Reviews
Availability and General
System Set-Up
Geofence
Notification and Reporting
Contacting DogTracsTM
Reviews
Customer: Megazled
Rating:
JJJJJ 5 out of 5 smiles
Location: California
Date: June 1, 2009
Comment: Great Product
I used DogTracs to find my
dog Molly one week after purchase. It was worth every penny and
more as I found Molly visiting the neighbor's front yard about
two blocks from my house in the span of about five minutes.
Great product!
Customer: Anonymous Reviewer
Rating:
JJJJJ 5 out of 5 smiles
Location: Long Island, NY
Date: May 27, 2009
Comment: Saved our Dog’s Life
On January 17th it was the
coldest day of the year in NY, 5 degrees. Our two labs got out
and my family and i were away. We got the alert. Our dogs were
found a few hours later because they had gotten onto a beach.
The staff and expertise of DogTracs and their device worked.
When our dogs were found one of them had gone swimming and had
hypothermia. If they were not found when they were the outcome
wouldn't have been a happy one.
Customer: Kate
Rating: JJJJĦ
4 out of 5 smiles
Location: Northern IL
Date: March 19, 2009
Comment: They are still
improving it but it's great. I have a little problem with my
cell phone coverage....so it's not 100 percent perfect, check
the map for your coverage. GREAT people running it and they are
very helpful. Also, you have to keep up on charging the
batteries...it takes an hour, they remind you by email when they
need charging, but they do not yet email you to remind you to
put it back on the dog. One guy said he just charges his every
day.
Customer: Horsedoc
Rating:
JJJJĦ 4 out of 5 smiles
Location: Central Coast, CA
Date: November 21, 2008
Comment: Need to find your
wandering dog?
It was easy to set up and
activate and I inputted the commands from my Blackberry (text
messages). If I had been at home and online, I could have used
the satellite map feature. Definitely a good purchase (my
husband wants one to find his misplaced keys :) )"
Availability and General
Q: Why is DogTracsTM better than implantable or collar based RFID chips like Avid or Home Again?
A: With RFID chip technology, you only get information about where your dog is once he is found by someone with a scanner. In many cases, days, weeks or even months may pass before dog owners who depend on RFID technology are provided information about their lost dog. With DogTracsTM advanced GPS and Wireless technology, you are notified immediately when your dog gets out and you will continue to receive accurate, up to the minute location information until you find your dog.
Q: Is there an activation fee?
A: No, unlike many of the other GPS products available, DogTracsTM does not charge an activation fee.
Q: Does the DogTracsTM device require a service plan in order to operate the DogTracsTM system?
A: Yes. Each DogTracsTM device requires a separate service plan that includes wireless communications service allowing the device to communicate with the DogTracsTM
Control Center. DogTracsTM
offers one service plan:
Prepaid Annual Plan - $149.99 ( approximately $12.50 per month) Q:
Is there a preferred collar style for the DogTracsTM device?
A: Yes. Harness or step-in collars provide
optimal positioning for the device to operate. They keep the DogTracs device
from falling under the dog when he/she is laying down and keep the unite in a
great position to receive wireless and satellite reception.
Q: What breed or size dog can wear DogTracsTM?
A: DogTracsTM is recommended for all dogs that are larger than 12 lbs.
Q: How big is DogTracsTM?
A: DogTracsTM is small at approximately 2.85 x 1.65 x .75 inches and weighs only 2 ounces
Q: Is DogTracsTM waterproof?
A: DogTracsTM is water resistant, not waterproof. DogTracsTM is designed not to be bothered by activities that would expose the unit to water splashing onto the device consistent with use in rain or running through puddles. However, the unit is not designed for full submersion consistent with activities like swimming or wading in streams, lakes or pools. An accessory water-proof pouch for the device is currently under development and will be available soon.
Q: How long will the DogTracsTM device operate on a single battery charge?
A: The DogTracsTM device is powered by a rechargeable lithium polymer battery that will typically last up to 5-6 days between charges (in walk/stand-by mode and depending upon the number of alert events).
Q: How will I remember to charge my DogTracsTM device battery?
A: When your DogTracsTM device battery charge reaches a certain level, you will be notified by email and/or
SMS text message to charge your battery.
Q: How do I know if my DogTracsTM device will work where I live?
A: Please use this link to see if our wireless communications provider has service in your area: Wireless Coverage Map
System Set-Up
Q: How do I set-up my DogTracsTM system?
A: After completing the purchase of your DogTracsTM system, you will be directed to set-up your account on the
DogTracsTM Control Center at www.dogtracs.com. During set-up, you will be requested to 1) provide your contact email addresses
/ phone numbers of the devices that you wish to send and receive information on the DogTracsTM system
and 2) create your geofence perimeters.
Q: How many contacts can I set-up to send and receive information on the DogTracsTM system?
