How Tractive Helped This Dog Parent Catch An Illness Early
You know we're all about finding lost dogs - but did you know we help keep them healthy too? One of our Netherlands-based dog parents shared why the Tractive GPS is part of her service dogs' primary gear & how it helps her keep them healthy.
When you think of GPS trackers for dogs, you wouldn’t be the first to think of runaway pets. But not so for some dog parents, like those who rely on assistance dogs. For some, we’re so much more than just a GPS tracker. It’s about keeping a close eye on their health and happiness — because happy, healthy dogs make for happy, healthy humans.
Here’s an inspiring story from Cissy Visser, one of our Netherlands-based dog parents. How Tractive has become an essential part of her dog’s toolkit, keeping her dogs in top shape – so they can keep doing what they do best: helping others.
Why I use a Tractive GPS for my service dogs
I’ve chosen Tractive to add an extra layer of monitoring for my service dogs. One of whom supports me with activities of daily living (ADL), while the other is trained for PTSD. For these dogs, health is everything. They can only keep me healthy, happy, and supported if they’re feeling their best too! That’s why I keep track of their activity, rest, and health every single day.
🐶 The first one to test out the Tractive GPS tracker was Evi, my PTSD service dog.
After using the tracker for about three and a half weeks, I began to really trust the data. And thank goodness I did, because it showed me something I would have missed with just my eyes alone.
How Tractive helped me spot Evi’s sickness early on
One day, Evi’s sleep quality dropped significantly — from around 90% to just 60%. Her active minutes also went down by about 50 minutes each day. If you’d looked at her, you would have thought she was her usual, happy, healthy self. But the data told a different story – and I decided to trust it.
Here’s Evi’s Sleep Tracking data on the Tractive mobile app (in Dutch) – she’s scored pretty high!
So, I went to the vet with all the information from Tractive. They took it seriously and, after examining Evi, discovered she had the beginnings of an ear infection.
We caught it early — before it got worse — all because Tractive let me see what Evi couldn’t tell me herself.
Using Tractive for Wellness Monitoring
Now, Tractive is part of my primary gear for my service dogs. Unlike most people who need a GPS tracker because their dogs might run away, my service dogs have excellent recall. They’re specially trained not to wander off. For us, the Tractive GPS is about monitoring their well-being: tracking how much they walk, how well they sleep, and making sure they’re fit and comfortable.
Here’s an example of how I check the active minutes via the Tractive mobile app – Evi’s overshot her goal for the day!
The insights are amazing. I can compare activity levels, sleep quality, and even see how the seasons affect them — they’re less active in winter, just like many of us. When they’re not quite themselves, I can spot it early by simply opening the app.
Where Tractive works as an early warning system
One moment that really struck me was when I had a hospital stay and left my dogs at home with my partner. The data in the app showed that both of their sleep qualities dropped dramatically — from their usual 80-90% to just 30-40%. It was clear they were stressed and missed me. I can even see the difference between nights when they sleep next to me versus when they’re in the living room.
❤️ Thanks to Tractive, I’ve learned to recognize early warning signs for all sorts of issues. I can tell when Faye’s allergies are about to flare up because her sleep quality drops and she gets restless. I knew when Evi had a slight limp, when she had a bladder infection, and when Faye had stomach issues — all thanks to the detailed data in the app.
Peace of mind – for me & my dogs
Having two working dogs, both of whom have their own health challenges, means I need to stay on top of their well-being at all times. Tractive lets me do that. It helps me trust my instincts, gather detailed data, and take action when something feels off — sometimes even before the vet can pinpoint the issue.
“For us, Tractive isn’t just a GPS tracker.
It’s a lifeline.”
It keeps my service dogs happy and healthy, which means I get to enjoy a higher quality of life too. And that’s exactly what a service dog partnership should be all about — looking out for each other, every step of the way.
Want to be more involved in your dog’s health?
Whether you’re managing the well-being of a service dog, a pet with special needs, or simply want to make sure your furry friend is living their best life, Tractive can help you stay in tune with their health and happiness.
So start your journey with Tractive today – and give your dog the care they deserve.
Stay on top of your dog’s wellness
Follow every step in real-time with unlimited range. Get alerts if they wander too far. Keep them happy & healthy with Wellness Monitoring. And let others – like walkers or sitters – keep an eye on your dog too.
Wondering what early warning signs of sickness in dogs to look out for? Here are a couple of posts you’ll find useful:
