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Wearable tech for pets. Activity tracking has gone to the dogs!

FitBit for Fido?

Sit. Stay. And get your 10,000 steps in! Wearable technology like activity monitors, fitness trackers and smart watches have seen a tremendous increase in adoption in the past few years. According to some studies, in 2015 an estimated 39.5 million US adults used a wearable device. The desire to be healthier and stay active is a major driving factor behind the explosive growth of this industry. It goes without saying that we want our furry companions to be able to live as long happy lives. Just as important, another reason for the growth in pet wearable technology is the ability to locate lost or stolen pets using GPS. What pet owner doesn’t want their friend to be as safe and healthy as possible?

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The Paw Tracker – wearable tracking device

Enter pet tech. The same benefits that we humans can derive from our wearable technology has trickled down into the animal domain. Companies like FitBark ,Voyce and Whistle, have developed wireless pet trackers that attach to a pet’s collar to help you monitor your pet’s activity level, sleep quality, health, and more. Now when you go for that morning walk and track your mileage with your FitBit, you can do the same for your animal companion. These trackers measure and calculate the amount of movement, activity and stationary time your pet spends while they are wearing it.

We’ve all wondered just exactly what DOES my cat or dog do all day while I’m away. With the advent of these pet-centric activity trackers it’s easy to see just what they are up to. Using a similar interface to human activity trackers, pet owners can log into their account online and pick through data to see if Fido’s day was spent sleeping or walking the grounds on patrol.

Another advantage is that these new wearables give pet owners the opportunity to provide valuable data and insights to their veterinarians and work together to monitor long-term health trends and keep their companion in great shape for their age, weight, and breed.

Wearable trackers increase safety

Another segment of the pet wearable technology focuses on safety and location tracking. Measures have been in existence for a while in the way of microchip implants to identify a lost pet that has been found and reunite them with their owners. This was a great advancement, however it doesn’t allow for an owner to actually find a lost or stolen pet.

Whistle notification screen
Example of a Whistle notification screen

Devices made by companies like Tracktive , The Paw Tracker and Tagg focus their efforts on utilizing GPS tracking to pinpoint a pet’s location. Some solutions offer real-time updates that can be sent directly to your cell phone. There’s a lot of peace of mind to be gained from knowing that you can locate your companion’s whereabouts if you need to. It’s worth noting that both Whistle and Tracktive offer a pet location feature and additionally bundle activity tracking features as well.

The Future For Pet Tech Looks Bright

Whether you want to keep an eye on your dog or cat’s general activity level and health or want the security of knowing that you have the ability to determine their location at any given time, there are emerging wearable solutions that address these needs. It’s a good idea to research the options and find the product that best suits your specific goals.

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