Should You Get a Pet Tracker? Our Experience with the Fi Smart Collar
We use Fi collars with Bo and Piper and truly recommend them. Some links in this post are part of Fi’s referral program, which means we may receive a small reward if you purchase through them. Thank you for supporting our family’s blog!
If you have ever had that heart-stopping moment when your dog slips out of the yard or chases a squirrel, you already know why pet trackers are popular. A good GPS tracker does more than show a dot on a map. It brings real peace of mind.
We use the Fi Series 3 Smart Collar for Bo and Piper. After lots of research, it has been a great fit for our family walks, camp weekends, and yard play. Fi uses GPS with LTE-M for wide coverage, strong location accuracy, and escape alerts. Battery life can stretch up to several weeks or longer depending on use, and the collar is built to handle water and rough play.
Everything included with the Fi Series 3 Smart Collar: GPS tracker, durable collar, charging base, and USB-C cable.
What the Fi Collar Tracks
1. GPS Location
Real-time GPS location with LTE-M coverage
Escape alerts if your dog leaves a set “safe zone”
Lost Dog Mode for live, continuous tracking until you reunite
2. Step Counts & Daily Activity
Tracks your dog’s steps (similar to a fitness tracker for humans)
Lets you set daily goals and see progress over time
Ranks your dog’s activity against others in the Fi community
3. Rest & Sleep Patterns
Monitors when your dog is resting vs. active
Helpful for spotting changes in sleep quality or restlessness
4. Behavior Trends (Series 3 Plus)
Uses AI to track scratching, licking, eating, and drinking behaviors
Sends insights if something seems unusual, which can help flag health concerns early
5. Family & Multi-Owner Tracking
You can add family members, dog walkers, or sitters in the app so everyone gets location and activity updates
6. Battery & Charging Status
Tracks collar battery in the app and alerts you when it needs charging
The Fi Lineup
What we use: Fi Series 3
GPS and LTE-M tracking with escape alerts and Lost Dog Mode
Long battery life that can reach up to about three months in ideal conditions, and faster drain during constant live tracking
Waterproof design and a rugged build for active dogs
Health and activity tracking in the Fi app
Works with iOS and Android, with Apple Watch support for quick check-ins
What is new: Fi Series 3 Plus
Everything in Series 3, plus AI behavior insights that can flag changes in scratching, licking, eating, and drinking
Apple Watch app updates and expanded behavior views
Same core goals of strong GPS, long battery, and waterproof design.
If you are shopping today, this is the current flagship.
Previous model: Fi Series 2
GPS and LTE-M tracking with Lost Dog Mode that increases location refresh during a search
Good battery life compared with many trackers, but bulkier than Series 3
If you find a discounted Series 2, it can still be a solid budget option.
Related product: Fi Nano Microchip
A standard microchip with free-for-life online registration
Useful as a permanent ID if a collar is off or uncharged
This is not a GPS device, but it adds another safety layer.
Is Fi Worth It?
For us, yes. The mix of fast escape alerts, reliable GPS, long battery life, and durability has been worth the subscription. The membership model covers the cellular service that makes live tracking possible.
If you are ready to try Fi, here is our referral link to redeem your $20 off and 1 month of free Fi membership!
Pet trackers are the kind of thing you hope you never truly need. When you do, you will be glad you have one. For our family, Fi has been reliable, simple to use, and even a little fun thanks to the activity tracking. Bo can still be a mischief maker. With Fi, we can let him explore while keeping him safe.
