The Best Small Waterproof GPS Tracker For Dogs & Cats
A GPS tracker must be waterproof - otherwise it's unlikely to help you track down a snow- or water-loving dog or an outdoor cat. So let's take a look at the best waterproof GPS tracker to follow your furry friends on their muddy adventures wherever they go!
Are you the parent of an active, water-loving dog, snow-loving dog, or an outdoor cat with a big territory to defend? Like pet parents around the world, you want to encourage your pet’s sense of adventure – but also prevent them from getting lost. (Which is where a small waterproof GPS can come in handy, even if you’re not with them 24/7.)
For pets, a tracking device like the Tractive GPS is everything you need to keep them safe. So here’s a deep dive into its waterproof build…for the next time your pet wants to take, well, a deep dive. (We just had to.)
Most water- and snow-loving dogs tend to have high prey drive. (For example, Spaniels, Retrievers, Setters, Shepherds, and even Poodles.) So these dogs might be more likely to chase ducks and other woodland animals right into ponds, lakes, and even rivers nearby.
What about cats – don’t they hate water? Not quite. Different cat breeds have water-resistant fur and actually enjoy a swim every now and then! Like, for example:
Turkish Vans,
Turkish Angoras,
Siberians,
Bengals,
and even Maine Coons
Much like dogs, these cats tend to be highly active, outdoor-friendly – and likely to fall back to hunting behaviors out of instinct. (Which might include a dive into a lake if they’re particularly motivated.)
⚠️ Pets with a high prey drive are also more likely to get lost
Whether that’s from:
Chasing down a woodland animal a bit too far from safety,
Ending up lost in new, unfamiliar territory – where they might end up picked up by a shelter or rehomed to a new family
Running into dangerous objects like animal traps (or other animals!)
Colliding with a passing car, miles away from safety
Meaning, there’s no end to the dangers pets run into outdoors. And even if your buddy doesn’t seem to have a prey drive, they can still end up escaping from home as a result of nerves, boredom, anxiety, high energy, spooking from a loud noise…or just about any combination thereof.
How does Tractive work? (And why is it a big deal that it’s waterproof?)
A GPS tracker allows you to track something in real time using:
A GPS tracking component (for example on a pet’s collar)
Plus a software or app (where you can view your pet’s location)
Here’s an example of Tractive’s LIVE Mode – just hit “LIVE” on your mobile app and follow your pet’s every step, as they make their every step.
🌊 With such an important service, it’s 100% essential that the device also be waterproof. (Otherwise the tracker would break as soon as it touches water.) Plus, if you’ve got a water-loving dog like a Newfoundland or a snow-loving dog like a Labrador at home, you’d know how much of a struggle it is trying to keep them away from the nearest pond or snow pile!
⚠️ Most GPS tracking brands make sure their products are waterproof. (Because otherwise, their trackers would be useless, given how active most dogs and cats are.) But be sure to check the details of a tracker before purchasing, since not all of them might be 100% waterproof.
The Tractive DOG XL Adventure edition, on the other hand, comes with IPX7 waterproof capabilities – plus extra tough fiberglass casing. For your most adventurous dog breeds who like their rough and tumble play.
Always know where your dog is
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.
Where waterproof trackers are essential for safety
Water-resistance is especially important if the tracker is intended for outdoor use. Meaning, a waterproof GPS tracker is essential safety gear if you’re:
Swimming at the river, lake or beach with your dog
Yes, both the Tractive GPS Dog and Cat Tracker are 100% waterproof. Tractive GPS devices do not have SIM-card openings or USB ports. Because of this, they’re perfectly safe to use on the rainiest, snowiest of days.
“You don’t need to worry about the Tractive tracker while you’re enjoying a walk in the rain or jumping in the water along with your pet.
According to IPX7 standards, Tractive devices can be immersed in water up to 1 meter (or ~3 feet) depth for about 30 minutes.Which makes them the best choice for daily use – or if you’ve got a dog who loves their daily swim.”
– Ivelin Nenkov, Embedded Systems Engineer at Tractive since 2016
💡In fact, Tractive GPS trackers have been waterproof for as long as they’ve been around – since 2012. Our tracker was developed by some of the most pawssionate entrepreneurs and top engineers in Europe and is available worldwide. It’s been developed over years and years in the heart of Austria, close to the Alps, where they’re no strangers to wet, cold, and snowy weather.
That’s why at Tractive, we knew we had to make a GPS tracking device for pet parents that would be 100% adventure-proof, water-proof, and able to withstand any amount of wear and tear.
