Exclusively for dog owners, the Walk feature lets you record the strolls you take with your furry friend. It is important to understand that the Walk feature relies on your phone's GPS, not the tracker's. Its main purpose is to capture the memorable routes you share with your dog while you’re out walking together. Therefore, if your dog is off-leash and roaming, it's best to activate LIVE Tracking instead.
In this article:
Start a Walk
On the Map screen, tap WALK on the bottom bar.
Once the Walk has started, you’ll see your path being recorded in the app. The Tractive app doesn't have to be open during your Walk. As long as the location permissions are set correctly, it will continue to track while running in the background.
End a Walk
Once you've finished walking, simply tap the End button.
Remember, each recorded Walk should be at least one minute long and cover a distance of more than one meter. The maximum duration for a Walk is six hours. Once this limit is reached, the Walk will be automatically stopped and saved.
View Walk History
You can review your completed Walks at any time in the History tab. Here you can revisit your adventures and use your routes as inspiration when planning future dog walks.
Follow the simple steps below:
- Open the Tractive GPS app
- Tap the History tab
- Tap Walks* in the center of screen
- Your most recent Walks will be displayed at the top of the screen. Simply tap directly on the Walk to view it in more detail.
*you’ll only see this option if your pet type is "Dog" in your Pet Profile.
You will see the path you took, along with information about the distance traveled and the duration of your walk. If you wish to change the map type (Standard, Satellite or OpenStreetMap), click the map icon in the bottom right corner to access the History settings.
Important: The trace you see in your Walk History will differ from your Location History. Your Location History shows you the GPS positions recorded with your tracker, whereas your Walk history is based on your phone positions.
FAQs
What is the difference between Walk and LIVE on the map screen?
The main difference lies in the source of location data. The Walk feature relies on your phone's GPS, not the tracker itself. Therefore, you’ll notice that the recorded trace is focusing on your route (based on your phone’s GPS), and it will not follow every twist and turn that your dog takes.
If you wish to follow your dog’s exact trace, then it's best to activate LIVE Tracking. LIVE Tracking utilizes the tracker's location instead, updating every 2-3 seconds, ensuring you can swiftly pinpoint your dog's whereabouts.
While a Walk is being recorded, you have the option to activate LIVE Tracking, along with Radar mode and the Light and Sound feature by swiping up the bottom bar. The recording of your Walk will continue uninterrupted during LIVE tracking. Once you have finished the LIVE Tracking session, the Walk interface will reappear.
Why am I being prompted to update my permissions?
If it’s your first time using this feature, you’ll be prompted to update your location permissions. In order for us to accurately track your walks (even when the app is running in the background) please allow the Tractive GPS app to: Always access location and be sure that the option Precise Location is enabled. Click here for further help with permission settings.
What can I do if the Walk button is unavailable?
If the Walk button is grayed out (or you don’t see the button at all), please ensure that:
- your pet type in your Pet Profile is set to "Dog"
- your phone is connected to the internet.
- the tracker is switched on with adequate battery.
- the tracker is linked to your account. (Note: Walks cannot be initiated with trackers shared via Family Sharing)
Once the Walk has started, you’ll now see your path being recorded in the app. The Tractive app doesn't have to be open during your Walk. As long as the location permissions are set correctly (as detailed above), it will continue to track while running in the background.
Can I delete a Walk from my Walk History?
Yes, simply navigate to the History tab on the bottom bar, then tap Walks in the center of the screen. Select the Walk you'd like to delete then tap the trash icon in the upper right corner.