Re: [pyrnet] GPS Tracking for lost Pyrs ?

Hi Bill,

Thanks for the info. I will definately look into that tracking collar.

1. We are having a giant portion of our property landscaped and the front gate is open. There is about a six feet high & and five feet wide pile of compost blocking the way.

2. Kodiak was in the house lounging close by a lamp that is flat against the wall. My husband was going outside to do something. He and Kodiak surprised one another. At that split second Kodiak knocked over the lamp, sort of freaked out and made a mad dash to the door.

3. He made a run for the gate, landed (sunk) in the heap of compost and burrowed his way out and tore down the street.

4. The headway he made in a matter of minutes is amazing.

5. Equally as surprising is that the workers managed to lure him back up the cliff and Kodiak ran through our "neighborhood" following the trails we normally take our walks.

6. Kodiak treated the whole matter as play and he had to have heard me calling him most of the time

There are more details to it but that is the gist of it. I think in addition to being able to easily track him we were at a loss for a plan to start the search. The few times (in ten years) our Newfs got away we found them both times in neighboring pools or someones hot tub.

Thanks to all. I think anyone who has had something like that happens is familiar with the range of emotions that goes through one's mind.

Christine and an unrepentant Kodiak

From: "William Elliott" <bill@ceterisparibus.info>
To: pyrnet-l@pyrnet.org
Sent: Monday, June 28, 2010 2:57:43 PM
Subject: Re: [pyrnet] GPS Tracking for lost Pyrs ?

Hi Christine,

I'm not a Pyr owner (I originally subscribed to this list when I found a lost Pyr), but I have a GSD that is a runner. A couple of years ago I looked into tracking collars for Casper. At that time the big box stores had a product called Zoombak that used GPS and cellular technology. You can even set coordinates such that if your dog is outside a boundary that you can set, you'll get an e-mail or cell phone call. The cost of the device was fairly reasonable, however, there is a monthly fee (if I remember correctly, it was in the neighborhood of $10). I did a Google search and found one that looks similar to this device called Dogtracs (it says it's available at Costco).

Since Casper had only escaped twice in several years, I chose not to purchase the Zoombak, but redoubled my efforts to make sure that Casper stayed in the yard (the strange thing with him is that he doesn't try to jump a fence, only if a door or gate is open will he make a break for it).

I hope this helps.

-- Bill

William Elliott

bill@ceterisparibus.info

On Jun 28, 2010, at 1:36 PM, Christine wrote:

I know there are radio collars for hunting dogs. When we lived in Virginia, dogs were allowed for deer hunting! The hunters would collar their lead dogs and find the pack that way. Not sure how practical or expensive this set-up is though.
There is something intrinsically unsporting about that. :(

Thanks all. I think I will do a little more investigating beyond Google.

Christine/Kodiak

From: "Melissa Wyglendowski" <wygate@hotmail.com>
To: pyrnet-l@pyrnet.org
Sent: Monday, June 28, 2010 12:16:02 PM
Subject: RE: [pyrnet] GPS Tracking for lost Pyrs ?

I know there are radio collars for hunting dogs. When we lived in Virginia, dogs were allowed for deer hunting! The hunters would collar their lead dogs and find the pack that way. Not sure how practical or expensive this set-up is though.

Glad you were able to find Kodiak :)

Melissa

Date: Mon, 28 Jun 2010 11:54:56 -0500
From: chrissy@instant.net
To: pyrnet-l@pyrnet.org
Subject: [pyrnet] GPS Tracking for lost Pyrs ?

Isn't there a way to have a collar that has a GPS chip like a cell phone? Is this practical?
Kodiak has the chip but those only work if someone finds a way to scan him if they find him.

I just spent the worse two hours of my life hunting for Kodiak. It was a freak thing but he somehow got out of the gate this morning. We live on top of a cliff and in one direction there is a steady, steep gradual drop off into a dry creek. It floods during heavy rains but is dense with trees and brush otherwise. My husband enlisted the support of every neighboring construction worker, yard worker and the like and one of them tracked Kodiak down.

He led us on an intense, merry chase and we finally caught him. His legs are black in covered in...I don't know what and he is coated in burs.
It has been two hours and he is still breathing heavily.
We were lucky today as it is clear a Pyr can cover miles in a short period of time.
I was so frusrated and the only thing I could think of was wishing there were a better way to track a missing dog like a Pyr.

Does anyone have any ideas or experience with this?
Thanks
Christine/Kodiak

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