A: Up to three(3) email addresses and two(2) text message devices for a total of five(5) can be set-up as contacts to receive Alert Notifications, Alert Tracking Location Messages, and make and receive On-Demand Find My Dog Now Location Requests.
Geofence
Q: What is a geofence?
A: A geofence is a virtual perimeter that helps you keep track of your dog. As an example, DogTracsTM allows
you to set-up a virtual perimeter around your house / property line, Grandma’s house, the neighborhood
park etc.
Q: What happens if my dog leaves one of my defined geofences?
A: If your dog wanders outside of a defined geofence (as an example, the gate to your backyard is
inadvertently left open and your dog hits the road), DogTracsTM sends an alert notification to you indicating
that your dog has left your defined geofence.
Q: How do I set-up a geofence perimeter on the DogTracsTM Control Center?
A: Geofences are easily set-up after accessing your customer account on the DogTracsTM Control Center. Just
type in the address of where you want your geofence, pick a geofence shape, and use your mouse to
drag the geofence over the area that you want covered.
Q: What is a convenience geofence?
A: A convenience geofence is a temporary virtual perimeter that can be used when you travel with your dog
outside of the 3 defined geofences set-up on the DogTracsTM Control Center. The size of the convenience
geofence is defined by you during system set-up on the Control Center (as an example, a circle with a
diameter of 500 yards). The convenience geofence is activated by depressing the mode button on the
DogTracsTM device and selecting the convenience geofence mode. The DogTracsTM device automatically
determines its position and creates a circular geofence with a diameter the size assigned by you using the
determined position as the center-point of the geofence.
Q: Why would I use a convenience geofence?
A: The convenience geofence is an easy way to set-up a geofence “on-the-fly” without having to access your
customer account on the web-based DogTracsTM Control Center. As an example, while camping for the
weekend, you can activate the convenience geofence feature to create a virtual perimeter the size of
which you designated during set-up around your campsite area. As another example, this feature can be
activated when you take your dog with you for an unplanned visit to a friend’s house for the day.
Q: Can I change my geofence perimeters?
A: Absolutely. Geofence perimeters can be changed by accessing your customer account on the DogTracsTM
Control Center. Existing geofences can be modified or eliminated.
Q: How many geofence perimeters can I set-up?
A: DogTracsTM allows up to 4 geofence perimeters - 3 fixed geofences created on the DogTracsTM Control Center and one convenience geofence.
Q: Can I temporarily take my dog outside of a defined geofence (e.g. for a walk around the neighborhood)
without triggering an alert?
A: Yes. The DogTracsTM device can be placed in walk/stand-by mode by simply depressing the mode button on the
device, or sending an email or SMS text message command to the DogTracs Control Center. While in walk /stand-by mode, DogTracsTM does not determine geographic location (thus allowing you to take your dog outside of your geofence without triggering an alarm).
Q: What happens if I forget to turn the walk/stand-by mode off and I do not have access to the device?
A: No problem. The DogTracsTM device can be placed in monitor operating mode (comparing your dog’s
current location to your defined geofences) by email or an SMS text message.
Notification and Reporting
Q: If my dog gets out, how often will I receive location information?
A: The DogTracsTM system is programmed to provide updated location information every five minutes.
Q: What is an Alert Notification?
A: An Alert Notification occurs when your dog leaves one of your defined geofences and includes all communications of location information (Alert Tracking Location Messages) from the DogTracsTM Control Center to all of the contact devices that you set-up to receive information. The DogTracsTM service plans provide for unlimited Alert Tracking Location Messages.
Q: What is an On-Demand Find My Dog Now Location Request?
A: An On-Demand Find My Dog Now Location Request is a user-initiated request for the present location of their dog that can be made anytime via email, SMS text message or while on the DogTracsTM Control Center. The DogTracsTM system will generate and send location information within a few minutes to the contact device that initiated the location request. We at DogTracsTM know that sometimes nothing is more comforting than a simple message confirming that your dog is safe and located where you expect them to be.
Q: How many On-Demand Find My Dog Now Location Requests do the DogTracsTM wireless communications service plans provide for each month?
A: The DogTracsTM wireless communication service plans provide for unlimited On-Demand Find My Dog Now Location Requests.
Q: If I don’t have access to the Internet and I receive an Alert Notification, how do I find my dog?
A: As long as you have an SMS text message device, or a device capable of receiving email (PDA) with you that has been set-up on the DogTracsTM Control Center as one of your communication devices, you will receive all Alert Notifications and location information in the form of a street-level address. The DogTracsTM system updates and sends this information every six minutes until you find your dog and cancel the alert.
Contacting DogTracsTM
Q: How do I contact DogTracsTM if I have a question that was not addressed?
A: Please send an email with your question to info@dogtracs.com or call (888) 747-9771.
Q: What are DogTracs’ customer service hours if I have a question or need help with my system?
A: DogTracs customer service hours are Monday-Friday, 6AM – 6PM Pacific Standard Time (PST).
|
