GPS Walk Tracking — What TruePath Shares With You in Real Time

TruePath's GPS tracking shows you your dog's walk route in real time during the walk, and stores the full route record in your booking history after it ends.

What the GPS tracking shows

During an active TruePath walk, the app displays a live map view showing:

• Current location — the walker's position updates continuously as they move through the walk route
• Route traced — a line showing the path walked so far from the start point
• Walk duration — elapsed time since the walk started
• Distance — kilometres covered, updated in real time

When the walk ends, a walk report is automatically saved to your booking history. The report includes:

• Full route map (start, route line, end point)
• Total distance
• Total duration
• Start and end timestamps

This record stays in your booking history. If something happens during the walk — your dog is injured, a near-miss occurs, or you need to report an incident — the GPS record provides objective documentation of where the walk went, how long it lasted, and when it ended.

How to access the live tracking

To view live tracking during a walk:

1. Open the TruePath app while a scheduled walk is in progress
2. Navigate to your active bookings
3. Tap the active walk — the map view will load and update in real time

You do not need to be in the app continuously for tracking to work — the walker's device captures the route regardless of whether you are actively watching. Opening the app mid-walk will show you the route from the beginning of the session, including the portion before you opened it.

What is stored vs what is shown

What is stored in your booking record:

• Complete walk route
• Start/end timestamps
• Distance and duration
• Any in-walk photos the walker posts
• Walker check-in notes (if filed)

What is not shared:

• The walker's home address
• The walker's location outside of active walk hours
• Any personal location data unrelated to the booked walk

TruePath's tracking applies only to the walk itself. The GPS data is scoped to the booking — the walker's location data is captured and stored within the booking context, not as a general background tracking arrangement.

Why this matters beyond peace of mind

The practical value of GPS tracking goes beyond knowing your dog had a good walk. There are three situations where the data is specifically useful:

1. Incident documentation

If your dog is injured, escapes, or something goes wrong during a walk, the GPS record is objective evidence. It shows exactly where the walk went, how long it had been underway, and where the walker was at any given time. This is relevant for incident reports, insurance claims, and any liability determination.

If a walker claims the dog escaped in a park but the GPS shows the walk went down a highway, that is material information. The record cannot be retroactively altered.

2. Recovery after an escape

If your dog escapes during a walk, the GPS record shows the last known route. Knowing which streets and parks were walked means you can direct a search more accurately — and provide council rangers and neighbours with a specific area rather than a broad suburb.

See our guide on what to do if your dog goes missing on a walk for a full response sequence.

3. Establishing routine and assessing fit

For the first few walks with a new walker, reviewing the route record tells you whether the walker is taking your dog to appropriate areas — away from high-traffic roads, using the parks you mentioned, avoiding locations your dog has trouble with. You can give concrete feedback based on the actual route rather than a general impression.

Walker-worn GPS vs TruePath's integrated tracking

Some walkers wear Apple Watch or Garmin devices and share activity data with owners separately — screenshots from Strava, screenshots from the watch's map view, and so on. This is better than nothing but has meaningful limitations:

• The data lives outside the booking record — it is not tied to the TruePath booking and not stored there
• It is not independently verifiable — a screenshot can be from any session
• It is only as reliable as the walker remembering to start the tracking and share it

TruePath's GPS tracking is integrated into the booking itself. The walker starts the walk in the app, and tracking activates automatically — there is no separate step, no separate app, and the record is attached directly to your booking history. This is the difference between documentation that is incidental and documentation that is structural.

Areas with known GPS limitations

GPS accuracy in dense urban environments can vary. In some inner-city areas of Sydney (particularly around the CBD and Pyrmont), Melbourne (Docklands, Southbank), and Brisbane (inner CBD), tall buildings cause signal multipath issues that reduce accuracy. Underground paths, parking structures, and sections of coastal cliff walks can also temporarily interrupt the signal.

This is a general GPS limitation, not a TruePath-specific one. The walk record typically catches up when the device regains clear sky view. If an entire walk shows no tracking, that is worth querying with your walker or TruePath support.

Frequently asked questions

Can I watch the walk live from my phone?

How long is the walk record stored?

Can the walker see that I am watching the live tracking?

What if my walker turns off GPS or blocks tracking?

Does GPS tracking work for dog sitting (in-home) bookings?

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