Small Dog, Big Escape Plan: Why Fi Mini Is My New Best Friend
If you’ve ever watched your small dog clock a squirrel from 40 feet away and instantly turn into a furry missile with zero concern for your heart rate, then you already understand the specific brand of anxiety that comes with loving a tiny escape artist. Meet Padds; he’s part terrier, part dachshund, and 100% convinced that every rabbit, chipmunk, and leaf blowing across the sidewalk is a personal challenge from the universe. He’s sweet. He’s smart. He’s hilarious. And he would absolutely “accidentally” disappear into the woods if given the opportunity. So when I started testing the Fi Mini, I wasn’t looking for another cute gadget.
I was looking for peace of mind, especially because Padds and I travel, take long walks, and do a lot of exploring. This is the exact kind of lifestyle where a dog can slip a collar, dart under a fence, or bolt through a half-open door in a new place you don’t know well. And honestly? The Fi Mini feels like it was made for dogs like him.
[Note: while I am reviewing this item independently and honestly, it should be noted that I received a sample from Fi for the purpose of this review.]
The real problem: small dog confidence + big dog bravery
Here’s what I’ve learned about owning a terrier-dachshund mix: their bodies may be small, but their confidence is absolutely unhinged. Padds loves adventure. He loves traveling. He loves long walks. He loves sniffing out new places like he’s conducting serious investigative journalism. But he’s also the type to see a squirrel and instantly forget I exist. One second, he’s trotting beside me, the next, he’s doing a full National Geographic chase sequence into someone’s backyard. Even with training and good habits, escape moments happen quickly. And the scarier part is that they happen more quickly in unfamiliar environments, such as vacation rentals, hotel loading zones, busy parks, or family homes where doors are constantly opening. That’s where the Fi Mini really earns its keep.
The Fi Mini is a compact GPS tracker that attaches to your dog’s existing collar or harness. It’s designed to be super lightweight, especially for smaller dogs. Fi describes it as 80% lighter than their larger Series 3+ collar, and you feel that difference immediately. It’s only 16 grams, and it sits low profile against the collar. For a dog like Padds, that matters. With small dogs, anything bulky becomes annoying fast, and if it’s annoying, they scratch at it, bite at it, or act as if you’ve personally betrayed them. Fi Mini avoids that drama. It just… works.
The best part of the Fi Mini: Live GPS and “Escape Alerts” that actually feel useful
Fi Mini’s key promise is Live GPS tracking with LTE-M connectivity. That means if Padds ever gets loose, I’m not sitting there refreshing a vague pin drop every five minutes. I can open the app and see movement and location updates in real time. But the bigger daily win is the Escape Alerts. You set a safe zone (your home, your Airbnb, a relative’s house, whatever), and if your dog leaves that zone, you’re notified immediately. That sounds simple, but in real life, it changes everything.
Because the scariest escape moments are not “my dog ran away into a dramatic sunset.” It’s:
- He slipped through the door behind someone carrying groceries
- He squeezed between the gate and fence because terriers are liquid
- His leash clasp snapped
- He bolted when a skateboard flew past
Fi makes those moments less catastrophic because you’re alerted fast, and you can respond fast. And with Padds, speed is everything.
This is where the Fi Mini starts to feel like a true travel essential. Travel with a dog is constant motion:
- unloading the car
- opening doors
- navigating lobbies
- moving suitcases
- stopping at rest areas
- exploring parks in new cities
Padds is a little explorer. He’s also a little opportunist. If there’s a gap, he’ll test it. If there’s an animal nearby, he’ll chase it. I love him. But I also know this: if Padds got loose in a city I don’t know, I’d spiral. Fi Mini helps stop that spiral before it starts, because even if I’m panicking, I can still open the app and follow him. It’s tracking built for real life, not just emergencies.
Battery life: surprisingly strong for something this small
One of my biggest concerns with trackers is battery life. If I’m traveling, hiking, or just living life, I do not want the added stress of “your device battery is low” on top of regular pet-parent stress. Fi Mini has up to 3 weeks of battery life and supports USB-C charging. And the USB-C part matters more than people realize. It means on trips, it fits into the same ecosystem as your phone chargers, battery packs, and travel tech kits. No weird proprietary cable, I will definitely forget it at home. It’s also waterproof (IP68), which, for my dog, is basically required. Padds loves wet grass, pools, and stepping directly into puddles as he owns them.
Fi Mini isn’t only about escape panic.
It also tracks:
- steps and activity
- sleep and rest patterns
- general daily trends
That’s useful for small dogs because their behavior shifts quickly. If Padds suddenly sleeps more or moves less, I want to know. It helps you catch changes before they become bigger issues. Fi also has smart organization of vet records and AI insights in the app. Do you need that? Not necessarily. But as someone who travels and juggles schedules, I appreciate anything that reduces pet admin chaos.
Who is the Fi Mini really for (hint: it’s me, it’s you, and it’s our dogs)
The Fi Mini is ideal if:
- You have a small dog who tries to slip away
- You travel with your dog often
- Your dog has a prey drive and zero self-control
- You walk in parks, trails, and neighborhoods with wildlife
- You want tracking without a bulky collar system
It’s also great for people who have a dog like Padds: loving, fearless, and always one squirrel away from a full-blown escape attempt.
Where to buy it + price range
You can purchase the Fi Mini directly from Fi here, where it’s sold with a required membership plan.
Fi lists membership bundles such as 6 months ($99), 1 year ($189), and 2 years ($339), depending on promotions and plan length. It has also been announced at $129/year, including hardware and a full-year membership during launch availability (pricing may vary based on promos and timing).
If you’re the kind of dog owner who has ever whispered “please don’t run, please don’t run” while your dog locks eyes with a squirrel like it’s a sworn enemy, then yeah. The Fi Mini is worth it. It’s not just a tracker. It’s the feeling of being able to breathe on walks again. Considering purchasing the Fi mini? Let us know your thoughts @bsb.insider on social media!
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