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This content was reviewed and fact-checked by AKC Certified Dog Trainer & Behaviorist Madison Tanner Clark.
What if your dog’s wagging tail was hiding a serious health issue? Most pet owners assume that regular walks and playtime are enough to keep their dogs healthy, but research shows that nearly 60% of dogs in the U.S. are overweight or obese—leading to a shorter lifespan and increased health risks. The problem? Many health issues in dogs develop silently, without obvious symptoms. This is where dog activity monitors come in. These smart devices do more than count steps; they track movement patterns, rest quality, and even potential early warning signs of illness. Whether you want to monitor your dog’s activity for fitness or take a proactive approach to their health, we’ve reviewed the best dog activity monitors for every need—so you can transform your dog’s life before problems arise.
What Are Dog Activity Monitors?
Dog activity monitors, or fitbits for dogs, are devices designed to track and record their physical activity, providing insights into their health and fitness. These monitors typically use sensors like accelerometers to detect movement and algorithms to interpret this data into meaningful metrics such as: activity levels, distance traveled, calories burned, sleep patterns, heart rate, and much more.
Some dog activity monitors also include additional features like GPS tracking, which allows owners to locate their pets in real-time, and health alerts that can detect unusual changes in activity patterns, potentially indicating health issues. These devices are often compared to human fitness trackers, such as Fitbits, but are specifically tailored for canine needs and behaviors.
How the Best Activity Monitors Help Dogs
Here are the benefits of using dog activity monitors and why you should get one for your canine.
Monitor activity levels: Ensure your dog is getting enough exercise to maintain a healthy weight and stay fit.
Identify potential health problems: Detect changes in activity patterns that might indicate underlying health issues, such as arthritis or infections.
Improve sleep quality: Track sleep patterns to ensure your dog is getting adequate rest.
Enhance safety: GPS tracking helps locate your dog if they escape or get lost.
Weight management: Assist in maintaining a healthy weight by monitoring calorie burn and activity levels.
Understand behavior changes: Recognize shifts in activity or sleep that could signal stress, anxiety, or medical issues.
Share data with veterinarians: Provide valuable insights for veterinary consultations, helping diagnose and treat health issues more effectively.
Encourage active lifestyle: Motivate owners to engage their dogs in more physical activities, promoting a healthier lifestyle.
Track progress over time: Monitor improvements in fitness and health over time, helping stay motivated in achieving health goals.
Best Dog Activity Monitors
Here are our picks for this year’s best dog activity monitors.
Best Overall Dog Activity Monitor
4.8
★★★★★
Fi Series 3
Who It’s For: Dog owners who want the most robust activity monitoring features to track their dog’s health, fitness, location, and other key insights in one stylish device.
Why we recommended it: The Fi Series 3 Smart Dog Collar allows you to monitor various health metrics, such as steps taken, calories burned, and heart rate, while enabling you to set daily fitness goals for your dog. Beyond activity tracking, Fi also keeps an eye on your pet’s rest patterns, alerting you to any changes in their sleep or activity habits, which can offer valuable insights into their overall health. Additionally, the app allows owners to compare their dog’s activity levels with others based on location or breed. This social aspect can motivate owners to ensure their pets are getting enough exercise. We recommend the Fi Series 3 because it strikes a balance between advanced dog activity monitoring, GPS tracking features, price, and a typical collar design and style.
What sets it apart from competitors: Its 3-month battery dwarfs rivals and the aluminum-reinforced nylon build is tougher than sleeker competitors. The subscription includes global tracking, a rare perk for travelers. It has a warranty with unlimited replacements on active memberships.
Weight: 0.81 pounds | Waterproof: Yes, IP68 and IP66k | Mobile app: iOS & Android | Dog size: Fits all sizes
Key Features
GPS live location tracking: Uses 78 navigation satellites across three constellations for precise location tracking.
Escape alerts: Notifies you immediately if your dog leaves a designated safe zone.
400lbs+ force resistance: Tested to withstand the worst chewers and pullers.
Social features: Share your walks, celebrate milestones with the Fi community.
Best Dog Activity Monitor For Training
4.8
★★★★★
Halo Collar 4
Who It’s For: An excellent choice for dog owners seeking a highly reliable activity monitor that also acts as a training collar with built-in training programs.
