As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Links to Amazon on this page are affiliate links.
Is your pet tracker really waterproof?
Updated
"Waterproof" on a listing is a word. An IP rating is a test grade under the IEC 60529 standard. For a dog that swims or a cat out in the rain, look for the rating, and for a depth and time if the maker gives one.
How to read the code
The IEC says the IP code has two numbers. The first grades protection against solids and dust, from 0 to 6. The second grades protection against liquids, from 0 to 9. So IP67 means top dust protection and a 7 for water. An X in place of a number, as in IPX7, usually means that part was not graded. The IEC also notes that terms like waterproof and water-resistant can be hard to judge when they are used for marketing.
What our picks list
| Tracker | What we saw | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Fi Series 3+ | IP68 | Listing. No depth or time in the part we read |
| Apple AirTag | IP67, up to 1 meter for up to 30 minutes | Apple tech specs |
| Tractive DOG 6, CAT Mini, DOG 6 XL | IPX7 | Tractive help center. The DOG 6 and CAT Mini listings say waterproof, the XL listing says water resistant |
| Halo Collar 5 | No rating seen | Not in the part of the listing we read |
| Tile Pro | No rating seen | Not in the part of the listing we read |
"No rating seen" means we did not find one on the listing. It does not prove the device has none. Check the maker's page before you buy for a water dog.
What it means for a pet
- Rain and puddles: any of the rated picks should be fine per their ratings.
- Swimming dogs: a 7 is graded for short immersion. Apple's IP67 figure for AirTag is 1 meter for 30 minutes. A dog that dives or swims for an hour is past what that grade describes.
- Salt water and chlorine: rinse the tracker with fresh water after, and dry the charging contacts before charging. Follow the maker's manual.
- Seals age. A drop or a chewed case can let water in no matter what the rating says. Check the case after rough play.
Compare the rest of the specs on the roundup page, or check which kind of tracker you need with the checker.