Your Dog Needs a FitBit…Or Something Like It

Health and wellness is going to the dogs, and that may not be such a bad thing. With so many obese pets in our society, we as pet parents need to focus not only on our own lifestyle, but that of our pets’ as well. Pet enthusiasts that created these FitBit-like devices to inspire and promote a healthier dog fitness regimen, took the idea one step further. No one knows better than a devoted pet parent how hard it is to leave your fur baby behind while you attend to the mundane things like work, errands, school, etc…

Luckily, advances in human technology have allowed adaptations to be made to seamlessly transfer over to the pet industry. Just think of the Apple Watch, Fit Bit, and other similar devices, and you can be sure that there’s not only an app for that, but there’s a pet wearable comparable to that, too.

Here are 5 companies that are making headway in the Pet Wearables Market:

1. Tagg. They make a small GPS tracker that attaches to your pet’s collar to ensure that they never wander too far away from home. The company even designed the device to send you a text message and email if your pet leaves the usual areas of where it should be.
2. Whistle. This company created a monitor that detects your pet’s activity, rest and overall wellness. It also sends you reports that compare how your pet is doing to the goals you originally set for him. The device is equipped with WiFi, Bluetooth and a GPS signal that can alert you to your pet’s location at a moment’s notice.
3. PetCam. Have you ever wanted to see life through your dog’s point of view? Now you can. This company created a small camera that attaches to your dog’s collar and allows you to view your pup’s adventures when you’re not around.
4. FitBark. Similar to the people version of the FitBit, this device attaches to your dog’s collar and provides a constant link between your pet and you. This device tracks your dog’s activity, and sends the data directly to your phone, giving you instant information on how your dog is doing in that very moment.
5. Voyce. This device combines the idea of a wearable fitness gadget with a unique algorithm monitor that tracks everything from your pet’s vital signs to calories burned. The Voyce technology is advanced enough that it is able to find trends and send you data-based recommendations on how you can help increase your pet’s health and wellness. And, the Voyce app allows for tracking your pets activity in journal form, and gives you access to share the data with family members.

As pet parents, we know how hard it is to be apart from your pet and wonder if they are okay, content, sleeping, eating or perhaps even destroying some part of your manicured home. Many of the wearable pet devices now on the market allow pet parents to monitor not only their fur baby’s health and wellness, but activity levels as well. Whether through a camera, like the Petcam, or the Voyce that gives pet parents up to date information on vital signs and calories burned, it’s no longer a choice between being with your pet or leaving your pet behind.

Aside from tracking your dog fitness level, information gathered like this can often be crucial to determine any underlying conditions, which can often save pet parents hundreds, if not thousands of dollars, at the vet.

So yes, your dog does need a FitBit…or something like it. With a device like this that monitors dog fitness and so much more, and a great pet insurance plan, your dog will be ready to take on the world, without the possibility of taking off with your bank account.