GPS Collars Help Keep Track Of Dogs

GPS Collars Help Keep Track Of Dogs LIVESTOCK DOGS 31-6-17 Dog owners have a new way to keep track of their animals. GPS collars were introduced by a couple of companies in 2007. Boyd Palsgrove of St. Paul, Minnesota, tested a "RoamEO" unit on his 100-lb. golden retriever. It has a handheld receiver unit and a weatherproof GPS transmitter unit that's attached to the dog's collar. The receiver screen pinpoints the dog's location, speed and which direction it's heading up to a mile of line of sight. Dog owners can also create a virtual GPS fence. An alarm sounds if the dog has gone outside a set boundary. Palsgrove, who now sells the RoamEO, says his customers include pet owners, hunters, canine police and the owner of a 75-year-old tortoise. One RoamEO unit can track up to three dogs. Rechargeable lithium batteries power both units. Cost is $550 with a 1-year warranty. Garmin International in Olathe, Kansas, makes the Astro, which works up to five miles line of site and includes a stand-alone, full-featured GPS device including a barometric altimeter, electronic compass, and the capability of downloading automotive maps and marine maps. Garmin also offers a neoprene harness to secure the GPS unit to the dog. Astro can track up to 10 dogs simultaneously, and has been well received by hunting customers, says Jessica Myers at Garmin. The Astro has a 1-year warranty and uses a rechargeable lithium battery on the dog's transmitter and two AA batteries for the handheld unit. Stores such as Cabela's, Bass Pro Shop, and Amazon.com sell the $649 Astros. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, RoamEO, White Bear Technologies, 900 Long Lake Road, Suite 110, St. Paul, Minn. 55112 (ph 888 476-2636; info@roameoforpets.com; www.roameoforpets.com) or Garmin Astro, Garmin International, Inc.; www.garmin.com.

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