Why we recommended it: The Halo GPS Collar 4 combines activity tracking with robust training features, providing a holistic approach to dog management and behavioral training. Halo Collar 4 displays activity data in a daily bar chart within the app. This chart shows how much time your dog spends active versus resting, the number of walks taken, and the distance traveled. The app can differentiate between car rides and other forms of movement, providing a more nuanced view of your dog’s daily activities. The Halo system includes a 21-day training module developed by renowned dog behaviorist Cesar Millan. These programs guide you through effective training techniques, establishing clear rules, boundaries, and limitations, all through the Halo app.
What sets it apart from competitors: The collar provides three types of feedback—sound, vibration, and optional static correction. This allows you to tailor the training experience to your dog’s temperament and training needs. The collar also delivers immediate feedback during walks or training sessions, reinforcing positive behaviors or discouraging unwanted actions.
Weight: 1.3 pounds | Waterproof: Yes, IP67 certified | Mobile app: iOS & Android | Dog size: Fits all sizes
Key Features
GPS tracking & virtual fences: Track your dog in real-time and create customizable virtual fences to keep your dog safe. Its dual-frequency GPS technology enhances accuracy and reliability, especially in challenging environments.
Versatile fit: Adjustable design accommodates a wide range of dog sizes.
AI-powered training program: Built-in training commands and modes, developed with Cesar Millan, help train and correct unwanted behaviors.
Return whistle: Call your dog to safety with audio cues.
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Best Dog Activity Monitor For Outdoor Adventures
4.6
★★★★★
Tractive XL Activity Dog Tracker
Who It’s For: A rugged and reliable option for outdoor enthusiasts who frequently take their dogs on hikes, camping, running or adventure trips.
Why we recommended it: The Tractive XL GPS Tracker is designed to provide comprehensive activity and health monitoring features, offering insights into your dog’s fitness and well-being during adventures. The fiberglass-reinforced casing makes it bite-proof and shockproof, ensuring it can withstand the demands of active dogs in rugged environments, making it an excellent choice for pet owners who love to take their dogs outdoors.
What sets it apart from competitors: With the help of AI, the tracker detects unusual patterns in your dog’s activity and sleep, sending alerts if there are potential health issues. This acts as an early warning system for indications of pain or discomfort. It also tracks exercise levels and compares them to breed averages.
Weight: 3.2 oz | Waterproof: Yes (IPX7 rated; submersible up to 1 meter). | Mobile app: Yes, iOS and Android | Dog size: Dogs 50lbs +
Key Features
Real-time tracking: Location updates every 2–3 seconds in Live Mode.
Virtual fences: Customizable safe zones with instant escape alerts.
Health alerts: AI-powered insights into sleep patterns and unusual activity changes.
GPS monitoring: Provides unlimited GPS range across 175+ countries using LTE/4G connectivity to provide real-time location updates anywhere with cellular coverage.
Best Dog Activity & Health Monitor
4.6
★★★★★
Whistle GO Explore 2.0
Who It’s For: Perfect for pet parents who want to track their dog’s activities and well-being in one device. Ideal for dogs with medical needs or active breeds where monitoring activity levels matters as much as safety.
Why we recommended it: The Whistle GO Explore 2.0 offers activity monitoring paired with veterinarian-designed health insights, like tracking licking, scratching, sleep quality, and calories burned. It provides a daily log with map details of your walks by recording location points at intervals to give a general overview of your dog’s movement patterns. It estimates the calories your dog burns during activities, helping you manage their weight and overall health. It allows you to set daily exercise goals based on breed, weight, and age. The app’s clean interface makes it easy to share your vet, adding practical value beyond basic activity tracking. Plus, it has a built-in night light for enhanced visibility at night.
What sets it apart from competitors: It works with any dog collar, attach the tracker to your dog’s collar strap. Addtionaly, it monitors your pet’s digestive health with its Poop Scan feature, which uses AI to analyze stool health to help you understand how diet impacts their overall well-being.
Weight: 1.3 oz | Waterproof: Yes, up to 6 ft, IPX 8 rating | Mobile app: iOS & Android | Dog size: Dogs 25 lbs and up
Key Features
Licensed vets on-call: Get free access to vet expertise through chat, call, and email (accessible directly from the app).
