What is that device that Kila and Tifón wear in almost all their photos? What is it for?
Well, let's start with a prominent characteristic that defines Shiba Inus. Yes, they are adorable and very loyal... but above all, they are free and wild dogs.
And specifically, what does that mean?
They love taking long walks on their own and exploring the places near their home or wherever they are taken (beach, countryside, mountains...). And when I say they are free, I mean they naturally take the initiative. Plus, they can be a bit stubborn (to put it mildly), meaning they can wander off without notice and often ignore calls, even with treats.
On the other hand, they are highly intelligent and resourceful, always finding a way to escape. They are literally "Houdini" dogs. They dig, climb, scale, and jump to get out if they feel like it.
The good thing is, they do come back... because they have an exceptional sense of direction and are loyal.
Kila and Tifón now live in a large, fenced area where they have three other dog friends. However, we are close to a dog walking area for the entire neighborhood, and the first thing they do early in the morning when we open the door is run out to explore and play.
Since they have disappeared for several hours on multiple occasions, I wondered if there was an effective way to easily locate them at all times. Magically (I believe in magic), one day while I was in France, I came across a TV commercial for Tractive. I bought two devices as soon as I got home.
Yes, these devices are GPS trackers.
They are powerful and come with an app and a constant data connection that allows you to track and locate your pets whenever you want or when the app alerts you of a possible escape.
Now, thanks to Tractive, I know that Kila and Tifón take beautiful walks of several kilometers in the nearby residential areas and golf courses, especially when I'm away from home, of course. So, I can know where they are at any given moment. The devices are easy to set up and use. I would not hesitate to recommend this solution to anyone whose pet has a free-spirited nature like Shiba Inus. And they also have a version for cats.
The benefits:
- The device: small, discreet, lightweight, with magnetic charging (USB-A cable included), waterproof, and sturdy.
- The app: fun, relatively intuitive, allows you to monitor multiple pets and share their location with family members or friends. It enables editing of control zones (virtual fences, danger zones) and sends alerts in case of escape.
- Complete record of their movements and routes.
- Sound and LED light to find your pet.
- Accurate and continuous GPS tracking thanks to a mobile data plan included in the subscription.
- Health tracking: physical activity, rest control, and sleep monitoring to know how your dog (or cat) is doing.
- Classifications based on your pet's activity: local, global, and breed rankings.
- Warranty and premium service that covers accidental damages or loss of the GPS module.
What can be improved?
- The GPS sensitivity varies from one device to another, as does the battery life.
- In fact, the battery life never exceeds two days, usually much less if you don't use the "life mode" for more than 30/60 minutes a day (for the standard-sized model).
- The "life mode" often has issues with one of the devices I have (they made some remote modifications that improve this to some extent).
The customer service is good.
I had to request a few replacements (one due to a sound issue) and another due to a broken charging system (accidental damage covered by the insurance we purchased), and they always arrived without any problems.
Conclusion:
Thanks to Tractive and its innovative GPS tracking system, I can now have peace of mind and security knowing where Kila and Tifón are at all times. Their freedom and adventurous spirit are complemented by this device, which also offers additional features such as health monitoring and the ability to share their location with loved ones. Although there are some areas for improvement, overall, Tractive has proven to be a reliable and valuable tool for pet lovers who want to keep their furry companions safe and protected at all times.