Considering a tracker for your most precious pup? Have a Houdini hound that needs some tracking magic? An adventurous doggo that should have their own personal locator beacon? Just want to lower the general stress levels by having a safety back-up? Yeah, we hear you. We’ve put the PAJ PET Finder 4G GPS tracker through its paces over the past few months and today we’re sharing the inside woof, spots and all. Read on for our detailed PAJ PET Finder product testing notes and review.
Disclosure: A free PAJ PET Finder GPS Tracker with a limited duration subscription was provided to Dalmatian DIY for product testing on a no-obligation basis. Content in this post is based upon an honest representation of my personal user experience during the testing period (both positive and negative) and blog dog Humphrey’s judgement, as always.
Rewind Through Time and Tracker Tech
Many years ago, gadget-loving DogDad bought Oli a Whistle. This first-of-type tracker was an activity monitor, without any location tracking functions. It was a kind of like having a dog FitBit for Oli, which was pretty cool at the time!
When Tile trackers launched, DogDad bought some for Oli and Humphrey. They worked great, but without any significant Tile user base nearby, the hive-mind network of users method for searching out a lost item was really just me, and limited the range between the Tile(s) and my own mobile phone. Still nifty, but when they wore out, we didn’t replace them.
Not long afterwards, we moved to our current home. Options for off-leash adventures were fewer, the boys were getting older, and we didn’t revisit options as new technologies and products entered the pet tracker market. Until a message from PAJ appeared on a particularly apt day, after a neighbourhood missing dog search!
Considerations for Choosing and Using a Dog Tracker
Because most dedicated pet trackers now come with a SIM and ongoing subscription service, it’s really important to consider your needs, location(s), and budget in deciding what product might suit. Look at both the up-front costs of the tracker and accessories as well as the ongoing costs of service subscriptions. Check the fine print on what’s included in the plan – there can be substantial gaps between basic and premium options, and big differences on pricing options.
It’s worthwhile adding a note that although AirTags are often considered as a cost-effective subscription-free alternative to a dedicated tracker, AirTags rely on the hive-mind of nearby Apple devices. While those are more prolific than my Tile experience, AirTags aren’t great in rural or remote situations and it doesn’t take much for an adventurous town-dwelling pup to wander far enough into forests, fields, etc. to drop out of range. As always, chose and use with care.
What kind of tracking suits your needs? SIM supported trackers, like the PAJ PET Finder, manage their own communication via either a specific network or best available signal (much better for coverage and mobility). This comes at an ongoing cost, as noted above, but gives them a substantial edge on subscription-free products that rely on proximity to some other method. In the event of a lost pet or other emergency, timely accessibility and accurate live location tracking matter.
How do you plan to use the tracker? What features really matter? This will help you compare features and corresponding prices. Personally, for a tracker, I consider location accuracy to be top of the list, then usability (wearability, battery life, interface, etc.), and everything else on a case-by-case basis. And, of course, weigh those up against the cost differences.
Paws on PAJ
A tracker and subscription isn’t something we need with Humphrey’s lifestyle and age. But as chance would have it, I’d just returned, cold and wet, from helping a neighbour search for their lost dog (safely located) on a rainy winter day and read an email from PAJ in our inbox. Escape artists were front of mind at the time! Let’s look at how the PAJ PET Finder stacked up.
The PAJ team may have gotten more product scrutiny than expected with engineer DogMom on test duty, hehe, but these are the things we do for our readers. But also, my contact at PAJ was great with customer support and let us take the time we needed, especially with Humphrey’s age and health – we’re taking life a little slower these days. They also had no expectations or requests for what we might post, other than our honest personal perspective on their product. I consider both to be positive indicators on their product confidence and customer approach. Pawesome, PAJ team.
PAJ GPS and the PAJ PET Finder
PAJ is an interesting player in the dedicated pet tracker space. Unlike most pet tracker companies, they’re a long-standing global tracking solutions company that now has a dog product, not just a niche pet-only tracker product(s). Their PET finder strikes me as a dogified version of their GPS product range (they offer quite a range of trackers). It doesn’t have a lot of extra dog-centric measures and health tracking, but it covers the core service of tracking very well. And at a good price, too. Let’s take a closer sniff at the product and specs.