Health alerts: Flags and alerts behavior changes from normal patterns—a lifesaver for spotting early signs of illness or anxiety.
Escape alerts: Notifies you if your dog leaves a safe zone.
GPS monitoring: Its GPS tracking system is powered by AT&T’s 4G LTE network and Wi-Fi connectivity.
Waterproof design: Durable and suitable for various weather conditions and activities.
Best Activity Monitor for Small Dogs
4.5
★★★★★
FitBark 2nd Gen
Who It’s For: Good choice for small dogs, teacup, lap dogs, or pups with delicate necks, where bulky activity trackers would be uncomfortable.
Why we recommended it: The FitBark 2nd Gen is the lightest activity trackers available—small dogs often forget they’re wearing it. It’s equipped with a 3D accelerometer, the device accurately detects various activities, helping to monitor mobility and identify potential health issues early on. FitBark tracks your dog’s activity levels minute-by-minute, providing insights into their daily movement patterns, including time spent resting, sleep quality, playing, calories burned, stress, and activity levels. Owners of small breeds praise its discreet design, which avoids the “clunky” feel of competitors. At 1.85″ long, it doesn’t dangle awkwardly on petite necks.
What sets it apart from competitors: FitBark compares your pet’s behavior with that of similar pets across 150+ countries, helping uncover potential health issues early, and its reliability has made it a trusted tool in clinical research at over 100 vet schools. It also syncs with Apple Health or Google Fit to pair owner steps with dog miles—a hit with fitness-focused users. Plus, it’s made from high-impact polycarbonate, offering a rugged and waterproof design for active small dogs who enjoy various environments.
Weight: 0.5 oz | Waterproof: Yes (IP67 rated) | Mobile app: iOS & Android | Dog size: All sizes
Key Features
Safe places: Create unlimited virtual fences with entry/exit alerts, though drawing boundaries requires app proficiency
Sleep analytics: Measures REM cycles and restlessness, flagging potential pain or anxiety
Weather-resistant design: Functions in -4°F to 122°F, tested in Midwestern storms and creek swims
Best Affordable Dog Activity Monitor
4.5
★★★★★
Petcube Activity Tracker
Who It’s For: A cost-effective solution for dog owners seeking essential activity tracking without premium pricing. It prioritizes accessibility over advanced features.
Why we recommended it:Petcube GPS Tracker offers wellness insights to help fine-tune your pet’s routine based on their activity data. The Petcube app includes a heat map feature that shows your dog’s favorite routes and places, providing a visual overview of their activity patterns. Unlike pricier models, you can find this under $50 plus an optional $5/month plan that covers essential tracking. It is one of the most affordable dog activity monitors that tracks active time, rest hours, distance traveled, and calories burned to help maintain your pet’s health.
What sets it apart from competitors: Its glow-in-the-dark case enhances visibility during nighttime searches—a rarity in sub-$100 trackers. Petcube also integrates smoothly with its ecosystem of pet cameras, letting you track location and check live video feeds in one app—a unique perk for multi-device households.
Weight: 1 oz | Waterproof: Yes, IP67 rating; survives 1m submersion | Mobile app: iOS & Android | Dog size: All sizes
Key Features
GPS monitoring: Use triple-carrier cellular support (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile) for live location tracking.
Integrated buzzer and LED light: Helps locate nearby pets audibly and visually without relying solely on GPS.
24/7 health services: With the Premium subscription, pet parents can chat live through the app with a licensed vet.
Virtual fences: Define safe zones and receive alerts when your pet leaves or returns.
Best Dog Activity Monitor Without Subscription
4.5
★★★★★
Pitpat Dog Activity Monitor
Who It’s For: Dog owners who want to track their pet’s activity levels without the burden of ongoing subscription fees.
Why we recommended it: The PitPat Dog Activity Monitor is perfect for those interested in understanding their dog’s daily movement patterns, including walking, running, playing, and resting times. Additionally, its lightweight and compact design ensures comfort for your dog, while the app provides easy-to-understand data on activity levels, distance traveled, and calories burned.
What sets it apart from competitors: The PitPat, based on your dog’s data, gives you personalised feeding recommendations tailored to your dog. The device operates on a replaceable CR1632 battery that can last over a year.
