Tractive GPS Review

We put the Tractive Dog 6 on multiple dogs and even put it on a bicycle throughout weeks of intensive testing. We found this to be a highly capable model that was intuitive to use despite its robust feature list. Our review team summed it up by saying, “While no GPS collar is perfect, the Tractive was among the most reliable options in our testing, and we were big fans of the health data, which was easy to view via the app.”

GPS Reliability

The whole point of a GPS collar is to locate your dog, and we're pleased to share that the Tractive Collar topped the charts in this metric and is an excellent choice if you're needing an accurate locator for your pup.

While every model had a bit of location lag time, the Dog 6's was relatively short, finding our dog in an average of 2 minutes or less. The Tractive app offers friendly locator functions, and if you want to track walks, it's as easy as hitting a single button. We also found the accuracy of the Tractive to be excellent, consistently providing a location accurate to about 100 feet or less, even if the collar was miles away.

This device connects to AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile's LTE networks, so if there isn't cell coverage from one of those providers, you're out of luck. Fortunately, you can hop on Tractive's website to see what the coverage looks like in your area. Uniquely, this option also provides a “Radar” function that utilizes Bluetooth to help you find your dog in a situation where the GPS shows they're close but bushes or tall grass obscure their exact location.

Features

In addition to being a reliable location device, the Tractive Dog 6 provides a lengthy list of features that turn a GPS collar into a full-blown health tracker.

The Tractive tracks your dog's heart rate, respiratory rate, minutes of activity, amount of sleep, and even their barking. It takes a week for the device to learn your dog's habits and health patterns, after which it can provide valuable insight into your pet's well-being. If there are any notable changes in the dog's vitals, the Tractive app can send you notifications and might even suggest a vet visit. While these features are great, it's important to remember that these don't replace a pet owner's watchful eye on their dog's behavior.

The Tractive Dog 6 has geofencing capability; you can create several virtual zones and set the device to notify you if your pet leaves the area. These are easy to establish, though it's crucial to keep in mind that they don't double as an electric fence and won't keep your dog inside the boundaries you draw. Another standout feature our team loved was the Bluetooth radar, which can help find the exact location of the collar in tall grasses or dense bushes. There is also a sound function that can initiate recall for a trained dog. If your dog goes rogue in the dark, you can also turn on a light on the collar to help you see them.

Ease of Use

We found Tractive Dog 6 to be incredibly intuitive and greatly appreciated how easy it was to use over the course of our testing.

Outside of the start-up guide, we did not need to dive too heavily into the instruction manual to navigate the features and location functions of the Tractive. The app never lagged throughout testing, and using the geofencing feature was a breeze. This model was also easy to fit onto the collar. It has a simple rubber strap system that keeps the Tractive securely attached, even in rough play. It took a week for the device to learn the dog's health patterns, and therefore wouldn't provide respiratory or heart rate immediately, but assuming you'll be using this for years, this is hardly a setback.

Construction Quality

We're happy to report that the Tractive held up to weeks of rough-housing and adventurous doggy hikes, being dragged through rivers, streams, lakes, sand, and mud.

With a rating of IP68, the Dog 6 is dust-tight and is waterproof in up to 1 meter of water, for up to 30 minutes. Initially, one might be questioning the usefulness of a fully submersible GPS collar, but for water-loving pets, their collars are likely underwater while they get their doggie paddles on. We also appreciated the rubber attachment system, which reliably attached the unit to the dog collar. The two hook points on the unit also offer some redundancy in the event that a portion of the rubber ever snaps.

Size

Most dog collar trackers are fairly compact, but the Tractive is one of the biggest units we tested. The size is unlikely to be a deal-breaker for many shoppers, but it is worth noting if you have a very small dog.

The Tractive weighs a modest 1.6 ounces including the unit and the rubber attachments, making it appropriate for dogs of many shapes and sizes. However, it is a relatively larger device compared to its competition.

Should You Buy the Tractive Dog 6?

As long as there's coverage from Verizon, AT&T, or T-Mobile in your area, this is a dependable GPS collar for your pup. When considering the in-depth vitals tracking, this model doubles as a health tracker and further confirms its rightful place at the top of the list. While the subscription is pricey, paying for a couple-year stretch significantly reduces the monthly expense, and if your dog ever gets lost, you'll be glad you've got one of the best models around their neck.

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