Adopting a dog is not easy. And even less so in the adolescent years (of the dog, not of the human). You have to have patience, time, a prepared environment and have a veterinarian who is not limited only to the “medical” section, but also to the behavioral one (thanks Michel! The best in Asturias and probably in Spain). Once taken (and very meditated) the decision there are events that we can foresee and others… obviously unforeseeable. Among the latter, there are few things that generate as much distress as calling your dog and not seeing him appear.
In those seconds, the park stops being a play environment and the route becomes a search. Technology can’t prevent all misplacements, but it can offer something valuable when they occur: a clue as to where to go. That’s the promise of MOVA SureTrack Pro, a tracker that combines satellite positioning, mobile connectivity and voice communication in a collar-worn device.
With dimensions of 52 × 36 × 22 millimeters and weighing 36.4 grams, it is designed for dogs and cats weighing at least 3.5 kilos. Its size allows it to be worn like a small medal, although there is one detail that should be checked before purchasing it: the support is compatible with necklaces up to three centimeters wide. Not all collars, especially those for some large dogs, meet that condition.
One of the advantages of this device (part of an increasingly “populated” market) is that it does not limit itself to using GPS. It combines six positioning technologies: GPS, AGPS, LBS (location via mobile networks), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and active radar. The idea is to take advantage of different sources of information depending on the environment, whether it is a street, a park or an indoor space. The specifications indicate location updates every five seconds and an accuracy of up to ten meters in optimal conditions. With Bito, the “model” of the image and test subject of the MOVA Sure Track Pro, I would reverse the figures: Precision works better and the update does not reach 10 seconds, but it is not every five seconds either. It may depend on how long it takes to connect to some positioning system rather than the update itself. Fortunately I did not have to carry out a blind test: it never “left my sight”, but I could verify, at about 40 meters, the location, even in the mountains.
But the most unique feature is probably voice communication. The device allows you to establish a call that responds automatically, listen to the sounds surrounding the animal and transmit commands. Of course, recommendation from own experience: It is essential to start the tests without having the device on the collar or harness: hearing a voice on your neck surprises you and may even scare you. Once he gets used to it, then we can put it on him. The other advantage is that it is a two-way communication channel. That is, not only can we call our pet, we can also listen to the noises in the environment and (a potentially life-saving option) know if there are people around and ask them to help us. Of course, it is not a remote control capable of making any dog come back: training and context are still essential.
The system It also incorporates an LED light (blue and visible in practically all environmental conditions) and an acoustic signal to facilitate location when we are already close (again, rehearse this signal beforehand so that it does not cause unnecessary stress). They are simple resources, but potentially useful on a night walk or when the animal has hidden among tall grass and bushes.
The MOVAhome app completes the offering with activity tracking, weekly reports, motion maps and location history for up to 365 days. It also allows Set up to four safe zones and receive an alert if your pet leaves them. In this sense, thank you MOVA: I do not receive alerts every 5 minutes about your sleeping routine, your heartbeat, the number of steps you have taken or whether you have broken a jumping record, only when it is important to react in time. And speaking of weather… weather: protection against water and dust is IP67 certified (up to 1 meter deep for a maximum of 30 minutes), although salt or high-pressure water can affect it.
Regarding autonomy, here we enter complicated territory. MOVA advertises up to seven days in low power mode, and it’s true. But if we activate different functions (voice command, light, etc.), the autonomy is reduced. The app, however, notifies us of the percentage of charge at all times, which avoids taking a walk and staying halfway with an “empty tank.” And this is important: this type of device works like a smart watch. They detect activities, measure parameters and allow us to create locations, but they need to be charged and activated if we are going to take a walk. These are not magnetic cards that measure the exit and entry to a place and based on this they calculate the speed and distance.
The SureTrack Pro It costs 99 euros, but that price alone does not cover the location service: After the first 30 days free, a subscription is required, which is normal for this type of device. The published plans cost 96 euros for one year, 160 for two and 220 for three (idem above).
Verdict:
The MOVA SureTrack Pro proposes something more ambitious than a tag that marks a point on the map: it wants to become a link between us and our furry companion. It requires some education, on both of our parts, but when we “graduate,” it proves to be much more useful than a simple location option.