2016’s Must-Have Apps and Tech for Dog Owners
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We love our dogs. Your pooch is probably one of your most unending loyal and best friends. But raising a dog can be tough — especially when life gets busy and hectic. Thankfully, there’s a plethora of apps and tech that can make taking care of your pup a bit easier. Here’s a list of six of our favorites.
1. Tagg Pet Tracker
Tagg is a cool little device that attaches to your dog’s collar — and then essentially functions as a GPS tracker for your pet. With a free mobile app, Tagg allows you to track your pet’s movement and location in real-time. Perfect for when Fido gets loose.
You can even create a designated “safe area” — say, like your backyard — which your pet can move around in. If your pet goes beyond those boundaries, Tagg will send a notification to your phone. Tagg also features activity and sleep tracking, allowing you to better monitor your pet’s general health and movement statistics.
The actual Tagg tracker is durable, waterproof, and has a rechargeable battery that can last for 10 days.
Get it online here.
2. Trottr
If you’re like most of us, you lead a full and busy life. And while that’s not a bad thing, it could mean that your pet isn’t being walked as much as they should be.
That’s where Trottr comes in. Trottr is a free service that allows you to find professional dog walkers nearby.
All of the dog walkers are vetted, trained and certified. They’re also insured, and the company prides itself on its high standards. Through the app, you can even schedule a meet and greet so you — and your dog — can make the right choice.
Trottr even lets you track your dog walker’s location in real-time — and, when the walk is over, you can pay the professional walker directly through the app.
Trotter is available for free for iOS.
3. PetNet
Busy at work, and can’t come home to feed your pet? If you have Petnet, then don’t worry.
PetNet is a “smart” automatic dog feeder that can manage feeding times and portions — and the company can also schedule to have healthy, chemical-free dog food delivered right to your door.
The best part is that, with the included app, you can control your pet’s feeding schedule right from your smartphone. The app also lets you figure out what food might be best for your pup.
Now, a late day at work doesn’t mean that your pooch has to go hungry.
PetNet retails for $149, and is available here. The corresponding app is free on the App Store.
4. BringFido
If you’ve ever traveled with your dog, you know that it can be tricky to find pet-friendly accommodations.
BringFido hopes to remedy that. It’s an app that easily lets you search for pooch-friendly hotels — and then book them right in the app.
You can further refine your search by distance, popularity, rating and price. Additionally, the app clearly puts each hotel’s pet policy front and center — so there won’t be any unexpected surprises when the time comes to check-in.
The app is available for free in the App Store.
5. Pet First Aid
Pet First Aid is a cool app that could literally be a lifesaver.
The app — which was created by the American Red Cross — features rich, detailed articles, videos and illustrations that can teach you how to take care of your pet’s health. It’s like having a vet with you wherever you go.
Pet First Aid features articles explaining life-saving information for pet emergencies and general health. The instructions range from how to deal with mild cuts to taking care of a pet poisoning, and they’re all included in the base app.
The app is available for $2.99 in the App Store.
6. PetChatz
PetChatz is a system of video conferencing devices that allows you to see and talk to your pet — even if you’re miles away. The core device is a wall-mounted camera unit that features two-way HD video calling — you can soothe your pet’s worries with a quick call, letting you see and hear each other, right from your smartphone.
You can even remotely have the device release a calming scent, or even a dog treat to keep your pup happy and satisfied when you’re away. Best of all, one of the most innovative — and just downright awesome — devices in PetChatz’s lineup is PawCall. PawCall is a little device that lets your dog actually call you, instead of the other way around. And what could brighten your day more than seeing a video call from your favorite pooch?
