For dog owners, one of the biggest responsibilities of having a dog is to ensure your pup is safe and secure. While dogs are extremely loyal pets, they can still run away from home every now and then. Needless to say, losing track of your furry friend and not knowing where they are is always a stressful experience. Thanks to modern technology, it’s easy to find your dog if they happen to wander off, and all you need for that is a GPS dog tracker. These devices provide accurate GPS tracking of your dog’s location in real time, making it easy for dog owners to keep track of their pup’s whereabouts. The higher-end models also offer advanced features like safe-zone alerts and activity monitoring to help you keep your dog safe and healthy. For a GPS dog tracker that’s reliable, built to last, and designed to ensure your dog’s safety, the Tractive DOG 6 is one of the best options out there.
The Tractive DOG 6 is a 6th-generation GPS tracker and activity monitor for dogs that features a lightweight, rugged design with an IPX7 waterproof construction and built-in bright LED lights for nighttime illumination. It boasts GPS connectivity for precise location tracking in real-time with unlimited range and worldwide coverage in over 175 countries through LTE/4G and 2G connectivity, along with Bluetooth 5.0 and Wi-Fi connectivity, and up to 14 days battery. Via the Tractive GPS App, dog owners can activate live GPS tracking to see their dog’s real-time location, set virtual fences, view their dog’s location history, track and monitor their daily activity and sleep with detailed health insights, and can also get health alerts if unusual patterns in their pet’s recorded health metrics are detected.
With this GPS tracker and activity monitor, dog parents can have peace of mind in being able to know their dog’s location at all times, while also helping them monitor their dog’s health and well-being on a daily basis.
Below is our comprehensive review of the Tractive DOG 6, where he have a closer look at this GPS dog tracker and activity monitor, see how it’s designed to work, and go over all its standout features.
DESIGN & SPECS
Starting with the device’s size, this GPS tracker and activity monitor for dogs has a compact form factor, measuring just 2.8 inches long by 1.14 inches tall by 0.66 inches thick (71 x 29 x 17mm), and is also ultra-lightweight, weighing just 1.37 oz. (39 g).
The tracker comes together with a rubber mount equipped with sturdy clips that’s used to attach it securely to your dog’s collar.
Note that the Tractive DOG 6 is specifically designed to fit dogs that weigh 8.8 lbs. (4 kg) and above.
For bigger dogs weighing from 48 lbs. (22 kg) and above, dog owners can go with the Tractive DOG XL, or ultimately the Tractive DOG XL Adventure — the company’s sturdiest model, featuring an extra-strong protective case for rugged outdoors use.
The Tractive DOG 6 also sports a stylish and modern design, with its body coming in a solid Black color (also available in Brown and Mint).
Moreover, this GPS dog tracker is also built to last, as it packs a rugged construction, and is also rated to have an IPX7 Waterproof Rating, which makes it 100% waterproof.
Lastly, the tracker also integrates built-in bright LED lights that are used for signaling your dog’s presence in low light conditions, making them easier to find at nighttime, even when it’s pitch dark.
CONNECTIVITY
For establishing a wireless connection with its smartphone companion app, the Tractive DOG 6 utilizes GPS connectivity (leveraging GPS, GLONASS and Galileo) for precise location tracking in real-time with unlimited range, while LTE/4G and 2G connectivity give it worldwide cellular coverage in over 175 countries.
In addition, the tracker also boasts Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity for pairing it with its mobile app and configuring its functionalities.
BATTERY & BATTERY LIFE
For its power, this GPS tracker and activity monitor for dogs comes equipped with a built-in Lithium-Ion battery that offers dog owners around 10 days of battery life on average, or up to 14 days battery with the use of Power Saving Zones (configurable via the mobile app).
To recharge its battery, the tracker comes with an included USB-C charging cable. It takes a few hours for the tracker’s battery to recharge, so it’s recommended you do this over night.
THE SMARTPHONE COMPANION APP – The Tractive GPS App
To track their dog’s location and access all other of the tracker’s functionalities, dog owners are required to install the Tractive GPS App (available for iOS and Android devices) after deciding their preferred subscription plan (Basic or Premium – pricing discussed at the end of article).
Via the Tractive GPS App, dog owners can activate live GPS tracking to see their dog’s current location, for which they’ll also get location updates in real-time. The app also enables dog owners to record the path taken when going on walks with their dogs.
Not only that, but owners can also set up virtual fences that act as safe zones, for which they’ll receive alerts when their dog leaves those areas.
In addition, dog owners can also view their dog’s location history to see where they’ve been.
Best of all, the Tractive GPS App also enables owners to track and monitor their dog’s activity and their overall sleep, for which they’re provided with detailed health insights respectively showing their dog’s amount of daily physical activity in minutes and an estimate of the calories they burned, plus the amount of time they slept throughout the day (including night sleep and day sleep).
Dog owners are also sent in-app health alerts if unusual patterns in their dog’s recorded health metrics are detected.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX?
Inside their package, cat owners will find: their Tractive DOG 6 GPS Tracker, along with the tracker’s rubber mount (to attach it to your dog’s collar), its USB-C charging cable, and a user manual.
FINAL THOUGHTS
All in all, this GPS dog tracker and activity monitor makes for a versatile solution for keeping track of your dog’s whereabouts and monitor their health regularly.
The Tractive DOG 6 is currently available in three (x3) different color models: Black, Brown, and Mint (Light Blue).
If you’re interested in purchasing it, know that each unit is priced at just $69. You can order yours online either directly from Tractive’s official shopping page, or you can get it on Amazon.
We’d also like to mention that Tractive also sells a GPS tracker and activity monitor for cats called the Tractive CAT Mini, which you can read our review here.
APP Subscription Pricing Options
Regarding the pricing options for the Tractive GPS App, note that there are two (x2) subscription plans available, which are BASIC and PREMIUM.
The BASIC subscription plan includes a 1-Year subscription plan for $9 a month ($108 per year), and a 2-Year subscription plan for $6 a month ($144 every 2 years).
The PREMIUM subscription plan includes a 1-Year subscription plan for $10 a month ($120 per year), a 2-Year subscription plan for $7 month ($168 every 2 years), and a 5-Year subscription plan for $5 month ($300 every 5 years).
The BASIC subscription plan offers dog owners:
- GPS Location Tracking with regular location updates every 2-60 min
- Unlimited Live Tracking Updates every 2-3 sec
- Activity & Sleep Monitoring
The PREMIUM subscription plan offers the functionalities mentioned above, plus:
- Family Sharing (allows multiple people to track your dog’s GPS location simultaneously)
- Worldwide Coverage
- 365 Day Location History
- GPS Data Export
