Buy, Pass, or Wait? The Verdict on the @TaggTracker

Hey there Pups!

We've had to wrap up our demo of the Tagg Tracker on the earlier side. We had our device on loan for two weeks, but Paddy is headed out to her grandparents for a few weeks and we wouldn't be able to get it back on time. Bummer, I know.

So, where did we net out? Unfortunately, we didn't get too much time to actually test this out properly due to the technical issues we experienced and the fact that the Activity Tracker is currently being re-launched.  Today was the first time that we got consistent/accurate updates which were really cool, and nice -- especially as we spent most of today on a plane half-way across the country. The one other draw back we encountered was battery life-- maybe it's something we're doing wrong, but we can't figure out why our battery only lasts 3-4 days before needing a charge. According to the handbook, we should at least get a few more.

We were hoping to get a chance to use this device to keep a tab on Miss P while we're on the road and she's out on the Farm, but again-- timing got in the way. (This would have been a super cool use case!)  Same with keeping tabs on her while she's at daycare; alas, with the busy travel schedule of Paddy's PA (i.e. me), we won't get a chance to check it out.

Here's our final take on the Tagg Tracker.

Who it's good for:
Those with yards and dogs who have a free-roaming lifestyle.
Anyone who has a dog that likes to take unauthorized solo trips.
People who send their dogs out with dog-walkers, or to day-care.
People who travel a lot and want to keep tabs on their dog on the go. 

Who it's probably a pass for: 
Dogs under 10 lbs- while it worked on Paddy, it was a little too bulky to leave strapped on all the time in the apartment (also, our apartment is minuscule).
Old, sedentary dogs that aren't going to go far without a human companion.
People who are not patient with technology- as we mentioned, it took a fair amount of trouble shooting and research to figure out what the blinking lights meant and what exactly was going on. You'll need to download the app to your smart phone to really get the most out of it.

Things to keep in mind:
If you fall into the "pass" category, the Tagg is probably not the best investment-- especially considering the cost involved with the 4G subscription. However, if your dog is active and out n' about, we say take a look. It may be worthwhile to wait until they've ironed out all of the technical issues and re-launched the Activity Tracker though. (Again, maybe we just tested this out during a bad week- technology isn't perfect!) We are currently going to hold off on investing in one of our own for now in the hopes that there will be a smaller version in the near future.

Overall, very grateful that we got a chance to check this gadget out-- just wish we had been able to spend more time utilizing the features.

If you're in the market for Tagg-- they're still on sale until 10/31 via their website and code BOO13.



Disclaimer: This device was provided by PR for a fair and honest review. For more information, please see our blog disclaimer for our review policy.

Day 4: Tagg Tracker in Action!

All right! So since getting our Tagg Tracker set up, we've had the opportunity to try it out in action. As you can see from our test subject's adorable photo above, the device is a little bulky on a dog that's less than 10 lbs. That said, it really hasn't been bothering her, though we have been unclipping it to and from her collar whenever she's in the "home zone". We also tried attaching it to her harness which worked well. Fortunately, the tracker comes with two sets of attachment clips, so we can leave one set up on her collar and another on the harness. Yay. 

So here's where we kind of hit a roadblock.... On Day 2 of our trial Tagg pushed an update to their system which was accompanied by some scheduled, and some not s scheduled downtime. Eek. Our tracker didn't update for two days and we couldn't figure out what was going on. Also, the Quick Start instruction guide that came with the device definitely did not have all the answers we would have liked-- visit their website to check out the PDF there, it's much more helpful! 

After overcoming those few little speed bumps, we've been on our way! We're still figuring out a bunch of different things, like how to set up our home zone, but hopefully we'll have some more time to figure all of these things out soon. 

Things we like so far: the push notifications we get on our phone whenever Paddy is on the move outside of her home area. Thanks to the Verizon 4G network, these updates are pretty much in real time, and when we did get the "Locate" feature working, cool to play with! We could definitely see how this would be beneficial if you were trying to track down an unaccompanied wanderer.

It does look like the activity tracker piece is being relaunched so we haven't had a chance to demo that, but will keep you updated!

The Tagg Tracker is available from most major retailers and also their website. I believe they also have a Halloween deal going on: 20% off with code BOO13. 

Disclaimer: We received this device courtesy of PR in exchange for our fair and honest review. For more information about our policies, please view the disclaimer section of our blog. 

Tagg Tracker: Day 1

We are so excited to be testing out the Tagg pet tracker for the next two weeks! This portable little GPS system attaches to your dog's collar to provide you with location updates via text/email. In addition to helping you locate an adventurous wandered, the Tagg can track your dog's daily activity and share information about your pet with your vet. Think of it as the canine FitBit! 

So far, setup has been a breeze and we've downloaded the Tagg app to our iPhone.  While we were slightly worried that the unit was going to be bulky/too big on our little 6 lb Morkie, so far she seems to be adjusting. Since the Tagg is designed for dogs that are around 10lbs, it is a little heavy on her collar and doesn't rest at the back of her neck, but we're going to play around with adjustments. 

 

Really looking forward to trying this out as we're looking at moving to the suburbs in the next year (GASP), where Paddy will have much more outdoor freedom. 

Paddy is resting up prior to an afternoon of fun! Will keep you updated :) 

Disclaimer: The Tagg tracker device was provided by PR for the purposes of review.