How We Score Tracking & Safety Devices
- Nick
- Jun 1, 2025
- 7 min read
Updated: Aug 7, 2025
When it comes to your dog’s safety, tracking tech needs to be fast, reliable, and accurate—because when your pup bolts out the gate or slips their leash, you don’t have time for a weak signal or a delayed notification.
At PetTechSensei, we review GPS trackers, virtual fences, escape alert devices, and safety-focused smart collars with one clear goal in mind: to help you keep your pet safe and close. We look beyond flashy designs to assess whether a device can deliver when it counts.
How We Interpret the Final Score
All tracking and safety products are scored using an 8-metric system, each weighted for importance and converted into a 10-point final score.
Score | What It Means |
10.0 | This is an exceptional score. You're looking at exceptionally lightning-fast alerts, pinpoint GPS, and bulletproof reliability. But this could be hard to come by. |
9.5 – 9.9 | This is an elite score. This tracker is a top performer with rare and minor limitations. |
9.0 – 9.4 | This is an outstanding score. This is a great all-around safety tech masterpiece with dependable results. |
8.5 – 8.9 | This is an excellent score matching a tracker which is highly functional, with a few noticeable trade-offs. |
8.0 – 8.4 | This is a very good score. You're looking at a tracker that is trustworthy, but maybe slower or less accurate than top options. |
7.5 – 7.9 | This is a good score, matching a tracking device you will find useful in most cases, but not ideal for high-risk pets. |
7.0 – 7.4 | This is a fair score for a tech-based pet tracker. It has basic functionality with some frustrating drawbacks. |
6.5 – 6.9 | This is a score attributed to some product limitations including spotty tracking, slow alerts, or app instability. |
6.0 – 6.4 | An underwhelming score. This tech creation needs significant improvement in reliability. |
Below 6 | For this score, we usually do not recommend a tracker. This is a safety product that puts pets at risk isn’t worth it. |
Our Scoring Criteria
Here’s what we evaluate and how much each metric contributes to the total:
Here is how the scores for each metric are determined.
Accuracy of Functionality & Tracking
A tracking device is only as good as its ability to accurately locate your pet when it counts. Whether your dog slips the leash, digs under the fence, or decides to chase a squirrel three blocks away, you need to know exactly where they are—fast.
Therefore, we evaluate how well the device delivers real-time GPS location, how frequently it updates, and whether it’s reliable across different terrains (urban, rural, indoors, and wooded areas). The best trackers give you precision down to a few feet. The worst? They’ll tell you your dog’s in another zip code.
Having said that, we will score a tracker based on this scale:
Score | Meaning |
10 | Tracking is real-time, hyper-precise, and reliable in all tested environments. No dropouts or delay. |
9.0 – 9.9 | Accurate and fast most of the time. GPS refreshes quickly with only rare location errors. |
8.0 – 8.9 | Good tracking overall, but GPS may lag by a few seconds or get fuzzy in rural/building-dense zones. |
7.0 – 7.9 | Slightly inconsistent. Can lose signal or take longer to catch up to your dog’s location. |
6.0 – 6.9 | Spotty coverage or inaccurate location tracking. Limited range or connectivity issues. |
5.0 – 5.9 | Fails to update in time. GPS is unreliable or nonfunctional in real-world use. |
Build Quality & Safety Hardware
Your dog’s tracking device should be more than tech; it should be a safe, durable piece of gear. Whether it's a full collar or a clip-on module, it needs to survive daily wear and tear, unpredictable weather, and the occasional mud bath.
We assess the physical materials, waterproof rating, secure attachment systems, and overall ruggedness. For escape-prone or adventure-loving dogs, hardware failure isn’t an inconvenience—it’s a safety hazard.
Score | Meaning |
10 | Rugged, waterproof (IP67+), secure-fit collar or tag. Can handle any terrain, weather, or dog. |
9.0 – 9.9 | Strong construction with minor wear over time. Fully safe and dog-proof. |
8.0 – 8.9 | Generally solid, but strap or case may loosen or scratch over time. |
7.0 – 7.9 | Build is decent but not suited for high-energy dogs. Some parts feel flimsy. |
6.0 – 6.9 | Collar, strap, or clip breaks easily or slips off. Not ideal for outdoor use. |
5.0 – 5.9 | Breaks, leaks, or malfunctions with regular activity. May pose safety risk. |
Ease of Use
Setup shouldn’t feel like you’re configuring a satellite. In this category, we evaluate how easy it is to set up the device, pair it with its app, and access key functions like tracking, setting geofences, or checking alert history.
A great product should be effortless for first-time users, with a clean interface and smooth daily operation. You shouldn’t need a tech support degree just to figure out where your dog is.