PAJ PET Finder Pricing and Options
There is only one (current) model of PET Finder marketed by PAJ at the time of this post, and it’s the PAJ PET Finder 4G. Marketed as a tracking solution for dog owners who want reliable real-time location tracking, it operates using cellular networks via internal SIM, which is why an ongoing subscription is required for use.
For the price point (at the time of our trial) the PAJ PET Finder is excellent value for the base product and has competitive subscription options vs. other pet trackers in the market. They also consider a wide global network connection to be a core part of GPS services, unlike many of the pet tracker competitors who only offer limited areas and/or charge a premium for staying connected if travelling internationally. We trialled it in New Zealand with absolutely no connectivity issues. Yay!
At the time of writing, the PAJ PET Finder 4G on Amazon.com (affiliate link) is only $9.99 from the PAJ GPS Store. That’s a fantastic base price compared to some of its competitors. The pricing for subscription plans varies depending on your choice of basic vs. premium and your billing term, but is also quite competitive (and inclusive, as noted above). Unlike some trackers, features like worldwide coverage, family sharing, etc. are standard with all subscriptions, not premium extras.
PAJ PET Finder 4G Product Details
Our starter pack for the PAJ Pet Finder shipped with the following items:
- Tracker Unit, Available in Blue/Grey/Black
- Internal 3.7V 700 mAh Li-ion Battery (Case Contact Recharge via USB Cable, Included)
- Built-in PAJ SIM with Coverage in Over 100 Countries
- Adjustable Velcro Collar Attachment (3 Strap Segments Included)
- Flexible Mounting Cases (2 Included)
- Replacement/Colour Cover Caps (1 Fitted, 2 Spare, Total 3 Included)
- PAJ Stickers, Quick Start Manual, etc.
Yes. They really do ship all that as the starter pack, for the price above. I was honestly a bit surprised and looked for a catch on the plans, but it seems like they’re just offering a very well-priced inclusive product relative to the competition. Nice!
Sizing
PAJ advertises the tracker as designed for dogs over 4kg, with adjustable straps to accommodate all breed and sizes. In our personal opinion, it’s better suited to medium dogs or above. The tracker is lightweight at 48g, slimline, but still sizeable.
Attaching the Tracker to a Collar or Harness
Velcro Straps (Primary)
The Velcro attachment straps are surprisingly secure once in place, and the adaptable fit allows the user to attach the tracker on a wide range of different collars or harnesses. Velcro will hook onto fur (and more) though, so even though the self-sticking rolls (in our box at least) came curled hook-side-out, you might want to fight the curl and switch that to loop-side-out.
Flexible Mounting Cases
The flexible mounting cases look great, but didn’t fit over the end buckles of any of Humphrey’s many collars and harnesses. Nor did they fit any of his friends for a test. The slide-over loops won’t stretch over a buckle, so if you’re keen to use these as-is, you’d need a suitably sized belt-style dog collar.
Be aware that despite having a cut-out in the mounting case backing for the contacts, you cannot properly fit the claw-style charger clamp to the tracker with the flexible mounting case in-situ. The charger doesn’t touch the contacts. And with a collar between, even more impossible. You’d need to take the whole thing off the collar every single time you need a recharge – see Battery Life. Not ideal to say the least, and an opportunity for future product improvement. We’ve sent feedback.
Full disclosure, I decided to hack one of my cases as an experiment during testing. Not that we’re advocating modifying your own PAJ gear, of course! Any mods would be completely your choice and at your own risk. In our experience, it’s possible to snip the loops and then fit the case as a cover without sliding it onto the collar (protection only, not mounting) or cut them off entirely (protection only). Ok, but not the ideal or intended function. I’ll share pics at the end of the post.
Getting Started with Your Tracker
Charging Your Tracker
The PAJ PET Finder comes with a USB charging cable. Our charger had a claw-style clamp for the changing contacts, while some in other product photos had just a bar. We’ve sent a query to PAJ on the current configuration, noting the conflict with getting the charger on the contacts if using the flexible mounting case (see above). Whichever style you have, once in position on the tracker contacts, charging is relatively quick and easy. Just make sure there’s good contact.
