I tried the Tractive GPS Tracker for Dogs – it pleasantly surprised me

As well being waterproof, it has other useful features such heart and respiratory rate monitoring too. (Picture: Myles Goode/Metro) Metro journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission – learn more If you’re a dog fanatic and devoted dog-mum like me, there probably isn’t anything you wouldn’t do to protect the fluffy members of your family. Whether its’ the risk of them running off, perhaps distracted by a cat, or taking them to a new park, knowing your dog is safe is the ultimate priority. Fortunately, there is a solution for that. The Tractive Smart Dog Tracker, which comes in various sizes depending on your dog, and different colours to ensure a stylish pooch, keeps your dogs location on your phone, so you can rest assured that they are protected. Prices start at £59, and for all the features and long battery life, its a fair cost, espically when it can keep your pets safe. You can also get these for cats with prices also starting at £59. As well being waterproof, it has other useful features such as heart and respiratory rate monitoring, virtual fences to alert you if your dog is outside of its safe locations, a LED light for night-time trots, sound features in case the tracker is lost, and sleep tracking. The battery lasts up to 2 weeks, and slips right onto the collar – very handy if you have a dog like mine who gets the zoomies just putting on his raincoat (Picture: Maicey Navarro Griffiths) The battery lasts up to 2 weeks, and slips right onto the collar – very handy if you have a dog like mine who gets the zoomies just putting on his raincoat. I was lucky enough to give the premium plan a go, which for 1 year is £8 a month or £5 a month for a 2 year plan. The premium features, as well as monitoring location, health, activity and sleep, also enables family sharing, so all of us can keep an eye on my cockapoo Roger, as well as worldwide coverage, 365-day location history, and GPS date export. But you could be thinking, do I really need all these features? And the answer is no, you don’t need all these features, but they are certainly a help. Especially if you have an older dog like mine, whose health needs monitoring more closely. Or if you have a younger, hyper dog, tracking their steps and heart rate is a good way to keep an eye on them(Picture: Maicey Navarro Griffiths) Or if you have a younger, hyper dog, tracking their steps and heart rate is a good way to keep an eye on them and their patterns to ensure you don’t have an expensive trip to the vets. Or perhaps you have a cheeky mutt who is prone to walking off, then a virtual fence is ideal to preventing them going into no-go zones. So how did it go when I tried it out? Opting for the DOG 6 size, for dogs between 4-20kg, ideal for my 11kg cockapoo I put the tracker to the test. For bigger pooches there is the DOG 6 XL for 20-25kg, and the DOG XL Adventure for those over 25kg. The DOG 6 was a perfect size, slim and sleek, for Roger, slipping onto his collar with a rubber case to ensure he was comfortable, which was a key concern for me. I set the mode to ‘walk’, so I could see exactly how long we were out and the distance we had both done (Picture: Maicey Navarro Griffiths) But he did not even notice it on him. I quickly synced it to my phone, and off we went. What I really liked about the device and app, was the live tracking, and Bluetooth syncing, keeping track of Roger’s exact route. I set the mode to ‘walk’, so I could see exactly how long we were out and the distance we had both done. It wasn’t a feature I had really even thought about, but once I used it I was hooked. Happily watching how much exercise we had both done. What I really liked about the device and app, was the live tracking, and Bluetooth syncing, keeping track of Roger’s exact route (Picture: Maicey Navarro Griffiths) The verdict is in I was keen to find out if my experience was a common one, so I spoke to a family friend, Jim, who has multiple dogs of his own, who he trains for search and rescue. He praised the ‘reliable tracking worldwide with no distance restriction at all’ and being able to ‘share with friends and family with ease’. Additionally, Jim noted the battery saver zones while connected to wifi. As someone with larger dogs, who run far distances, he uses the Tractive 6XL as well as the 6, praising the app’s ability to share how far his dogs are and monitor their pulse and barking rates. Though Jim said the battery life could do with some improvement, it was an upgrade from the Tractive 4. Overall, Tractive is ‘very reliable’, which is why Jim had one for each of his dogs, considering the other features, it merited the annual £120 fee billed every two years. Opting for the DOG 6 size, for dogs between 4-20kg, ideal for my 11kg cockapoo I put the tracker to the test (Picture: Maicey Navarro Griffiths) So is Tractive worth it? The Tractive Smart Dog Tracker balances useful features, without throwing out too many to confuse you. While you may not need to use every one, everyday, knowing they are there for when you need it, such as the flashlight for those dark, winter walks, is a comfort. For a reasonable price and informative data, it is worth the purchase. 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