2 instead.
Buy on Amazon Buy on FiBest for Monitoring Anxiety: FitBark 2 Dog Activity Monitor (Verified Review)
Whether you’re dealing with separation anxiety or just wanting a snapshot of your dog’s comfort levels, the FitBark can help you monitor your pup’s stress and anxiety while you’re away. FitBark’s mobile app offers an hourly view that compares your dog’s anxiety levels when you’re together versus when you’re separated. A clear view of the bigger picture can help you make changes, track progress in your anxiety journey, or simply gain peace of mind.
The FitBark also offers a wide variety of other health insights like calorie levels, distance traveled, and sleep behavior. Reviewers like the user-friendly interface and appreciate that it doesn’t require a subscription. Plus, you can link it to links to most human devices, so pet parents can build healthy habits alongside their pup.
Keep in mind that this device doesn’t have any GPS tracking, so if you decide later you do want GPS, you’ll have to buy a completely different device.
| Pros | Cons |
| Can link human devices like Fitbit, Apple Watch, Apple HealthKit or Google Fit wearable device | No GPS or real-time tracking of your dog’s location |
| Lightweight size | Must re-attach to collar with zip ties after every charge |
If you like the idea of no subscription fees but also want location tracking, you may want to consider the PitPat Smart Activity Tracker instead.
Shop on AmazonBest GPS Combo: Whistle Go Explore (Verified Review)
For pet parents who want it all—detailed health insights and location tracking—the Whistle Go Explore is one of the best dog fitbits on the market. In our testing of the Whistle Go, we found this device super helpful in tracking down one of our own escape artists. By setting up “safe zones” for your pup (like the boundaries of your backyard), the Whistle will alert you when they’ve left the designated areas and provide real-time location tracking to help you find them.
We also found that the app was useful in monitoring elevated levels of licking and scratching, even noticing Rover Test Pup Sabine’s ear infection before her parents did. Thanks to the AI-powered “poop scanner,” you can also keep tabs on your pet’s stool health. Lastly, you also get on-demand access to veterinarians, allowing you to chat with professionals about any concerns, potentially saving you money on vet visits.
The downside is that you need decent AT&T coverage in your area for the tracking to work accurately. (Some reviewers reported they had an issue with “dead spots.”) You’ll also need a pricier subscription plan to access most of the data.
| Pros | Cons |
| Track your dog’s day on a 24-hour timeline | Not for dogs under 25 pounds |
| Provides real-time GPS tracking | Doesn’t work well in areas with poor AT&T network coverage |
If you like this concept but want a more affordable price point, consider the Tractive GPS LTE instead.
Shop on Chewy Shop on WhistleBest Budget GPS Combo: Tractive GPS LTE (Verified Review)
The Tractive is another popular GPS tracker for dogs. It’s edged out in the health and fitness tracking department by the fancier Whistle Go, but it still offers activity monitoring—and at a much more affordable price.
The device tracks your pet’s active time, calories burned, sleep, and “calm time” (not sleeping, but not active), then displays them alongside a running comparison to your pet’s daily average and a local leaderboard you can opt into. The Tractive doesn’t track behaviors like licking, scratching, eating, or drinking, but our Tractive testers felt its accurate live tracking makes it a powerhouse in the GPS department and a good budget pick that doesn’t compromise on safety.
| Pros | Cons |
| Seven to 10-day battery life | Lacks in-depth health monitoring |
| Live tracking that refreshes every 15 to 60 seconds | Not for dogs under 9 pounds |
If you want more health and fitness tracking features, consider the Whistle Go Explore instead.
Find on Tractive Find on Amazon Find on Chewy
Best for Diet: Sure Petcare Animo Dog Fitness Tracker
Providing high-quality data, the Animo dog fitness tracker is great if you want to keep a close eye on your pup’s diet. This device uses an adaptive algorithm to learn, interpret, and keep detailed records of your dog’s health—helping you monitor specific issues like diabetes and weight loss.
