Two GPS trackers with their own mobile connection, side by side.
Both need a subscription, and both give live tracking, safe zones with escape alerts, and activity and sleep insights for dogs from about 4 kg. The difference is what comes with the tracker. The Ask A Vet GPS Tracker adds vets in the same app (with Premium), training and custom sounds, a light in any colour, a touchscreen that shows alerts and a QR pet ID. Tractive states it works in more countries on its Premium plan, and it monitors resting heart and breathing rate.
Ask A Vet GPS Tracker figures come from our product page. Tractive figures are quoted from Tractive’s own pages. “Not listed” means Tractive’s pages do not mention it.
| Feature | Ask A Vet GPS Tracker | Tractive DOG 6 |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | GPS tracker with its own mobile connection and a colour touchscreen | GPS tracker with a built-in SIM card |
| How it finds your pet | GPS, plus Wi-Fi, mobile masts and your phone over Bluetooth when it is nearby | GPS, over 2G or LTE-M mobile networks from more than 500 partners |
| Updates with no phone nearby | Yes, over LTE-M and NB-IoT where there is coverage | Yes, over its built-in SIM |
| Live tracking | Yes, LIVE mode for frequent updates | Yes, live GPS tracking |
| Where it works | Works in 46 countries. Check yours on the tracker page | Over 175 countries with Premium, one country with Basic. 46 are officially supported |
| Subscription needed | Yes: the Tracker Plan or Premium | Yes: a Basic or Premium plan, priced separately from the tracker |
| Safe zones and escape alerts | Safe and no-go zones with escape alerts | Geo-fencing with escape alerts |
| Activity and sleep | Steps, calories, activity and sleep | Activity and sleep monitoring |
| Other health signals | Bark counting and temperature alerts | Bark and scratch monitoring. Resting heart and breathing rate, after 7 days of wear |
| Vets in the app | With Premium: unlimited AI Vet chat, 2 certified vet chats a month and discounted telehealth video calls | Not listed |
| Screen on the tracker | Colour touchscreen showing steps, activity, sleep and your pet’s ID | Not listed |
| Alerts on the tracker screen | Medication reminders, leaving a safe zone, temperature warnings and a lost-pet alert pop up on the screen with a chime | Not listed |
| Light on the collar | LED light in any colour you choose with the colour picker, solid or rainbow | Two LED bars, easy to spot in the dark |
| Sounds on the collar | Eight tones on the collar, four on your phone | Enhanced sound |
| Custom sounds | Add your own short sounds, such as your voice, and play them on the collar from the app | Not listed |
| Training sounds | Clicker, whistle and Come Back tones played on the collar from the app, for recall, mealtimes and quiet time | Not listed |
| Vibration cues | Three strengths, within Bluetooth range | Not listed |
| ID for whoever finds your pet | Built-in QR pet ID: a finder needs no app, and Lost mode alerts you when it is scanned | Not listed |
| Dogs, cats and size | Dogs and cats over 4 kg | Dogs above 9 lbs (about 4 kg). Cats have a separate tracker, the CAT 6 Mini |
| Phones | iPhone on iOS 15.1 or later, Android 7.0 or later | Android 10.0 or later, iOS 17.0 or later |
With Premium you get unlimited AI Vet chat, 2 certified vet chats a month and discounted telehealth video calls, in the app that holds your pet’s tracker data and health records. Tractive’s health page says medical advice should come from a veterinarian.
Play a clicker, whistle or Come Back tone on the collar from the app, or a vibration cue nearby, and pair it with recall, mealtimes and quiet time. Tractive’s pages do not list training sounds.
When a friend, sitter or family member takes the leash, alerts like a medication reminder or leaving a safe zone pop up on the collar, so the information travels with your dog instead of staying on your phone. It also shows daily stats at a glance, from steps to sleep.
Pick any colour for the collar light with the colour picker, and add your own short sounds, such as your voice, to play on the collar from the Ask A Vet app. Tractive’s pages list two LED bars and an enhanced sound.
The Ask A Vet GPS Tracker has a built-in QR pet ID. A finder scans it with a phone camera, no app needed, and Lost mode alerts you when it is scanned.
