The survey, conducted among 1,929 dog and cat owners in France, Germany, Spain, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands, reveals a clear trend: fewer features, but maximum reliability.
Reading time : 3 min
Paris/Berlin, August 28, 2025. The market for connected pet products is growing rapidly – along with the trend toward ever-increasing multifunctionality. GPS location, activity tracking, heart rate monitoring: all in a single device that’s supposed to meet every need of a dog or cat. The idea looks appealing on paper – but is it really what owners want? A new European study conducted by Weenect provides a clear answer: nearly 8 out of 10 French people (78.9%) prefer a simple, reliable GPS tracker over a device overloaded with features.
Three out of four respondents (75.3%) reject “all-in-one” products, mainly due to concerns about excessive complexity and multiple malfunctions. In France, people over 45 express this reluctance even more strongly, favoring simple devices that ensure safety in daily life.
With 98.7% approval, real-time GPS tracking stands out as the number one purchasing criterion, far ahead of activity tracking (67.5%) or recall training (65.1%). Dog owners in France place more importance on recall and physical activity, while cat owners prioritize home monitoring or connected litter boxes.
42.5% of respondents find health features relevant only if they address a concrete need.
On the other hand, nearly 6 out of 10 French people (59.5%) fear misdiagnosis, and 39% worry about data protection. These concerns explain the persistent distrust toward medical features, often perceived more as marketing arguments than real added value.
Nearly 60% categorically refuse to pay more for extra features. In France, a minority (15%) say they are willing to invest more, but only if the benefit is tangible and proven. For the vast majority, the price must remain consistent with the real value delivered.
The study highlights key criteria to guide owners:
In short, most French owners deliberately choose the simplest and most reliable solution, with growing demand for transparency regarding data collection and usage.
"Technology should never be an end in itself. The essential function – location – must be flawless. That’s the goal of our Infinity Track™ technology, which combines precision, responsiveness, and connectivity to guarantee the fastest and most reliable geolocation. Additional features are welcome when they bring real value and remain easy to understand. This study shows that owners are making conscious choices for more safety and less complexity in their daily life with their pets."
The Weenect study was conducted in July 2025 among 1,929 dog and cat owners in France, Germany, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. It focused on expectations and perceptions of connected pet products, functional priorities, price sensitivity, and concerns about data protection.
Full survey results available here.
Weenect was founded in January 2012 by Adrien Harmel, Bénédicte de Villemeur-Vieille and Ferdinand Rousseau. It is a French company specialising in GPS trackers for dogs and cats. The trackers offer real-time second-by-second tracking, history analysis, activity tracking and more. Over 2,000 partner shops and platforms sell the products. Today, more than 250,000 pet owners already use Weenect trackers.
To access the most relevant information, suitable payment methods, and delivery in your region, please select the website corresponding to your country.
