Tracking Domestic Animals?

Solo-Malee asks: "My sister has a blind hunting dog (yes really) and will soon be moving to the wilderness area of Sweden. She is really worried that her dog will run off after the first elk that it sees never to be seen again (since he's already run off numerous times already). Are Slashdot readers aware of any practical inexpensive tracking system that can be applied to domestic animals?"

Comments

Third eye dog?

[WFFS]

How does he see the elk? Does he need a seeing-eye human?

Invisible Fence

[Aix]

Tracking, unfortunately, won't keep your dog from getting hit by a car. It also won't keep you legal if unleashed dogs are against the law (which is quite common in the US, anyway). I would consider an "invisible fence" which is basically an RF proximity sensor on a collar that shocks the dog if it gets too close. They seem to be quite effective and can give the dog a very large area in which to roam. In particular, it makes sense in situations where a backyard-type fence is impractical (such as on a farm), but a border is well-defined by a cattle fence or some such. Here's the cursory google search: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=dog+invisible +fence&btnG=Google+Search

How not to lose your dog

[Motherfucking Shit]

Are Slashdot readers aware of any practical inexpensive tracking system that can be applied to domestic animals?

Combine the natural power of a tree with the functionality of a chain. Throw in a collar for good measure, and you've got synergy.

If the dog can't run off, he can't run off and get lost. I'm not trying to be a dick about this, but unless chaining a dog is illegal in her area, your sister should consider the obvious option. Occam's razor, and all. So long as food and water bowls are within easy reach, and kept in the same place, the dog shouldn't have a problem.

Re:How not to lose your dog

[Grym]

Combine the natural power of a tree with the functionality of a chain. Throw in a collar for good measure, and you've got synergy.

Be careful about this. DO NOT use this type of setup if it is possible for the dog to get hung over something. For instance, short fences or steep ledges can be the death of your best friend if he makes an excited jump. Don't count on the chain being too long for this to happen--dogs have a way of shortening the length by running around objects and the like.

And even if this isn't an issue, always have a spring attached between his collar and the chain. This will lessen the strain placed upon his throat when he attempts to run too far. A dog's neck is his weakest part. A cheap spring used in such a fashion can prevent a dislodged trachea.

Also, this should go without saying but, do not use choker (or "check") collars when attaching your dog to the chain. See the aforementioned neck comment.

Most importantly, don't leave your dog out unattended for extended periods of time. No good can come of it. Besides, why even bother having a pet if you're too busy to pay attention to it?

-Grym

Re:Why track it ...

[cwebb1977]

Dogs are fast learners? Well, this one better be, or he'll be blind AND deaf. And lost and maybe eaten by an elk!

False cognate. In English, it's called a Moose.

[SgtChaireBourne]

There are no elk in Sweden or any other nordic country except perhaps in the zoo. What you probably mean is a moose or alces alces. Alces alces is called älg in Swedish, elg in Norwegian, hirve in Finnish. The first two probably derive from German, which is elch, thus the mistake.

elk is Cervus elaphus or wapiti or some such beast.

NetHack

[Pentagram]

I've had the same problem playing NetHack. The best option is to use a magic whistle (a blessed eucalyptus leaf will work in a pinch).

If a magic whistle isn't available, then a leash can work well. Failing that, be sure to feed your pet regularly and always carry some tripe. The dog, attracted by the smell, will follow you more closely.

HTH

Wheels of Zeus

[Karl J. Smith]

Woz's Wheels of Zeus is for tracking local objects and pets.

It's still vapor, though - you can't buy any products.

Re:Wheels of Zeus...

[david duncan scott]

Might potentially?

The wOz system provides peace of mind for parents, caregivers and others who need to:

• watch over their children who are too young to carry wireless phones, ensuring they are near their homes, at school, at the playground, or any other place they should be
  
• monitor elderly individuals, particularly those impaired by Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia, and who may be prone to wandering into dangerous areas
  
• ensure pets remain within a yard or other safe zone
  
• ensure the security of valuables
  

With the wOz solution, caregivers can determine the exact location of their charges and items, and receive immediate notification of a deviation from a specified zone. It also tracks Smart-Tags that have left the zone, giving consumers the information needed to find and recover people and valuables they care about.

Sounds like that's their top application for it, along with blind hunting dogs.

Personally, I want this for my car. Not LoJack and all that, just a thing that says, "the car is 25 meters north of here" when I come out of the house in the morning. If wOz can do this on a dog or a child, why don't German luxury cars have this standard? I'm not sure I want OnStar to know where I am at all times, but a short-range where-the-hell-did-I-park dingus would be great.

umm

[austad]

My sister has a blind hunting dog ... She is really worried that her dog will run off after the first elk that it sees

Her worries are unfounded.

Ask Slashdot followup...lighter tracking device?

[Anonymous Coward]

Ok, now let's ask about a tracking device for my...um...Cat, yes...cat...I want to track my cat in case it runs off chasing Elk.
Obviously, I will need a lighter tracking device than discussed for my dog. It needs to be light enough so my girlfriend..oops..I mean Cat, cannot tell that it is attached to their person...oops...I mean fur.
Also, I want to purchase this device with cash. That's so the police...oops...I mean the Cat Cabal cannot track me down.

Not quite right.

[Jason Pollock]

Actually... It's stranger than that.

www.dictionary.com
elk

n : large northern deer with enormous flattened antlers in the male; called elk in Europe and moose in North America [syn: European elk, moose, Alces alces]

wapiti
n. wapiti or wapitis

A large light brown or grayish-brown North American deer (Cervus canadensis) having long, branching antlers. Also called American elk, elk.

moose
n. pl. moose

A hoofed mammal (Alces alces) found in forests of northern North America and in Eurasia and having a broad, pendulous muzzle and large, palmate antlers in the male.