Setting Up Your Subscription
Before you can use your Tracker, you’ll need to set up your account and pay for a subscription. This covers the ongoing cost of your tracker’s SIM connectivity with cellular networks and other support. See PAJ PET Finder Pricing and Options above.
Setting Up Your Finder Portal App
Both the tracker and the app were easy to set up, which is excellent. Surprisingly easy. I usually defer device set-up duties to my better (at least when it comes to tech!) half, but did the full set-up for the PAJ solo as part of the product trial.
You can use Finder Portal on desktop, but you’ll want to use the app for the full features and functionality, especially with live tracking and notifications. Like the tracker itself, the app feels like a dogified version of a generic GPS tool. Paw prints for the bonus. But it’s easy to experiment and they have good explainers (tap the question marks) and guides to help.
The app does tend to automatically log out far more than most other apps on my phone, which could be bad if it caught a user unexpectedly during an urgent search, depending on their personal approach to password management and security. Make sure you can log in anywhere anytime, just in case! And, even if you aren’t the type to actively monitor stats in the app, make it a habit to open the app routinely (e.g. after app updates, after charging, etc.) and ensure you’re logged in and will receive any alerts or notifications. Checking after recharge also helps avoid possible wake-up sync issues after a flat battery.
Want to try before you buy? Users can demo the Finder Portal for free in browser or app with a demo tracker instead of a registered account. See more at https://www.paj-gps.com/finder-portal/
Reviewing the PAJ PET Finder Functions
Tracking Accuracy
Arguably, this is the most important feature for a pet tracker, especially in an emergency. Here, the PAJ PET Finder performed well in our trial, as we would expect from a specialist GPS company. But it is worth a critical word of caution that we needed to enable the Home Wi-Fi zone in order to maintain accuracy, which may be a critical issue for some users.
Checked side-by-side, the app’s tracking matched up pretty well with the same walking/running path tracked on other devices, like my mobile and my watch. When reviewed in detail vs. known routes or tracked live, the only notable deviations were travelling at speed may result in gaps or cut corners (depending on your update interval) and crossing through areas of signal blocks or significant interference may also leave gaps. In my testing, these were short and, in a live tracking scenario, the gaps between the drop-off point to pick-up point were small enough that you’d be in visual/vocal range of your dog.
I also did a few curiosity checks of accuracy at much higher speeds, like driving in the car. Much more deviation, but that was expected. As with foot travel above, the accuracy of this (and any) tracker during travel will depend on your update frequency, as it tracks location points in time with the shortest path assumed between points in the route.
Note: See my comments above and below on Wi-Fi Home Zone. Without the Home Wi-Fi feature active, my tracker would go on phantom journeys around the neighbourhood. Based on customer support, this was due to interference with the GPS signal when the tracker was indoors or under cover. Not ideal to say the least, but also somewhat understandable. There were no issues when Wi-Fi Home Zone was enabled, but without it we had significant issues with accuracy and utility.
Enabling Home Wi-Fi stops the tracker from location hunting while within the range of your home’s wireless signal, which (in our experience) stopped the phanton journeys, and greatly improved the tracker’s accuracy near home for geofencing and alerts. If this feature isn’t suitable for your purposes and/or you live somewhere with heavy interference, take note.
Durability
The PAJ PET Finder has an IP67 rating, meaning it is dustproof and can withstand submersion in water up to 1 meter deep for 30 minutes. Prince Humphrey is not a water-lover, but we did put the tracker through testing in all forms of New Zealand weather without any issues from wet weather wear or any required clean-ups if things got a little messy on adventures.
We primarily used the tracker “nude” during testing as the flexible mounting cases didn’t fit over Humphrey’s collars. The tracker was still in good shape at the end of the trial, a few minor scratches and rubs, but otherwise unscathed. We didn’t change the cover or use any of the spares. The flexible mounting cases would offer better protection from general wear-and-tear on the primary tracker, but as previously noted, they didn’t fit any of our collars or harnesses without modifications.
