Long known as man’s best friend, dogs aren’t just valued pets, but in many cases they’re considered the most important member of the home. According to the 2017 to 2018 American Pet Products Association National Pet Owners Survey, more than 60 million U.S. households have at least one dog. To better care for them, owners want to know when their furry friends are awake, and that they’re safe, happy and out of trouble.
Many new products for pet owners incorporate cutting-edge technology that allows you to easily manage time apart from your pet. In some cases, these pet products can help your dog feel less lonely, give you peace of mind, and maybe even eliminate the need for doggy day care. Here are four new technologies you can incorporate into your home to benefit the health and happiness of your family’s furry friends.
PetCube
PetCube is an interactive two-way HD camera that allows you to monitor and interact with your pet while you’re away from home. The camera system has night vision options and connects to Amazon’s Alexa functionality, and the related app allows for motion and sound alerts to keep track of what your dog is up to. For more interaction with your pet, owners can fling treats at their pet to reward good behavior and play fetch with the PetCube Bites camera, which allows you to stock the machine with treats before you leave home.
Price: $129 to $199 for PetCube Play, the standard model. PetCube Bites is $249.
GoDogGo Fetch Machine
GoDogGo Fetch Machine was the world’s first original fetch machine and automatic ball thrower of its kind, and still remains popular today as a way to help dogs exercise more without having to tire out their owners. This tennis ball launcher is designed to toss toys, with an easy return bucket your dog can drop the ball back into to keep playing. A fetch machine like this can help mellow out a high-energy dog or give you more options if you’re struggling to help your dog lose weight. Time and distance settings make it easy to customize the automated game of fetch based on your dog’s speed and the size of your yard.
Price: $149.99 or $179.99, based on the size of your dog.
Food Delivery Services
As food delivery services become increasingly popular among people in the U.S., there has simultaneously been a surge among pets who receive fully customizable meal plans. With dogs seen as a valued member of the family, many pet owners are foregoing traditional pet food in order to introduce more fresh and healthy ingredients that are made to order. The Farmer’s Dog and NomNomNow are two services that deliver freshly made pet food with simple recipes. Bear in mind, however, that the cost to feed your dog fresh food increases compared to traditional dog food.
Price: The Farmer’s Dog starts at $16 per week, while NomNomNow starts at $28 per week, and both prices increase based on your dog’s weight, according to consumer products review site Reviews.com.
CleverPet
For when you’re out of the house and don’t have time to check in on your pet, CleverPet offers a source of entertainment and stimulation for your furry friends. Serving as a kind of game console for dogs, CleverPet has dozens of color-based puzzles for pets to solve, and is designed around their limited color-seeing ability. This energizing game rewards pets with treats and can even be a training tool for your dog, as owners can track progress over time. Accessible through an iPhone, this game allows pets to be engaged for hours on end with up to 500 turns each day.
Price: A refurbished CleverPet unit costs $249, purchased through the company.
