If your dog is more horse than hound—and likes to vanish like a ninja—this might be your new favorite gadget.
The Tractive XL GPS Tracker is exactly what it sounds like: a bigger, battery-packed version of Tractive’s popular GPS device, made for dogs over 50 pounds. It wraps real-time tracking, health monitoring, and virtual fencing into a chunky box that clips right to your dog’s collar.
Is it perfect? No. But it gets a lot right. Let’s leash up and get into it.
Mostly Smooth Sailing
You charge it. You clip it to the collar. You download the app. It finds the device, asks for your dog’s name, age, breed, weight—basically everything but their Spotify playlists. Then it walks you through creating “safe zones” and setting up alerts.
A few things to keep in mind:
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You’ll need to pick a subscription plan. No way around it.
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If you live in a concrete bunker or the woods of Montana, your signal may flake.
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Setting your home Wi-Fi as a “power-saving zone” helps the battery a ton.
Setup took me 12 minutes start to finish, including an accidental detour to watch a YouTube video of a raccoon stealing dog food.
The App: Surprisingly Friendly
The Tractive app is clear, fast, and mostly headache-free.
You’ll see:
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A live map showing your dog’s location (and speed, if they’re bolting)
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Their activity stats, including movement, rest, and calories
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The option to trigger a light or sound if they’re hiding in a bush like a four-legged goblin
The live tracking is solid. Position updates every 2–3 seconds in Live Mode. When not in Live Mode, it pings less frequently to save juice.
Maps load quickly, and the location’s usually within 10–20 feet of reality. If your dog’s under tree cover or near tall buildings, expect occasional drifts.
Battery Life: Surprisingly Long—Until It Isn’t
Here’s the good news: if your dog spends most of their time inside your power-saving zone (i.e., home), the tracker sips battery like a Victorian at afternoon tea. You’ll get close to a month on one charge.
The moment your dog leaves Wi-Fi, battery life starts ticking down. Still—2 weeks with regular walks and Live Mode usage is solid.
Charging takes about 2 hours. But again, that magnetic dock is particular. If it doesn’t snap on cleanly, it just won’t charge. Always double-check the light.
Virtual Fences: Better Than Yelling “STAY!” into the Void
This is where Tractive starts earning its keep.
You can draw “safe zones” on the map—like your backyard, a friend’s place, or a dog park. If your dog leaves the zone, you get a phone notification.
It usually shows up within 1–2 minutes. Not instant. But fast enough to catch a bold escapee before they hit the open road.
And no, it won’t zap your dog like some e-collars. It’s just a GPS alert system. The leash and voice commands? Still on you.
How It Holds Up in the Wild
Over two weeks, my dog:
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Rolled in mud
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Swam in a pond
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Ran through three sprinklers
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Took a nap on concrete
The tracker? Still ticking.
The housing is hard plastic, reinforced. It didn’t crack, slip, or short-circuit. The rubber clip stayed on through full sprints and roll sessions. For long-haired breeds, the clip can tug fur a bit. Worth trimming the area or switching to a wider collar.
Wellness Features: More Than Just Location
This thing doesn’t just track location. It watches your dog’s activity and rest cycles too.
You get:
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A daily activity goal (yes, like a Fitbit for dogs)
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Alerts if your dog suddenly sleeps more or moves less than usual
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Calorie estimates based on breed and size
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Location heatmaps (e.g., they spend 60% of the day sleeping near the kitchen)
There’s no heart rate monitor, but the sleep tracking is surprisingly accurate. Mine flagged a drop in activity during a week of heat. It wasn’t wrong—he refused to move from the fan.
Subscription Plans: You Knew This Was Coming
Tractive requires a subscription to function. Period.
There are two tiers:
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Basic: Real-time GPS, virtual fences, health stats. Works in your home country.
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Premium: Adds worldwide coverage, 365-day location history, data export, and multi-user sharing.
Pricing depends on how long you commit or depending on your plan length.
You’ll grumble at first. But once you’ve had a real scare—or a neighbor calls to say they found your pup four blocks away—you’ll see the value.
✅ Pros
- Your dog weighs over 50 pounds
- You live somewhere with decent LTE coverage
- You like to hike, travel, or let your dog off-leash
- You’ve yelled “Where did he go?” more than once this week
❌ Cons
- Your dog is under 20 pounds (this tracker will feel like a dumbbell)
- You want a shock fence substitute (this isn’t that)
The Stuff That Could Be Better
Let’s be real for a second.
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The size: It’s chunky. If your dog doesn’t like gear, expect some side-eye.
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The charger: Still annoyed by that finicky alignment.
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Alert lag: Two-minute delays won’t thrill you in a high-stakes dash scenario.
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Subscription lock-in: No plan, no GPS. That’s the deal.
But none of these killed the experience. Just... things to know before you slap this on your dog’s collar and expect NASA-level precision.
FAQs
Does it work without Wi-Fi?
Yes. Wi-Fi just extends battery life by keeping the device in low-power mode.
Is the tracker reusable without a subscription?
No. Subscription ends = no tracking.
Does it buzz or vibrate?
Yes, you can trigger a light or sound to help find your dog in bushes or dark corners.
Can I share tracking with others?
Yes. The Premium plan lets you add friends or family to the app.
Will it tell me if my dog is sick?
Not directly. But odd sleep or movement changes can tip you off to problems early.
Final Thoughts
The Tractive XL isn’t flashy. It’s not minimalist. And it’s definitely not invisible.
But if your dog is big, bold, and occasionally Houdini-level slippery, this thing might save you a panic attack or two.
It’s not the cheapest. It’s not the sleekest. But it’s reliable. And once you’ve used it, walking without it starts to feel risky.
Big dogs roam wide. This helps you stay one step ahead. Just don’t lose the charger.