Score | Meaning |
10 | Plug-and-play setup. App is intuitive. Collar or tracker fits easily and updates are simple. |
Here is how the scores for each metric are determined. | Mostly smooth, just a few clicks or minutes of learning. Clear alerts and menus. |
8.0 – 8.9 | Usable by most, but setup or navigation could be more streamlined. |
7.0 – 7.9 | Slightly confusing app layout or finicky syncing. Frustrating but manageable. |
6.0 – 6.9 | Hard to install or use regularly. Alerts don’t trigger clearly or menus are cluttered. |
5.0 – 5.9 | Unintuitive setup and daily use. App crashes or tracker fails to connect often. |
Alert Speed & Reliability
It’s not enough for a collar to track your dog—it has to warn you the second your dog goes rogue. In this category, we test the speed and consistency of alerts. How quickly do you get notified when your pet leaves a safe zone? Is there a delay? Do alerts fail to send altogether?
This score is all about reaction time. A one-minute delay could mean a dog in the road. So we don’t take this metric lightly.
So we score a tracker based on this scale:
Score | Meaning |
10 | Instant, real-time alerts when a pet leaves the fence or moves unexpectedly. Zero delay. |
9.0 – 9.9 | Alerts arrive within seconds. Occasionally a slight lag, but still highly dependable. |
8.0 – 8.9 | Good response time, but not instant. May miss movement if signal is weak. |
7.0 – 7.9 | Notifications can be delayed or inconsistent—fine for casual tracking, not for runners. |
6.0 – 6.9 | Alerts sometimes don’t trigger at all or are significantly delayed. |
5.0 – 5.9 | Delayed or failed notifications. Puts pet safety at risk. |
Customer Reviews & Sentiment
Sometimes the best way to gauge a product’s long-term performance is by reading the fine print—also known as customer reviews. We dig into hundreds of verified user comments across Amazon, Chewy, app stores, and forums to understand the real-world experience.
Patterns speak volumes: If dozens of people say the app crashes or the strap breaks, that’s a red flag. If they can’t stop raving about how it saved their dog’s life? That’s gold.
We score a tracker based on this scale:
Score | Meaning |
10 | 4.7★+ rating with glowing feedback from hundreds of verified buyers. |
9.0 – 9.9 | 4.5–4.6★ average, with strong praise and few recurring issues. |
8.0 – 8.9 | 4.2–4.4★ with some consistent mentions of bugs or fit issues. |
7.0 – 7.9 | Mixed reviews (3.8–4.1★). Some users frustrated by app or support. |
6.0 – 6.9 | Regular negative patterns: dropped signals, failed support, etc. |
5.0 – 5.9 | Broadly criticized or rated under 3.5★. Serious product concerns. |
Returns & Long-Term Reliability
Even the best tech products are only valuable if they hold up over time. We factor in product longevity, known bugs, firmware issues, and how companies handle support, replacements, or refunds.
A high score here means you can trust the product to work not just today, but weeks, months, and even years down the line. We look at product reliability and score it based on this scale:
Score | Meaning |
10 | Low return rate, consistent performance after months. Excellent brand support. |
9.0 – 9.9 | Mostly reliable. Some issues, but handled well by support. |
8.0 – 8.9 | A few breakdowns or app issues, but tolerable. |
7.0 – 7.9 | Spotty performance over time. Battery may fade, support is slow. |
6.0 – 6.9 | Return-worthy complaints are common. App or device glitches often. |
5.0 – 5.9 | Unreliable and poorly supported. Breaks often or requires replacements. |
Value for Money
You're looking to buy a pet tech product, but is it worth the price tag? In this category, we examine the device’s performance, features, and support against its cost. We also weigh things like monthly subscriptions, replacement parts, or hidden fees.
A $200 tracker better come with top-tier tech. A $50 model that competes with the big dogs? Now that’s value. So we score them based on this scale:
Score | Meaning |
10 | Outstanding tracking for the price. Outperforms costlier options. |
9.0 – 9.9 | Fairly priced with great features. Feels justified. |
8.0 – 8.9 | A bit expensive but well-built. Subscription worth it. |
7.0 – 7.9 | Slightly overpriced for the feature set. |
6.0 – 6.9 | Not great value. Too many compromises or hidden fees. |
5.0 – 5.9 | Overpriced for what it delivers. Better, cheaper alternatives exist. |
Smart Features & Fence Tech
This is where we reward the brands that go beyond “basic tracking.” Does the device come with invisible fence tech? Can you set safe zones and get notified the moment your pup steps out? Does it integrate with smart homes, offer behavior insights, or include advanced customization?
This category adds bonus points for forward-thinking, truly smart safety tools that go beyond a blinking dot on a map. Therefore, we developed this scale to score the products:
Score | Meaning |
10 | Advanced tools like invisible fences, AI path prediction, and smart home integration. |
9.0 – 9.9 | Virtual fence and app tools work well, but limited automation. |
8.0 – 8.9 | Useful bonus tools (e.g. tracking zones, alert zones), no frills. |
7.0 – 7.9 | Fence tools are basic or glitchy. |
6.0 – 6.9 | Fence features exist but underdeliver. |
5.0 – 5.9 | No smart tools or custom fencing. Not future-ready. |
Questions
Need clarification on any part of our scoring system? Contact us here.
