Editor’s Note: See our latest round-up of the Best AirTag Accessories for Dog & Cat Collars

I personally used Belkin Secure Holder Key Rings (see our Inexpensive AirTag Key Chain Article, or buy from Amazon or Belkin for $13) and hooked them straight to their dog collars. It’s a great solution, and Lucca and Vino are now trackable should they wander off one day (which hopefully never happens!) anytime in the next year, thanks to AirTag’s 1-year battery life.

Tips for Using AirTags as a Dog or Cat Tracker:

1. Buy some good AirTag accessories to attach your AirTags to your pet’s collar:
   • Amazingly, AirTags do not come with any sort of clip, so it’s impossible to attach them to a dog collar without an accessory (or doing something crazy with duct tape)
   • I used Belkin’s Airtag Keychain Accessory, but you could also use Apple’s $35 AirTag KeyChain or Apple’s $29 AirTag Loop Accessory to clip your AirTag to your dog’s collar
2. Make sure AirTags are durable enough to be clipped to your dog or cat:
   • AirTags are waterproof up to 3 feet deep for thirty minutes, as we discussed in our AirTags FAQ, but they’re also made out of beautiful chrome and are easily scratched
   • So, they’ll last a year on your dog or cat’s collar, and be fine with occasional baths / survive being dunked in the water bowl each morning and night just fine… That said, if you have a Portuguese Water Dog or some other big swimmer who plays in water for more than 30 minutes at a time, you may have to think of an alternate (and unfortunately more expensive) pet tracker such as the Whistle Go Explore pet tracker… but for most dogs and nearly all cats, AirTags are the best pet trackers you can buy
   • AirTags will eventually get scratched and scuffed (e.g., from your pet’s food and water bowls) if you use an open-faced case such as the Belkin I’m using; I think it looks great as-is and I’m OK with this risk, but it’s something to keep in mind
3. Consider a specially made AirTag Dog Collar or AirTag Cat Collar:
   • As more AirTag Accessories are released, accessory manufacturers are getting more specific and tailored in their offerings. Especially now that we know AirTags are Great Pet Trackers
   • Amazon now has a few lines of pet-specific silicone AirTag holders that cover the entire front of the AirTag and attach them to the collar without dangling down, such as this AirTag Silicone Pet Collar Accessory
4. Choose a tailored name and emoji for your pets when setting up your AirTags that reflect their attitude and style
   • You’re going to see the emoji and name you assign when setting up your AirTag as a pet tracker whenever you open the Find My app, so pick something fun

Setting up my AirTags for my dog Vino:

Choosing an emoji for my AirTag for Vindo, my poodle:

Using Apple’s Find My App and AirTags to find my dog Vino on the map:

Using a Belkin AirTag KeyChain on Vino’s dog collar:

Here are Lucca and Vino, my two dogs, sporting AirTags pet trackers:

Here are reviews for the top 5 AirTag collars and accessories, to make sure you never lose track of your dog or cat:

• 1. Using a Belkin Secure Holder with Strap for AirTag on your Dog or Cat Collar

• Using an AirTag keychain or loop is a simple way to attach an AirTag to a dog or cat collar. The Belkin Secure Holder with Strap comes in Black, Blue, Pink and White, and is securely snapped shut completed with a proprietary original twist and lock mechanism.  It has an open design with raised edges that will keep your AirTag secure and for the most part scratch-free (though the face could still get nicked if you happen to have a wild and energetic pet). The thin strap is easy to tie onto your dog or cat’s collar, and the case’s open and protected design shows off the Apple logo and any engravings on your AirTag. The only downside of repurposing keychains and loops to attach to collars is that the AirTag will dangle and bounce around as your pet moves. This isn’t much of a problem (and in fact, we use Belkin’s Secure Holder to keep AirTags on our dogs), although if you have an energetic pet or if collar jingling sounds wake you up at night, you might want to find a more appropriate accessory where the AirTag won’t dangle so low.
• Click here to buy the Belkin Secure Holder with Strap for AirTag – $13
• 

• 2. FollowPaw Airtag Collar Review

• The FollowPaw collar is a great alternative for pet tracking as it eliminates the “dangling AirTag” seen in other accessories by creating a dog collar with a secure built-in pocket. The collar comes in Natural (beige, cork-colored) and All-Black colors, and ranges from sizes Small to Extra Large to better accommodate your pet. This collar is made of “renewable cork leather” – making it vegan, sustainable and very stylish – and has what is called a magnetic V-Buckle that ensures the collar stays on even when applied high forces but comes off easily in your hands. You can buy the FollowPaw AirTag collar by itself (includes accessory + collar), or you can purchase the set with a matching leash. As a bonus, FollowPaw says it supports shelter animals with a portion of the proceeds from every purchase made
• Click here to buy the FollowPaw AirTag Collar – on sale for 39,95€ (Original Price 49,95€)
• Click here to buy the FollowPaw AirTag Collar + Leash Set –  on sale for 84,00€ (Original Price 94,00€)
• 
• 