A caloric calculator also tracks burned calories based on your pup’s weight, age, and spay/neuter status—taking into account all the behaviors (even simply resting) that burn calories. Over time, you’ll be able to review comprehensive graphs that show your dog’s results by day, week, month, and year.
One thing to keep in mind, however, is that reviewers have reported the device has to be positioned perfectly in order to function properly, which might pose a problem for more rambunctious pups.
| Pros | Cons |
| Monitors behaviors like barking, scratching, and sleep quality | Does not have GPS tracking |
| Long-lasting battery life of six months | May need to be positioned in a certain way to function correctly |
If you like this concept but want GPS tracking included, consider the Whistle Go Explore instead.
Shop on Chewy Shop on PetcoBest for Biometrics: PetPace Smart Dog Collar 2.0
This dog activity monitor is marketed toward pet parents wanting features that go beyond simple step tracking. The PetPace 2.0 monitors your dog’s daily movements, including walking, running, and resting, as well as their vital signs, including temperature, pulse, and respiratory rate. Once you’ve entered your pup’s breed, weight, and age, the app also provides personalized insights, including pain level assessments.
The PetPace hasn’t yet made the mainstream, and it may yet have a way to go in terms of finishing touches (notably weak GPS)—but it’s one of the first monitors to cater to dogs with chronic health issues. It may be especially interesting to pet parents with senior, arthritic, or epileptic pups.
| Pros | Cons |
| Monitors vital signs | Weak GPS tracking |
| 3 sizes available, suitable for dogs over 8 pounds | Some reviewers said the setup process can be complicated |
If monitoring health is your primary interest but you’d like stronger GPS, consider the Whistle Go instead.
Shop on PetPaceBest No Subscription: PitPat Smart Activity Tracker
While most options for a dog activity monitor require a monthly subscription fee, the PitPat does not. For just the cost of the device, you’ll get a tracker that monitors your pet’s daily exercise and rest periods, with recommendations for fitness and feeding goals.
The PitPat offers satellite-based real-time location info so you can keep tabs on your pet’s whereabouts without needing to rely on bluetooth or WiFi. Reviewers say the data can lag, which means you’re likely to get general data on where your dog is—but you may struggle if you need exact updates down to the minute.
| Pros | Cons |
| No subscription fees | May have less reliable service in rural areas |
| Lightweight | Velcro attachment may not stay put |
If you like the idea of no subscription fees but want a more affordable upfront cost, consider the FitBark 2 Dog Activity Monitor.
Buy on AmazonAre Dog Activity Trackers Worth It?
Dog activity trackers are a strong option for pet parents who want to keep tabs on their dog’s well-being. A good model can offer:
- Calorie and weight tracking—especially helpful for dogs whose weight requires monitoring
- Activity tracking—good for both fitness and behavior goals
- Health insights like general activity increases or decreases, increased scratching, or increased water consumption—nice for dogs with chronic illnesses or vulnerable health
- Real-time GPS data—handy for escape artists
That said, a fitness tracker isn’t for every pet. Not all models are equal, which means you may have to choose your priorities, whether that’s having fun meeting fitness goals together, monitoring vital signs, or making sure you can track down your pup in an emergency.
The high price point for most devices—and ongoing subscription costs—mean they’re not a casual investment. And many require significant maintenance in the form of regular charging.
For pet parents who are invested in the outcome, they can be fantastic and surprisingly well-developed pieces of tech. But for those not eager to take on the financial or manual upkeep, we recommend making do with lower-tech solutions.
How We Chose Our Dog Fitness Trackers
The dog fitness trackers featured here were selected based on a combination of our own hands-on testing, a comprehensive look at customer reviews across a wide variety of retail platforms, and interviews with expert trainers. We prioritized accurate distance tracking, a wide range of health tracking features (including licking, scratching, and sleep), user interface, price, battery life, and GPS capability. We’re also guided by the experience of living and playing alongside our own much-loved and strongly opinionated pets, who are never stingy with their feedback.
