09/03/2026
LET’S TALK ABOUT FI COLLARS — because this is one piece of pet technology I genuinely think more dog owners should know about.
We put so much thought into keeping our dogs safe: microchips, ID tags, fenced yards, leashes, gates…the list goes on.
But there’s one problem with most of those things:
They can’t tell you where your dog is right now.
That’s where a GPS tracker like Fi can add an entirely different layer of protection.
📍 LOCATION TRACKING
If your dog gets loose, knowing the direction they ran is very different from being able to pull up their location on your phone.
Fi uses GPS and cellular connectivity to help owners locate their pets remotely. And if a dog is actually missing, Lost Mode increases the frequency of location updates so you can actively follow their movement.
🚨 ESCAPE ALERTS
This may be one of my favorite features.
Owners can create Safe Zones around places their dog is supposed to be your home, a family member’s house, vacation home, pet sitter, daycare or boarding location.
If your dog leaves that designated area, Fi can send an escape notification to your phone.
That means you may know something is wrong BEFORE someone realizes the gate was left open or your little escape artist found the one weak spot in the fence.
🐕 THIS IS HUGE FOR PET SITTING, DAYCARE & BOARDING
This is something I especially appreciate as a pet-care professional.
Fi actually allows owners to create Safe Zones for daycare and boarding locations and add walkers/caregivers to their Fi account with limited access.
For me, anything that adds another layer of accountability and safety when someone else’s baby is in our care is worth talking about.
🏃♀️ IT’S MORE THAN A GPS TRACKER
Fi can also track things like your dog’s activity, walks, steps, rest and sleep trends.
And THIS is where technology gets really interesting.
Your dog can’t tell you, “Hey Mom, I haven’t been moving quite like I normally do.”
But patterns can tell us things.
If you know what your dog’s normal activity and rest look like, changes in those patterns can give you information you might otherwise miss. It isn’t a replacement for your veterinarian but having more information about your dog’s normal routine can be incredibly useful.
🔋 AND YOU’RE NOT CHARGING IT EVERY NIGHT
Battery life depends heavily on the model and how the tracker is being used. Fi currently estimates that the Series 3/3+ can last anywhere from about two weeks with heavy outdoor use to up to three months with lighter, mostly-at-home use. Lost Mode uses significantly more battery because it updates location much more frequently.
🆘 IF YOUR DOG DOES GO MISSING…
Fi also has a feature called Search Party.
When Lost Mode is activated, owners can create and share a live location link so friends, family and others helping search can follow the dog’s location and coordinate the search.
THAT is the kind of technology I want available during an emergency.
❤️ THE IMPORTANT PART:
A Fi collar doesn’t replace a microchip.
It doesn’t replace an ID tag.
It doesn’t replace a secure leash, properly fitted harness, fenced yard, responsible owner or attentive pet sitter.
It’s another layer.
And when it comes to dogs, I am a HUGE believer in layers of safety.
Because dogs don’t only escape from irresponsible owners.
A perfectly loved, trained and cared-for dog can bolt because of thunder, fireworks, prey drive, fear, an accidentally opened door, a broken fence or something none of us could have predicted.
I would rather have technology on my dog’s collar that I never need…
than desperately wish I had it the one time I do.
