Bark Monitoring is only available on our latest tracker, the Tractive DOG 6
Easily monitor and receive alerts about your pet’s vocal cues with our innovative Bark Monitoring feature.
Barking is a normal, healthy dog behavior, however sudden changes in how they bark might indicate an issue that needs your attention. Read on to learn how Tractive can help.
What is Bark Monitoring?
Your tracker is equipped with a special sensor that detects changes in volume levels. This means it knows when your dog is barking as opposed to breathing or the sound of a car passing. It doesn’t record any sounds; it simply monitors for variations to keep track of your dog's barking behavior.
What can Bark Monitoring tell me?
Bark Monitoring alerts you to unusual changes in your dog’s barking patterns over the last seven days, which could indicate potential anxiety or discomfort. This can be for both excessive or decreased barking. Being aware of these shifts helps you keep your dog safe and content.
To access all the information about your pet’s barking, open the Tractive GPS app and tap the Wellness tab.
1. Wellness Score
Barking is taken into consideration when we calculate your pet’s Wellness Score. This score helps you get an overall picture of your pet’s activity and sleep quality.
As long as your dog has been wearing their tracker consistently, you’ll see Barking alongside Activity and Sleep, all contributing to your pet’s overall score.
Once we know your buddy’s usual barking habits, recent barking data (from the previous seven days) are compared to the baseline to assess if your dog’s barking is within their normal range or if there’s been a change.
As part of your Wellness Score, your dog’s barking has three different status indicators: green, yellow, and red. Yellow means their barking is slightly abnormal, and red means we recommend you take action. Both a higher and lower amount of barking can result in a yellow or red status.
| Color | Status | What it means |
|
Green |
“Normal” | Barking levels are consistent with their usual pattern. |
| Yellow | “Lower” or “Higher” | Minor changes in barking levels, either a bit more or less than usual. |
| Red | “Low” or “High” | More significant changes in barking levels, indicating much more or much less barking recently. |
2. Bark Alerts
In addition to contributing to the Wellness Score, the Bark Alert feature checks for significant increases in barking over the past 24 hours. If a noticeable increase is detected, you’ll receive a Bark Alert in the Wellness tab.
Intense barking can be normal of course, especially during busy times, but it’s good to be aware if your dog may be feeling anxious or needs help.
FAQs
How do I get access to Bark Monitoring?
To use Bark Monitoring, please ensure the following:
- Use our latest tracker. Bark Monitoring is only compatible with our latest tracker model, the Tractive DOG 6.
- Use the tracker for at least seven days. Data from at least seven days is needed for us to learn what is normal for your dog.
- Use the tracker consistently. Keep the tracker on your pet as much as possible, ideally all the time except during charging.
You’ll now automatically have access to the feature and can start learning about your furry buddy’s barking habits.
Why do I see Pending next to Barking in the Wellness tab?
Pending indicates that your pet's Activity and Sleep data have been calculated, but we're still gathering bark data to establish your dog’s typical vocal patterns. Keep your tracker charged and attached to your pet, and within a few days, you'll have access to your dog’s barking information.
How accurate is Bark Monitoring?
The Tractive DOG 6 features a sophisticated sensor that measures loudness. During the initial days of use, the sensor collects data to understand your pet’s typical barking level versus the ambient noise in their environment.
To establish your pet’s baseline barking level, we require a minimum of seven days of data. However, this baseline is continuously updated and refined with each day’s new data. Therefore, the more you use the tracker, the more precise and insightful the data becomes.
For optimal accuracy, ensure the tracker stays on your pet as much as possible, and ideally only remove it for charging. Consistent use will significantly enhance the quality and reliability of the Bark Monitoring data.