The Ask A Vet GPS Tracker fits dogs and cats over 4 kg. Tractive sells separate trackers for dogs and cats.
You travel a lot
Tractive states that with Premium its trackers work in over 175 countries (with Basic, in one country). The Ask A Vet GPS Tracker works in 46, so check yours before you buy.
You want heart and breathing rate
Tractive monitors resting heart and breathing rate once your pet has worn the tracker for 7 days. The Ask A Vet GPS Tracker does not measure them.
Your cat is under 4 kg
Tractive makes a separate cat tracker, the CAT 6 Mini. The Ask A Vet GPS Tracker is for cats over 4 kg.
If vets in the same app, training and custom sounds, or a screen that shows alerts to whoever has the leash matter more to you, the Ask A Vet GPS Tracker is the better fit.
Answers about Tractive are taken from Tractive’s own pages, read on 27 October 2026.
Tractive states its trackers work in over 175 countries with Premium, and in one country with Basic. It lists 46 countries it officially supports, Australia among them. The Ask A Vet GPS Tracker works in 46 countries: check yours on the tracker page.
Yes. Both send your pet’s location over a mobile network, so both need a plan: Tractive’s Basic or Premium, or Ask A Vet’s Tracker Plan or Premium. Ask A Vet Premium also includes vet chat and discounted telehealth video calls.
We found no vet chat or telehealth on Tractive’s product, plan or health pages. Tractive’s health page says medical advice and diagnosis should always come from a veterinarian. With Ask A Vet Premium, the AI Vet and certified vets are in the same app as your tracker.
Tractive states it monitors resting heart rate and resting respiratory rate, with a baseline once your pet has worn the tracker for 7 days, and that Tractive does not diagnose health conditions. The Ask A Vet GPS Tracker does not measure heart rate. It tracks activity, sleep, barking and temperature, and you can ask a vet about anything you see.
Tractive sells a separate tracker for cats, the CAT 6 Mini. The Ask A Vet GPS Tracker is one tracker for dogs and cats over 4 kg. For a cat under 4 kg, Tractive’s cat tracker is the one made for them.
Dogs don’t always head out with the person who has the app. When a friend, sitter or family member takes the leash, the screen shows them important alerts directly: a medication reminder, leaving a safe zone, a temperature warning or a lost-pet alert, with a chime. The information travels with your dog instead of staying on your phone. The screen also shows daily stats at a glance, from steps to sleep. Tractive’s pages do not list a screen on the tracker.
Yes. Pick any colour for the tracker’s light with the colour picker in the Ask A Vet app, and add your own short sounds, such as your voice, to play on the collar. Tractive’s pages list two LED bars and an enhanced sound.
The Ask A Vet GPS Tracker plays training tones on the collar from the Ask A Vet app, such as a clicker, a whistle and Come Back, and gives vibration cues in three strengths within Bluetooth range. Pair them with routines like recall, mealtimes and quiet time; cues help build routines and are not a substitute for professional training. Tractive’s pages list an enhanced sound and an LED light, but no training sounds.
The Ask A Vet GPS Tracker has a built-in QR pet ID: a finder scans it with a phone camera, no app needed, and Lost mode alerts you when it is scanned. Tractive’s pages do not list a finder ID on the tracker. Either way, keep your dog microchipped and wearing an ID tag.
Set up the Ask A Vet GPS Tracker in the Ask A Vet app: it pairs over Bluetooth, then you add your dog and choose a plan. Your Tractive zones and history do not move across, so draw your safe zones again and add your home Wi-Fi as a power-saving zone. Cancel your Tractive plan with Tractive.
The Ask A Vet GPS Tracker works with the Ask A Vet app on a Tracker Plan or Premium. Check it works in your country on the tracker page before you buy.
Ask A Vet GPS Tracker figures come from our product page. Tractive figures come from these pages, read on 27 October 2026:
Specifications change, so check Tractive’s current pages before you buy. Tractive is a trademark of its owner. Ask A Vet is not affiliated with Tractive.
