Tractive vs AirTag - what is better for dogs?

Have you ever had this sinking feeling in your gut, when your dog pulled off from the leash and just ran off? When we got our Husky puppy about 7 years ago, she did exactly that, and we - well, we panicked.

Not a good feeling, especially when your dog is in a totally new place, maybe untrained and scared… or just crazy for new adventures.

Apple AirTag and Tractive dog GPS can both in some way keep your dog safe. But which one is better for your dog? And if you were to choose only one of them, then which of these two devices would be the best option for you?

How are they different?

When it comes to Tractive GPS tracker and Apple AirTag, then it is quite obvious that they have different purposes - one is to track your lost pet and the other one to find things.

But even though AirTags are not specifically made for pet tracking, it is still possible to use it as one with keeping a few things in mind. If you want to know more about using AirTag as a dog tracker, then we have also made a Youtube video just for that topic. So feel free to watch it. 🙂

The Apple AirTag as a tracker:

+ uses Bluetooth and “Find My” network to find the location of the AirTag.
+ doesn’t need any subscription for it to work.
+ about year long battery life.

- you need an Apple phone to set it up and get it to work.
- basically only works in cities or places with iPhones.
- no real-time tracking
- less durable

Tractive GPS dog tracker:

+ GPS tracking and live tracking option everywhere.
+ “survives” even the roughest dogs (waterproof, durable casing)
+ has extra functions, not just dog tracking.

- monthly prepaid subscription required for the device to work.
- needs weekly charging.
- works where there is a mobile signal

Tractive or AirTag… which one to choose?

Now, no one can tell you which one you should or should not get. But these are our thoughts based on testing and using these two for quite a few years now.

If you have a small breed or less active dog and you live in a rather busy city area, then AirTag should do the trick. It is not a next level dog tech gadget, but if your dog doesn’t really get a chance to run off to the wild and isn’t too chaotic then why not give it a try.

When it comes to dog trackers and GPS devices, AirTag is a more budget friendly option with a battery that outplays basically all the other pet trackers. But it is a good thing to keep in mind that they are not super durable and water resistant.

Using a real dog GPS tracker like Tractive might be the best option if you have a medium-larger dog, who is more exposed to less populated areas, forests or just is more prone to run off.

Tractive’s GPS devices have a regular tracking and real-time tracking option as well. So if your dog really has disappeared, you can turn the live-tracking on and in no time you’ll have the information about your dog’s location.

If you don’t mind paying extra for the subscription and you like the extra functions, then you should really go for Tractive. Whether it’s their Dog 6 model that is currently the newest or something more sturdier like the Dog XL, it will give you the confidence and piece of mind that your dog can be tracked at any second.

Is there a reason to use both?

Short answer - yes. We are using the Tractive Dog 6 and AirTag simultaneously every day. Why? Well, even though we don’t let our dog run off leash (unless we’re in the dog park or in the garden), but we do have this sneaky breed called Husky, who are known as super escapers.

So if your dog has the tendency to go wild and might escape unexpectedly, then having both could be something to consider.

You can of course rely only on Tractive mostly, but as we did mention, the battery needs to be charged constantly. So if your dog has run off and the battery of the GPS tracker’s battery has died, you’re out of luck… unless you also have an AirTag.

The chances are your dog will pass someone, who happens to have an Apple device and you at least have a hunch, in which direction to go.

You absolutely don’t have to get both of them, just we like to have that second layer of safety as a backup, in case our dog really does escape.

Either way, having some kind of tracking can make a big difference, when it comes to the safety of your dog. So it doesn’t matter which one you choose - anything you can do to help your dog will be better than doing nothing.

Haven’t heard about Pocket Puppy School before?

Pocket Puppy School is a completely free dog training app. Our mission is to make information about raising dogs accessible to everyone in the world.

But in addition to our app, we have a blog (that you are currently reading 🤓) where we talk all things about dogs.

We post some informational and fun content to our Instagram page and believe it or not, we even have a merch store. 🥹 In the store you can get a t-shirt or a hoodie with your own dogs’ picture that we will make into an awesome design.

Feel free to check out all of our channels, and if you have any questions, leave a comment down below.

Thank you!