Tractive GPS: A Must-Have For Dog Sports Competitors!
Here's a firsthand account from canicross champion, Jérôme Lafourte - and why the Tractive GPS is a must-have for sporty dog parents, like you.
You might’ve gone running with your dog or taken them out with you on a hike. But did you know that dog sports is officially a thing too? To help you see this in action, we interviewed Jérôme Lafourte, a seasoned runner and canicross competitor from Belgium. Including his best tips and tricks on how to keep your dog safe while out getting sporty together – and how a smart dog tracker can be a lifesaver.
Always know your buddy is healthy & safe
Read moreMy name is Jérôme Lafourte and I’m from Belgium. As a young boy, I started doing a lot of different sports. Since then, I have always been very active. I also have 3 dogs with whom I’ve always been active – and now with whom I’m competing internationally at dog sports!
I’m really interested in canicross, skijoring, and bikejoring. Have you heard about those?
Dog sports: Canicross & Bikejoering
For those who might not know what it is: Canicross is the sport of cross country running with dogs. It’s dog powered, so the dogs are harnessed and attached to the human. In Canicross, you run as a team.
Now on the other hand, bikejoering is riding a bike with dogs pulling you. Here’s me pictured with one of my running buddies!
(Instead of a bike you can also use a dog scooter.)
So nothing special and not much equipment needed: one leash, one harness, and let’s go!
💡This is why most of my training is “pull training” – or running with a harness with my dog. Else, I also do a ton of free running. (Also with my dogs!)
Free running is the base of my training and also the base of how I train my dogs.
One day, I was looking through the internet and I discovered the Tractive GPS Dog Tracker. It sounded interesting – especially since my dogs are running alongside me while training, and I want to ensure I can keep them safe.
💡In November 2016 I decided to buy a Tractive device to try it out. My opinion about it? GREAT
Follow your dog anywhere
Get real-time location information, wherever they go. And find out when they try to make an escape, or just when they go somewhere they shouldn’t, with Virtual Fences.
How a typical dog sports training day looks like
My dogs live outdoors during the day (and indoors during nighttime.) So when I’m training them, I make sure to train only one dog at a time. This gives me better control over their movements.
For example, I never go free running with all 3 of my dogs all at once.
💡Rather, it’s better to train them one by one – so you can better intervene in case they get too excited. (And don’t listen to your commands.)
I also go free running around once or twice per week – in the early mornings and usually in a quiet spot, like the nearby forest. (With my bike and dogs in tow.)
Once I’ve set up my equipment – I strap a Tractive GPS to my dog’s collar. Only after, I begin my free running session.
Why the Tractive GPS is a must-have for sporty dog parents
Now while free running or generally training with your dog outdoors, you need to:
- Know where they are at any given moment (so you can prevent them from wandering off away from safety)
- Find a way to locate your dog even if it’s dark outdoors (like if you’re training in the evening or early morning)
- Figure out how to analyze your training results (i.e., how fast your dog was running, how active they’ve been – and whether they need more exercise.)
💡And if you’ve invested in a Tractive device, you’re covered from all sides when it comes to your dog’s safety. Because with one, you can now:
Follow your dog no matter where they’ve run off
Your Tractive GPS comes with real-time tracking over an unlimited range. So when my dog has their device on their collar, it means I can follow their movements – as they move throughout training – from my mobile app.
Another handy feature is its Virtual Fence – where you can set up a “safe zone” and get an escape alert the minute your dog tries running past it.
Most importantly, with Tractive’s LIVE tracking, I can figure out how close – or how far – they are from me, and whether I need to intervene if they’ve wandered off too far.
⚠️ Because once you lose sight of your dog, there’s no telling if they might run into a car, another dog or person, or even a wild animal. The stress and panic of losing them is never worth it.
Locate your dog when it’s dark outdoors
I usually go out for my free running or training in the early mornings – when it might still be dark. Which can make it difficult to locate your dog if they’ve got dark fur or have wandered off when it’s dark outdoors.
💡 Which is where Tractive’s LED light comes in handy. I just hit the “Light” option and I can locate my dog with the lamp on their tracker. So I always know where to look to find them – no matter how dark it is.
Analyze your dog’s training results
Besides keeping your dog safe while out training, your Tractive device can also help you figure out how effective your training was in the first place. After training, I like to analyze the distance we both covered, how many active minutes my dog got, and how fast we were both going. I usually register my sports activities to Strava, which also helps me analyze how my dog’s doing, performance-wise.
Tractive DOG 6 devices also include handy features like vital signs monitoring – like analyzing your dog’s heart rate or breathing rate. If your dog’s breathing rate is elevated or their heart rate seems lower than usual, you’ll be able to catch on to it sooner. (And get them over to the vet for a checkup on time.)
Hike, swim, run, bike with your dog – 100% stress-free
Now as a sporty dog parent, you want equipment that’s built for the outdoors. So you can go on as many rough and tumble adventures with your dog as possible – where they might get muddy, dive into lakes or ponds, or even end up play-fighting with other dogs.
💡Which is where the Tractive DOG XL Adventure edition is a great fit. If you do any kind of running, hiking or biking with your dog, this device is perfect. It’s firstly bite-proof – with fiberglass-reinforced casing. It’s got a 30-day battery life and is IP68 certified, which means it’s 100% waterproof.
Perfect for the next time you’re out adventuring with your dog – and want to hike, swim, run, or bike with them, 100% stress-free.
How to link your Tractive account to Strava
Here’s how you can use Tractive and Strava for dog sports:
- Head on over to strava.com
- Create a page for your dog
- Export your dog’s Location History from the Tractive website
- Export it on JPX and then just download it on Strava.
My take: Tractive is a great training partner for you and your dog.
It’s got everything from location tracking to staying on top of your dog’s health and wellbeing. Plus it’s specifically built for dogs and dog parents, just like you. Because the pain and stress of losing your dog is never worth it – but the relief and joy of knowing where to find them always is.
Besides, with your very own Tractive device set up, you’ll never have to ask yourself:
- Where is my dog when I’m not around?
- How many kilometers did my dog run during the day?
- Did he/she leave the safe zone (i.e., past the virtual fence)?
So what are you waiting for? Have fun and let’s Tractive!
Jerome and his furry friends have been a part of the Tractive community since March 2017 and they are fully satisfied of the benefits of Tractive GPS.
The tracker gives Jerome piece of mind for training worry-free with his furry friend and supports them both in their sports adventures!
If you want to follow them, check out their profiles here: Indra Nelson Jango for Facebook and Jerome Lafourte for Instagram.
