Lifestyle
Fitbit for Fido: Wearable Tech for Your Pet BY CAMILLE GRAHAM
These days, you track everything. You count steps, measure sleep and — if you’re, ahem, a bit nosy — track the location of your loved ones. With smartwatches and fitness trackers, every movement you make is accounted for. Why should pets be any different?
LINK SMART DOG COLLAR
GPS TRACKERS
While it’s not uncommon for dogs and cats to be microchipped with a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag, GPS collars are another way to keep tabs on your animals. These collars offer 24/7 real-time tracking for peace of mind. The Link Smart Dog Collar connects to your phone to show you your dog’s locations, in addition to alerting you should he wander outside of designated “digital safe zones.”
Link Smart Dog Collar, $59.95, linkakc.com
ACTIVITY MONITORS
While it’s not necessary to count the calories in Fluffy’s cat food or suggest that Fido starts doing interval training at the dog park, tracking your pet’s activity is beneficial. Considering that the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention estimates that over 100 million dogs and cats are overweight in the United States, it might be time to start keeping an eye on your pet’s weight. The Whistle FIT tracker snaps onto your pet’s collar and tracks the minutes your pet spends running,
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playing or resting. If you have a wanderer, it will even track the total distance traveled and calories burned. The Whistle FIT will also track any excessive licking or scratching and compile a report to send to your veterinarian. Whistle FIT, $79.95, shop.whistle.com
PET’S EYE VIEW
Curious what your furry friend does while you’re gone? Wayward curiosity and a rise in documenting every aspect of life on social media has led to the creation of the collar cam. Small, movement triggered cameras mounted on collars and harnesses make it possible to see life through your pet’s eyes. Prices vary, with lower-end models available online for $10.
BARK COLLARS
While many shock collars have been shunned for being too aggressive, newer, smarter collars are designed to train your dog not to bark without causing physical harm. The Spray Bark Collar by PetSafe® detects the vibration of your dog’s vocal cords and the sound when barking which triggers a small spray of unscented or citronella spray to discourage excessive barking. Its bark-sensing technology means that only your dog’s unique bark will trigger the spray response, in order to quickly and humanely train your dog not to bark. Your neighbors will thank you. PetSafe® Spray Bark Collar, $74.95, petsafe.net
PRODUCT PHOTOS COURTESY OF MANUFACTURERS.
Should Fido make a break for the neighbor’s yard, you can quickly track and locate him before it becomes unsafe. For outdoor cats, keep tabs on your feline friends while they wander during the day and quickly locate them when it’s time to come in at night.
Wearable technology for pets is the latest development in applied technology. GPS trackers and fitness monitors for your furry ones are here to ensure that they’re sleeping, moving and not wandering – just like you.