Always know where your pets are
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 pet too.
When it comes to GPS trackers, there’s more factors to consider besides a waterproof build. What about range, for instance? Dogs running off to hunt can cover a mile a minute. And the average outdoor cat can wander even further, depending on the size of their territory.
So what if you could track your wandering pets over an unlimited range?
⚠️ While they may seem like a good option for tracking a pet, keep in mind that Bluetooth trackers like Tile, Samsung SmartTag, or Apple AirTag typically have a range of only 100-200 meters or less. So if your dog or cat runs out of the Bluetooth radius, you’ll no longer be able to track them.
A true GPS tracker should be able to track anywhere in the world, sinces it uses the Global Positioning System, which is just that: global. Buildings, forests and weather can cause temporary GPS interference, but in general they do not impact the range of the tracker. As long as the tracker utilizes another technology, such as cell service, to send its location data to your smartphone, the range should be unlimited. (Just keep in mind that some GPS trackers only work in certain countries.)
The Tractive GPS works over any range, with no distance limitation.
Track your pet from anywhere in the world, pretty much everywhere in the world – or in 175 countries to be more exact.
And even better? Tractive doesn’t limit you to a network of devices like typical Bluetooth trackers.
“Much like the AirTag, your Tractive GPS tracker can use a short range radio to help determine your pet’s location. But unlike the AirTag, Tractive also uses mobile connectivity and GPS.
So even if your tracker is nowhere near another mobile device, it’ll still be able to send data to the Tractive servers. So you can quickly and easily see your pet’s location in the app.”
– Ivelin Nenkov, Embedded Systems Engineer at Tractive since 2016
What is the smallest GPS tracker?
Another important factor to consider when purchasing a GPS tracker is size. When it comes to tracking pets, most people want to find the smallest GPS tracker available. Because your furry friend is going to wear the tracker on their collar or harness, it needs to be lightweight, small and discreet. So your pet won’t even notice it.
For this reason, GPS trackers for dogs and cats are some of the smallest GPS trackers out there.
Basically, the tracker size is comparable to that of a watch – only it’s packed with loads of pawsome features.
Why isn’t a GPS tracker the size of a microchip?
Some people think that a GPS tracker for pets shouldn’t weigh anything at all – and should be able to be implanted under the skin of your dog. However, this is a misconception: there are no GPS tracking microchips for dogs or cats at this time.
A GPS tracker needs to contain a battery, GPS antenna, GSM module and more. Which would make it simply too big to implant under your pet’s skin – and also risk poisoning your dog or cat if the battery leaks!
“We use modern high-integrity components for building our GPS trackers. These components tend to consume space – because we want to ensure the best quality.
Also, if you want to reliably and continuously track your pet, you’ll need a strong, heavy battery pack. (In some cases, more than half the space in the device is reserved just for the battery.)
It’s a balancing act to find a compromise between size and quality. And one we can assure you that we’re constantly working on.”
– Ivelin Nenkov, Embedded Systems Engineer at Tractive since 2016
How about a fitness GPS tracker for dogs & cats?
So, we’ve covered several things. A GPS tracker can be waterproof and allow you to track your pet’s movements in real time over any range. Moreover there are small pet GPS trackers that won’t bother your furry friend when worn on the collar or harness. But what about fitness GPS trackers for dogs and cats?
Many modern day GPS trackers for pets double as activity monitors, making them like a fitness tracker for your pet!
💡 With its built-in motion detector, your trusty Tractive GPS doubles as an Activity Tracker for dogs and cats. Logging in their movements throughout the day as “active minutes”.
Which, with time, can help you figure out:
How active your dog or cat is on the regular
What’s a sensible activity goal to set them, based on their activity level
Where your pet ranks on your community leaderboard – i.e., compared to other, similar pets around the world!
How a waterproof GPS tracker could save your pet’s life
We’ve covered how most water-loving dogs tend to have a strong prey drive. But sometimes, their hunting instincts can take them to some dangerous spots. The same applies for dogs and cats who are out exploring in snowy weather – because snow can mess with their sense of smell. (Making it difficult for them to sniff their way back home.)
Luckily, her mum was able to track her down from her tracker’s Location History and Heat Map. Rescuing her from freezing and drowning. Here she is, pictured below – safe and sound, next to her Tractive device.
Want to see Tractive’s waterproof magic in action? Here’s a review by Modern Canine which opens with Apollo the Australian Shepherd frolicking in the water:
And if you’ve found this post helpful, share it with a fellow tech-savvy pet parent – and let’s help build a safer, kinder world for our furry friends together.
