We know how important walk tracking is for both pet care providers and pet parents. When a route looks incomplete, jumps around, or the mileage seems off, it can be frustrating and raise concerns about whether the walk was tracked correctly.
GPS tracking can sometimes behave unpredictably depending on signal strength, phone settings, and environmental conditions. Like any GPS-based app, accuracy can vary a bit from walk to walk depending on the conditions during the visit.
Here’s a closer look at what can affect GPS tracking and what you can do to improve accuracy.
How GPS tracking works
PetPocketbook uses your phone’s GPS signal to track walks and visits in real time. Just like Google Maps or fitness apps, the app relies on your phone being able to communicate consistently with nearby GPS satellites.
When you first install PetPocketbook, your device will prompt you to grant location access. To track a route from start to finish, PetPocketbook must be set to "Always Allow" location access. This allows our app to continue recording GPS data even when your phone is tucked away in your pocket during a visit.
If location access is denied, we won't be able to track your route. If location permissions are limited or changed later, route tracking may be incomplete, inaccurate, or stop unexpectedly during a visit.
Why routes sometimes look jagged or incomplete
Phone GPS data is naturally a little noisy. Your device may occasionally report locations that are slightly off, especially in areas with weaker signal. GPS accuracy can vary depending on your surrounding environment, and temporary signal interruptions are most common in areas like:
Dense urban areas with tall buildings
Heavily wooded trails or parks
Indoor spaces or covered parking areas
Tunnels, garages, or underground areas
Beyond your surroundings, GPS signals can also be affected by things like:
Weak cellular or GPS signal
Battery-saving settings
Background app restrictions
Older devices or outdated operating systems
Because of this, your GPS tracked route may appear less detailed or inaccurate in certain areas compared to your actual route. To help create cleaner and more reliable walk maps, PetPocketbook automatically processes GPS data behind the scenes to:
Smooth out routes that appear jumpy or uneven
Improve accuracy when GPS signal is weak
Reduce random location inconsistencies
Help keep routes continuous during brief signal interruptions
For example, if signal temporarily drops while walking under dense trees or near large buildings, parts of the route may appear less detailed or temporarily incomplete while the system finishes processing the walk data.
Why some appointments may take longer to appear correctly
When GPS signal is interrupted, some route points may take longer to process and sync correctly. In certain cases, routes may appear incomplete at first and then finish updating shortly afterward. This is especially common when:
Signal strength is poor
The phone switches between Wi-Fi and cellular service
Low Power Mode or battery optimization is enabled
The app is running in the background for extended periods
Why distances may differ slightly
Small differences in distance are normal across GPS-based apps and devices. Factors like signal strength, surroundings, and how different apps process GPS data can all affect the final mileage slightly. PetPocketbook is designed to prioritize consistency and reliability by:
Smoothing out unrealistic route jumps
Improving distance consistency when signal conditions are poor
Keeping displayed distances stable once processing is complete
Because different devices and apps process GPS data differently, you may occasionally notice slight differences compared to another app or smartwatch. Our goal is to provide routes and distances that feel clean, stable, and reliable overall.
Tips to improve GPS accuracy
Here are the best ways to improve GPS tracking accuracy while using PetPocketbook:
Make sure location permissions are enabled
For the best tracking experience, make sure PetPocketbook has:
Precise Location enabled (iPhone)
Motion & Fitness access enabled (iPhone)
Background location access enabled (Android)
Disable battery optimization for PetPocketbook
Battery-saving settings can pause or limit GPS tracking in the background.
If possible:
Disable Low Power Mode during walks
Exclude PetPocketbook from battery optimization settings
Allow the app to run in the background
Keep our app updated
We regularly release improvements to GPS processing and tracking reliability. Keeping the app updated ensures you have the latest fixes and enhancements.
When to contact support
Some GPS variation is expected from time to time, but we’d definitely like to investigate if you notice:
Routes showing clearly incorrect locations or distances (for example, a walk appearing hundreds of miles away)
Walk routes stopping unexpectedly in areas with strong signal
Large sections of walks consistently missing even after processing finishes
Frequent GPS issues that continue after checking device permissions and battery settings
When reaching out, it’s helpful to include:
Your phone type and model
Screenshots of the affected route
Approximate date and time of the walk
Whether the issue happened in a low-signal area
That information helps our team investigate much more quickly.
We’re always improving
Our team continuously works on improving GPS accuracy, route smoothing, and sync reliability so walk maps feel as accurate and consistent as possible in real-world conditions.
We know how important trust and transparency are for pet care businesses, and we appreciate your patience whenever GPS conditions create unexpected results.