Battery Life
Battery life is a weak point. Improving the battery life would be a significant product enhancement. If you need a long active tracker life between charges, this might not be the right product for your pup.
PAJ advertises the tracker battery life as up to 10 days in power saving mode, 4-6 days combined stand-by with intermittent tracking, and up to 13 hours (elsewhere 8-10 hours) of actual continuous tracking operation.
This is on par with our experience, although perhaps on the generous side when in use. Our tracker was only worn/carried while in active testing, and was otherwise stationary and on standby with various power saving test settings. The app has a low battery alert, which is helpful, but ensure your app stays logged in (see above) to avoid missing notifications. You do get used to it with time. Much like my annoyance after switching to an Apple Watch (affiliate link), which also has a terrible battery life, but is otherwise fantastic. Sigh. Watch for notifications, charge often, and consider options if heading away on lengthy outings where you might want to adjust settings to prolong use or have a back-up plan for charging. See below.
Activating Wi-FI Home extends the battery life, as does extending the tracking location update interval. Conversely, live tracking is a significant drain and the battery life would be a major concern during an active search. Worst case scenario would be an escape with an already low or flat battery, totally negating the purpose of your tracker as a safety tool. The battery life may also be problematic if you and your dog like to head out off-grid for extended adventures, but the USB charger does offer some flexibility if you hike with a solar charger, power bank, or have access to a vehicle.
Saving Power and Improving Accuracy with Wi-Fi Home Zone
PAJ has a Wi-Fi Home Zone feature that allows users to add their home network(s) via the Finder Portal App. To save battery, the tracker will then deactivate the GPS module within network detection and automatically reactive when out of range.
Importantly, this is not only helpful with just saving battery power. Based on our user experience testing the tracker in different modes, activating Wi-Fi Home Zone improves the tracker’s accuracy and, in doing so, also reduces (or eliminates) corresponding false alarms on geofencing. When the tracker’s GPS signal is blocked or encounters interference, as may happen inside your home or other structures, it can cause coordinate jumps and misrepresent the tracker location.
Without Wi-FI Home Zone, our tracker reported siginificant phantom outings of up to a residential block from its actual location safely inside our house. Yikes! With Wi-Fi Home Zone enabled, we had no issues with location tracking and the tracker consistently reactivated on all outings and consistently triggered test geofences at various distances. Of note, PAJ customer support (email) was fantastic in helping to troubleshoot our issue and confirm probable causes.
GeoFencing and Alerts
The Finder Portal lets you set up geofences as virtual boundaries. In our experience, the accuracy of a GPS location vs. the boundary of an urban or suburban residential property doesn’t quite work. The portal app will warn you during setup that using a small range may result in false alarms, but the bigger the radius the further your dog will be from home in the event of an escape. In our experience, we were able to go tighter than their recommended 100m (yikes!) minimum. This is a feature that we suggest users test and refine to determine what reliably works for their individual location, signal, property, and pet.
I tested multiple geofences at different radii from our home pinpoint to check for viable tightness in our specific situation, and monitored on walks whether they would consistently trigger when Humphrey’s tracker crossed the same points. These were reliable in our experience, but only after setting up the Wi-Fi Home Zone (see above), and our tightest GeoFence was still close enough to our boundary for visual range and a quick catch up if it was ever triggered as an actual escape.
Other Features
The tracker has lights (the coloured triangles) and audibles, which can be used manually, on alerts, or activated from the app to aid with searching. The audible could also be used as a training tool for diversion or emergency recall, but shouldn’t be a substitute for other training techniques that will be useful with or without the tracker.
The Verdict?
If you’re looking for a well-priced GPS tracker for a medium or larger dog with a focus on location information and associated functions, the PAJ PET Finder ticks those boxes well. Price wise, I think it’s pretty decent. Tech wise, GPS tracking is PAJ’s core business, with a long-standing record and extensive customer base across different tracker functions. Their customer support was also quick, responsive, and helpful in our limited interactions during the trial.