• 3. TagVault: Pet – Review

• The ElevationLabs TagVault: Pet is a cheaper alternative to the FollowPaw collar with the built-in AirTag pocket, and doesn’t require you to buy a new collar for your pet. This AirTag mount works with any collar or harness width by permanently attaching the AirTag to your dog or cat’s collar with two easy-to-assemble ultra-secure screws. The durable composite design with machined stainless fasteners makes the AirTag even more waterproof (see our AirTag FAQ to learn about AirTags’ water resistance), while still easily accessible for battery changes without having to unscrew the mount from the collar. The TagVault: Pet comes in black, and can be purchased individually, or in packs of 2 and 4, and is recommended for pets over 10 pounds as could be a bit bulky on the neck of smaller animals.
• Click here to pre-order the TagVault: Pet that will start shipping in July – $19.95 (single) $34.95 (2-pack) and $64.95 (4-pack)
• 
• 

• 4. Hatalkin Airtag Holder Review

• The Hatalkin Airtag Holder is a great alternative to the TagVault: Pet as it also mounts an AirTag directly onto a pet collar, but is simpler and less expensive. This product however is much easier to attach because of its pet-friendly silicone side-loops simply hold the AirTag to your collar of choice without the need to screw holes into your dog’s favorite collar. The Hatalkin AirTag Holder has a simple and efficient design that covers and protects your AirTag from impact, sweat and dust and comes in Navy Blue, Red, Pink and Black. Overall it’s not as secure for your AirTag as the TagVault: Pet, but if you have marginally calmer pets this will work just as fine (and is available now / doesn’t require a screwdriver to attach to your dog’s collar). Plus, at 80% cheaper than the TagVault (the Hatalkin AirTag Holder comes in four-packs so are roughly $4 / each), these are probably the best deal for an AirTag pet collar accessory, and can be used on everything from cat collars to handbags to backpacks, depending on the width of the strap.
• Click here to buy the 4-pack Hatalkin Airtag Holder from Amazon – $16.88
• 
• 

• 5. Nomad Rugged Pet Tag Review 

• The Nomad Rugged Pet Tag, like all Nomad AirTag accessories, feels top of the line and premium.  It has a waterproof TPU-overmolded polycarbonate shell for your AirTag that attaches to your pets collar. It is much like the Belkin Secure Holder With Strap in terms of dangly design and AirTag security – although the Belkin gives us a view of the beautiful Apple logo and the Nomad protects it from scratches (which is better? Your choice there!) – and has a metal keychain loop to attach to the collar. The Rugged Pet Tag is waterproof and has speaker holes in the back, and offers the opportunity to customize a metal engraving on the front of the collar, perfect for your pet’s name and your phone number, for $19,95 more. The custom engraving, while a bit pricey, makes Nomad’s dog & cat offering unique.  Unlike Apple’s AirTag engraving which only allows 6 characters to be engraved, Nomad’s pet collar allows you enough space to put your dog’s name and your phone number.  This means it can realistically replace your dog or cat’s daily ID collar, and you only have one thing hanging from his or her neck, instead of turning your pet into a veritable keychain of dangling / jingly accessories.  Nomad’s Rugged Pet Tag is probably the best way to attach an AirTag to your dog or cat’s collar, and comes in Black and in White (collar sold separately).
• Click here to buy the Nomad Rugged Pet Tag – on sale for $29.95 (Original Price $39.95)
• 
• 

Top 5 Items to Find with AirTags:

• 1) Using AirTags to find your lost Suitcase / Checked Bag when Traveling
  • How many times has this happened to you? You stay up late the night before your big trip to finish packing, you jam in every last item you may or may not need based on whatever weather and activities you may or may not experience… you board your flight to paradise, you try your best to sleep but end up watching some terrible movie instead, while picking through a TV-dinner tray of unidentifiable-potato-gravy-meat(?) and inexplicably dry salad… you land, exhausted, and stand around Luggage Carousal #3 for 20 minutes waiting for the first bag to less-than-gracefully fall into place and slowly make its way around the loop. It’s not your bag.
  • You then wait some more, as the conveyor belt fills up, jockeying for position amongst the crowds of other weary travelers from your flight, still cautiously optimistic your bag will be in the same city / country as you.
  • And… Nothing.
  • Crowd is starting to disperse, and you slowly fill with dread and try to cling to hope as the last couple bags arrive. Your bag will make it… right? How can an airline lose a suitcase in the 21st century? Did they really just ship it to Europe when you flew to South America? Losing a bag while traveling… Is. The. Worst. Maybe it just ended up on a different conveyor belt somehow? Maybe it’s in the airport but running a bit late?
  • The solution? Open your Find My app, and track your suitcase with precision. The airline’s going to love when you tell them exactly where it is! Well, maybe they won’t say “thank you” in so many words, but at least you’ll know where your bag is. Thank you AirTags!
• 2) Clipping an AirTag to your Pet’s Collar to Ensure you Don’t Lose your Dog or Cat
  • My good friend Andrea recently lost her cat, Marco. She had Marco and his brother for 5 years and he never once tried to bolt out the door, until this March… Maybe Marco was sick of being stuck in doors so much due to lockdown? We’re not sure.
  • Marco bolted out the door and into the cool evening air during an Uber Eats delivery, and immediately disappeared out of site. Black cat at sunset in a big city. It was horrible, terrifying, and all-to-common. Andrea was devastated. (Spoiler alert, she put up roughly 200 signs and ultimately a neighbor found Marco – two days later – camped out under the neighbor’s deck a couple blocks over. He was safe and sound and probably feasting on wildlife)
  • How would an Apple AirTag help you find your lost cat? Well, for $29, Marco is going to have an AirTag on his collar next time – and he’ll be extremely easy to find with the Find My network. Andrea won’t have to print 200 flyers and wait / pray for a neighbor to call – she’ll know right away that Marco is out doing some hunting under a neighbor’s house, and the Find My app will walk her right over with AR-based turn-by-turn directions. Pretty good pet insurance policy.
  • See our article – Are AirTags Good Pet Trackers?
• 3) Using an AirTag to Find your Keys
  • This seems so obvious it’s almost boring, but it has to be on here… when you’re rushing out to work or school and you can’t find your keys… Ugh…
  • Attach an AirTag to your keychain, and you have some easy options. Use the Find My app to make your keys sound an audible chime / beep (great if they fell behind the counter instead of being on the counter, where you thought you left them), or even use the indoor-GPS-features of the U1 ultra-wideband chip to get turn-by-turn directions to the toy-box-under-the-tiny-desk-your-daughter-uses-which-she-thought-would-be-a-clever-place-to-hide-mommy’s-keys-today. Not a literal life-saver like using an AirTag as a Pet Tracker, but pretty amazing nonetheless.
• 4) Using AirTags to Find your Car or Bike Parking Spot
  • OK, you might be saying you don’t lose your car – how hard is it to remember where you parked?
  • Well, last year (pre-covid) I flew from LAX to JFK on American on a last-minute business trip, and had to park in one of the airport structures. It was supposed to be a one-day trip for a meeting, in and out. Of course, traffic was awful and I was running late – I barely had time to park, and run to the gate to make my flight (and therefore, make it to tomorrow’s meeting on time).
  • Of course, flying back, there were unexpected weather-related cancelations and schedule changes. I ended up having to switch flights last minute, and was routed through a different city instead flying direct… Which meant, when I landed (late at night, exhausted, after a terrible 5,000-mile-in-20-hours-roundtrip), I was at a different LAX terminal than I departed from. I suddenly realized it was dark, I’d never been here before, and I had no idea where my car was.
  • After a 20-minute late-night walk through LAX, and somewhat deliriously tired, I clung to my wavering hope that at least I knew I parked on level 3. I mean, I think I parked on level 3? But what structure? This isn’t where I flew out of, and these parking structures sure do look the same.
  • Have you ever tried to find your car at a place like LAX when you don’t know the level you parked on, never-mind the structure?
  • I would have paid so much more than $29 for an AirTag to be in my cupholder as the clock ticked past midnight and I still hadn’t found my car. I wanted to cry… WHERE WAS MY CAR?
  • Lesson learned. I’m keeping an AirTag in my glove compartment of my car from now on. Sure it would be cool one day to smugly tell the police where my car is in the off-chance it gets stolen, but really, I know why I keep an AirTag in my car at all times. It’s because I never want to forget my parking spot again. LAX isn’t going to win so easily next time.
• 5) Using an AirTag to find your kid
  • I can already see the onslaught of complaints about this one, so I’ll caveat that I’m not suggesting we track our kids every day / I’d only do this if we were going to Disneyland or a waterpark (Are AirTags Waterproof?) or something… But, let’s be honest. Why wouldn’t you slip an AirTag in the pocket of your toddler’s tiny jeans for the day? Does that make me sound like an overly paranoid parent? Maybe, but it’s also a $25-$30 insurance policy to prevent a parental heart-attack. Let’s say you’re trying to quickly order a $19 bottle of water from the “guest experience partner”, when he starts to up-sell you to a “collectible water bottle” with a plastic princess stuck on the top for only $12 more. While this unnecessarily complicated water bottle transaction is taking place, little Timmy spots an awesome butterfly and starts to follow her through the crowds. Yeah, compared to the money I’m spending on water bottles, I think sticking an AirTag on my kid is a relatively cheap and unobtrusive way to relax a bit on the next family vacation.