Weight: 0.5 oz | Waterproof: Yes | Mobile app: iOS & Android | Dog size: All sizes
Key Features
Optional PitPat LIFE: Subscribe to access VIP rewards and unlock certain features like live-GPS tracking and more.
Badges: Earn fun badges for hitting activity goals, covering long distances and much more.
Adventure-proof: Designed to be incredibly robust, so it can take (nearly) everything your dog can throw at it.
Best Dog Health-Focus Activity Monitor
4.8
★★★★★
Maven Pet
Who It’s For: Pet owners who prioritize their dog’s health and want to stay ahead of potential issues.
Why we recommended it: The Maven Pet Smart Collar is a revolutionary device that offers proactive pet health care monitoring that goes beyond basic activity tracking. It provides a holistic approach to pet health, combining activity and sleep monitoring with vital signs like resting respiratory rate, activity, rest, water intake, scratching behaviors and more. This allows for early detection of health issues, enabling timely interventions and better treatment outcomes.
What sets it apart from competitors: Advanced AI-driven health monitoring system. Your dog’s data is compared against a baseline established after the first week of use, allowing the AI to identify early indicators of health issues. Additionally, Maven offers 24/7 access to vet support, providing peace of mind for pet owners concerned about their dog’s health.
Weight: 0.5 oz | Waterproof: Yes | Mobile app: iOS & Android | Dog size: All sizes
Key Features
Multi-pet discount: Yes – additional pets can be added at half the original cost.
Weekly check-ups: Receive regular check-ups covering pet wellness.
Health alerts: Unusual activity/rest patterns, odd behaviors or anomalies are flagged
Best Dog Health Activity Monitor With GPS
4.6
★★★★★
Pet Pace
Who It’s For: Dog owners of pets who prioritize their pet’s health and want to track their dog’s live location.
Why we recommended it: The PetPace 2.0 Smart Collar offers a holistic approach to pet health, providing real-time vital sign monitoring, AI-driven health insights, and GPS location tracking. PetPace tracks a wide range of vital signs, including temperature, pulse, respiratory rate, heart rate variability, posture, and activity levels. The collar’s GPS capabilities offer real-time location tracking and safe zone alerts, ensuring your dog’s safety. Additionally, it features a proprietary wellness score and pain indicator, providing a comprehensive view of your dog’s health. This combination of features allows for early detection of health problems and timely interventions.
What sets it apart from competitors: The AI and machine learning to provide comprehensive insights continuously learns and adapts to your dog’s baseline, enabling early detection of health issues.
Weight: 2.1 oz | Waterproof: Yes, IP66 and IP68 | Mobile app: iOS & Android | Dog size: All sizes
Key Features
Robust data collection: Continuous high-frequency measurement across all major vitals, biometrics & location
Veterinary solution: Offers a veterinarian solution, allowing clinicians to remotely monitor multiple patients’ health and delve into trended views and comparative analysis.
Also A Great Dog Activity Monitor
4.5
★★★★★
DBDD
Who It’s For: Also a good choice for pet owners seeking a comprehensive solution to track their dog’s activity levels.
Why we recommended it: The DBDD Dog Activity Monitor offers basic tracking features that cater to both health and safety needs, including real-time tracking, safe zone alerts, and access to a vet network for professional advice. You can track your pet’s activity even if you’re on the other side of the world, as it works in over 175 countries.
What sets it apart from competitors: Innovative “dog finder” feature guides you directly to your dog, even in the dark. The device is designed to attach to almost any pet collar or harness with the included clips/attachments.
Weight: 0.5 lbs | Waterproof: Yes, IP67 | Mobile app: iOS & Android | Dog size: Dogs 40+
The Bottom Line
A dog activity monitor is more than just a gadget—it’s a game-changer for your pup’s health and well-being. With the right device, you can track their fitness, detect early warning signs of health issues, and ensure they’re getting the exercise they need to thrive. We’ve reviewed the best options to help you find the perfect fit, so now it’s up to you. By using a dog activity monitor, you’re not just making a purchase—you’re making a commitment to a longer, healthier, and happier life for your furry companion.
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Sources
Canine Bible uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process and product review methodology to learn more about how we fact-check, test products, and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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