In order to get the type of location accuracy I’d expect from a tracker as a safety device, I needed to activate the Home Wi-Fi zone feature. This stops the tracker from location hunting while within the range of your home’s wireless signal, which (in our experience) stopped the phanton journeys and greatly improved the tracker’s accuracy to only trigger alerts when really in motion off property. If this feature isn’t suitable for your purposes or you live somewhere with heavy interference, take note.
Our main point of exception is battery life. If you need to have extended coverage between changing for escape artists, working dogs, large lifestyle properties, or extended off-grid adventures, this may be a problem area. If you like everything else, consider the price, understand the limitations, and decide whether it’s the right product.
Also, as noted, it isn’t a combo pet health or fitness tracker. If you want those sorts of extras, you’ll need to look at one of the competing products, noting these may have higher base product and ongoing subscription costs.
Personal PAJ Pawnote
We didn’t retain a paid subscription after the trial. As noted in the intro, Humphrey is at a life stage and location where a tracker isn’t really needed. He still loves his walkies, but we’re in senior strut mode these days. He has also, thankfully, never been the type to look for escape routes or take himself wandering away from home alone. We’re also rather limited on local off-leash options, so when we do roam these days, near or far, it’s usually together and on lead. Something like the PAJ PET Finder would have been amazing back in our dual dog days of fun and chaos on our old forest paths and river trails though.
Humphrey the Hacker
Ok, it was actually DogMom. But Humphrey supervised. Yes, we hacked a PAJ PET Finder flexible mounting case. They came with the tracker and looked quite stylish. But, as noted above, they didn’t fit any of Humphrey’s collars or harnesses. The loops wouldn’t slide over the buckle ends of anything, and the one belt-style collar we currently have is a fancy dress RM Williams leather collar. It’s just for special occasions (bought for family photos) and too wide for the mounting loops. They also wouldn’t fit any of his friends’ collars, due to similar buckles and/or collar shape (widths, martingales, slips…).
The flexible mounting cases can’t be used as-is without sliding over the band of the collar or harness, because the loops sit proud between the tracker and collar, creating an awkward standoff and leaving the cases prone to catching and peeling off.
So stylish, yet so unused. What’s a DogMom to do? Either leave it in the box unused or perhaps attempt a little DIY? You know how we roll here at Dalmatian DIY… And really, for the fantastic price of the PAJ PET Finder starter pack, being unused in the box or accidently making it useless by botching a hack wouldn’t break my heart or the bank either way. So, we tried it.
Full disclosure and disclaimer, we’re not recommending that you hack your own collar mount. Just showing you what we did during our own trial. Snipping the loops changes the collar mount into a basic protective cover, risks structure, and may weaken it in unintended ways leading to premature failure. The flexible case has a snug fit, but will be less secure on the tracker without the fixed loops locking it onto the collar or harness. Proceed with any modifications fully at your own risk.
Adapting the PAJ Pet Finder Flexible Collar Mount
To bypass obstacles like our quick-release buckle ends and still fit the flexible collar mount over the tracker as a stylish protective cover, we decided to snip the loops so that they could be opened and positioned around the collar band.
This does not provide any mounting or security, although it still does seem to add a little extra stability. Fitting it this way is only viable if the width of the collar or harness allows, and the cut loop is still problematic for the claw charger. However, unlike actual mounting use, the flexible cover could be removed without taking the tracker itself off the collar for charging.
For a wider collar or harness is wider, the snipped loops don’t stay in position. In this case, or if we wanted to change one of our collar mounts into a fully streamlined (and easy recharge) alternative, we would very carefully fully remove the loops. Without any loops, it’s just a protective cover that can than can be stretched into place.
Perhaps you’ll see plain protective covers or a modified flexible mount in a future product update. But for now, at this price, I was ok with taking my chances on little snip. Either way, we hope that the PAJ team takes on board our feedback about the conflict between the mounts, collars, and chargers as part of their ongoing product improvements, as well as the battery life. Still, all in all, we’re happy puppers here signing off from testing duty. The pricing for core functions and features for the price were nice, no matter how you decide to attach things into place to suit your collar or harness, lifestyle, and pupstyle. Woofs!