One of the coolest (and possibly most valuable, if you’re a dog-lover) uses of Apple’s new AirTag Trackers (check out our AirTag launch coverage and AirTags FAQ) is clipping one to Fido’s collar and being sure he’s never lost… Whether you’re worried about your pup running away from home, or if you have the kind of dog who likes to explore off leash while hiking or playing on the beach, dog-finding GPS trackers can literally be lifesavers.

My dogs are a bit too crazy to wander the world off-leash, so for me, Apple’s new AirTag trackers will give me peace of mind in an emergency: AirTags will help me find my dogs if they ever run away!

AirTags have many of the key features needed in a good dog-tracker, at a fraction of the cost:

• AirTags have a year-plus long battery life, with an easily replaceable battery (see more on AirTag Battery Life). Giving Fido an Apple Watch wouldn’t only be expensive (and let’s face it, would be kind of awesome to see his rings at the end of the day), but it would also be impractical… You don’t want to charge his collar every night. An Apple AirTag can clip to your dog or cat’s collar and be good to go for a whole year of safety
• AirTags are water-resistant (and basically water-bowl-proof): My dogs somehow consider drinking of the water bowl to be some sort of cannon-ball contest. Add walks in the rain, chewing on sprinklers, and other dog-hobbies, and having a waterproofing pet tracker is essential. Apple AirTags make great pet trackers, as they are IP67-rated for water and dust resistance (meaning they can handle a thirty-minute-session of meter-deep Portuguese-water-dog-swimming). Read more about AirTag water-resistance on our AirTag FAQs.
• AirTags offer the world’s best pet location system: Apple’s billion-device strong, global Find My network. What good is knowing how many steps Fido’s taken today, but not being able to find him tomorrow. Some of the other pet trackers out there offer admittedly-fun but gimmicky features, but only Apple’s AirTag tracker and the new Find My-compatible Chipolo ONE Spot Tracker (affiliate) let you leverage nearly every iPhone user out there to help you find your lost pup. Read more on How to Use the Find My App to Locate an AirTag on your lost pup here.
• AirTags are inexpensive: AirTags cost $25-30 upfront and don’t require a monthly or annual service plan. That means they save you over $225 the first year vs. the popular Whistle Go Explore Tracker and roughly $100 the first year vs. the FitBark GPS Dog Tracker

So, how do AirTags compare to other dog tracking collars and dog GPS devices? Let’s take a look at some dog- and cat-specific AirTags competitors in the pet tracking arena. Two of the top-rated pet trackers (other than AirTags) are the Whistle Go Explore Tracker and the FitBark GPS Dog Tracker, as discussed below.

How do AirTags Compare to the Whistle GO Explore Tracker for Finding Lost Dogs?

Whistle makes some of the post popular dog tracking collars on the market, including the top-rated Whistle GO Explore. Here are the key features and an assessment of Apple AirTags vs. the Whistle GO Explore Tracker GPS dog collar:

• Price:
  • Whistle GO Explore: $129.95 (often on sale at Amazon for ~$100)
  • Apple AirTags: (Cheaper)
• Annual Plan:
  • Whistle 360° Plan: $95.40/year
  • Apple AirTags: (Cheaper if anything at all)
• Location Tracking Technology:
  • Whistle GO Explore: 4G + GPS
  • Apple AirTags: U1 Ultra-wideband Chip + Bluetooth + Network of Apple iPhones & Apple Watches
• App & Compatibility:
  • Whistle GO Explore: Proprietary Whistle App for iPhone & Android
  • Apple AirTags: FindMy App built into every iOS device (but not Android compatible)
• Battery Life:
  • Whistle GO Explore: 20 days (depending on usage)
  • Apple AirTags: Much longer battery life (see our article on AirTags Battery Life)
• Waterproof / Water Resistance:
  • Whistle Go Explore: Yes, rated IPX 8, so it’s submergible up to 6 feet (2 meters)
  • Apple AirTags: Expect robust waterproofing
• Size:
  • Whistle GO Explore: Width: 1.4″, Height: 1.8″, Thickness: 0.7″ – and weighing in at just 0.96 oz
  • Apple AirTags: Size is still TBD, but Tile Trackers clock in similarly (see our Tile Bluetooth Trackers vs. AirTags Overview), so expect AirTags to be competitive
• Health & Wellness:
  • Whistle GO Explore: Scratching, licking, and drinking tracking – pretty cool but highly dog specific
  • Apple AirTags: Not going to track your licking or scratching!
• Global Compatibility and Range:
  • Whistle GO Explore: Only works in the United States. Uses 4G cellular network so it can ping back to your app and tell you where Fido is, so long as he is somewhere with cell phone coverage (e.g., probably anywhere in the city but not necessarily if he’s lost in the woods)
  • Apple AirTags: Worldwide coverage. But, since it relies on U1 Ultra-wideband and bluetooth, Fido needs to walk within say 300-500 feet (100-200 meters) of anyone with an iPhone (who needs to be in cell phone range too)… So call this anywhere in the world with cell phone signal for AirTags, vs. just anywhere in the US with cell phone signal for Whistle (see our AirTags Range article)

So those are the technical specs, but what are the real-world use-case differences in how you’d use Apple AirTags to find a lost dog vs. a pet-specific tracker like the Whistle GO Explore?

• AirTags Pros vs. Whistle GO Explore for Dog Tracking:
  • AirTags are cheaper on a monthly / annual basis: AirTags don’t require a monthly 4G wireless plan
  • AirTags work anywhere in the world as opposed to Whistle GO working just in the United States
  • Both need somewhere with cell signal to have the ability to call home from afar, but AirTags have arguably better coverage in the US – AirTags aren’t carrier specific, so you just need someone with an iPhone with signal (whether on AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, etc.) to walk by Fido for you to find him. With Whistle, you’re using AT&T and need to Fido to be somewhere in AT&T’s coverage universe
  • AirTags will have much better battery life than Whistle GO – this is a key advantage of using Apple’s proprietary U1 ultra-wideband chip + bluetooth as opposed to using a 4G wireless antenna and GPS. See our AirTags Battery Life overview for more information
• AirTags Cons vs. Whistle GO Explore for Dog Tracking:
  • Whistle Go Explore offers health tracking for dogs – including cool features like monitoring how frequently they drink water, scratch themselves and chew… Then again, these things are pretty easy to see (my dog’s currently asleep on the couch, but if he was itching, I would notice) if you’re home… so put this is in the Pro colum for Whistle / con column for AirTags, but it’s level of usefulness depends on how often you leave Fido home alone
  • Whistle Go Explore has a 4G antenna – this is a huge pro on one hand, as it means Fido can “call home” if lost anywhere with cell phone signal (e.g., if he’s down the street sleeping under a neighbor’s porch) without having to be near someone with an iPhone. If Fido’s on the move in an urban area, expect AirTags and Whistle to both help find him quickly – he’ll be in an area with 4G signal and passing by lots of folks with iPhones… If he’s not near other people (let’s say he’s scared and hiding), that 4G antenna will be really useful to find him. On the other hand, the 4G antenna and GPS receiver mean battery life takes a huge hit (have to recharge Whistle Go every 2-3 weeks, vs. multi-year long battery life in AirTags)

Bottom Line on AirTags vs. Dog-Specific GPS Collars for Finding Lost Pets: the Whistle Go Explore and other dog-specific tracking collars (like the FitBark Smart Collar) are available today, offer pet specific-heath tracking features, and use 4G + GPS to keep Fido safe and findable, but at a cost: a high monthly/annual service fee and short battery life. AirTags will be cheaper, offer significantly better battery life, and usable worldwide instead of just in the United States – but without the dog-specific health tracking features, and they’ll require lost dogs to walk within range of someone with an iPhone or Apple Watch to be able to ping back home.

Editor’s Note: Check out our hands-on article reviewing AirTags as Pet Trackers (includes discussion of using the Belkin AirTag Keychain on a Dog Collar vs. AirTag-Specific Dog Collar Accessories)