Choosing the right tech for your pet involves understanding your pet’s specific needs, your lifestyle, and the features offered by various devices. With an array of pet tech gadgets available — from smart collars to interactive toys — it can be overwhelming to decide what’s best. Here’s a guide to help you select the right tech for your pet’s needs:
1. Consider Your Pet’s Lifestyle and Behavior
The first step in choosing the right pet tech is understanding your pet’s unique lifestyle, behavior, and health requirements.
- Active or Inactive Pets:
- Active Pets: If your pet is energetic and spends a lot of time outside, an activity tracker or GPS-enabled smart collar can help monitor their exercise levels and ensure they don’t wander too far.
- Inactive Pets: For more sedentary pets, a health monitor that tracks sleep patterns and overall well-being might be more useful to ensure they’re healthy.
- Indoor vs. Outdoor Pets:
- Indoor Pets: A pet camera with two-way audio or treat dispensers, like Petcube Bites 2, is great for keeping tabs on your pet while you’re away. These devices allow you to interact remotely.
- Outdoor Pets: GPS collars are essential for pets that spend a lot of time outdoors. Look for one with real-time location tracking and geofencing features, like the Fi Smart Collar or Whistle Go Explore.
2. Identify Specific Health Needs
Your pet’s health is a major factor in selecting tech devices.
- Pets with Health Issues: If your pet has chronic health conditions or is aging, tech that monitors vital signs and activity levels, such as Link AKC Smart Collar or FitBark, can help you keep track of any changes that may indicate a decline in health.
- Preventative Health: Even if your pet doesn’t have health issues, wearable health monitors can give early warnings for illnesses. These devices track important metrics such as heart rate, temperature, and activity levels. They can be especially helpful in detecting subtle signs of discomfort or pain early.
3. Assess Your Pet’s Training Needs
If you’re focused on improving your pet’s behavior, certain tech can assist in training.
- Behavioral Training: If your pet is prone to unwanted behaviors like excessive barking or pulling on walks, a smart collar with training features (vibration, sound, or mild stimulation) can help. The Garmin Delta Smart Collar offers training tools while also tracking your pet’s activity.
- Virtual Training: If you prefer guided training, look for apps or devices that provide remote training options, such as the Furbo dog camera, which lets you interact with your pet and even dispense treats remotely.
4. Set Your Priorities: Safety, Health, or Fun?
Pet tech can be divided into different categories based on its primary purpose. Knowing your main goal will help you make an informed decision.
- Safety (GPS & Tracking): If your main concern is your pet’s safety, a GPS tracker or smart collar with location tracking is a must. Look for devices with geofencing features and reliable location updates.
- Health (Health Monitors): For pet owners who want to stay on top of their pet’s health, wearables that track vital signs, activity levels, and behavioral changes are invaluable. Devices like Whistle Health & GPS+ provide detailed health insights.
- Entertainment & Interaction (Smart Toys & Cameras): If your priority is keeping your pet engaged and entertained, consider interactive toys or remote cameras that allow you to play with your pet or monitor them when you’re not home. Wickedbone is an interactive smart toy that engages your dog in play, while Petcube allows you to toss treats remotely.
5. Battery Life & Durability
Some pet tech devices, especially GPS collars or activity trackers, are worn continuously, so it’s important to consider how long they’ll last between charges.
- Battery Life: Devices with long battery life (ideally several days or weeks) are essential, especially for GPS collars that track your pet’s location. Fi Smart Collar is known for its extended battery life, lasting up to 3 months depending on usage.
- Durability: If your pet is highly active, especially outdoors, ensure the device is water-resistant or durable enough to withstand rough play and weather conditions. Look for collars and devices that are rugged and built to handle tough environments.
6. Ease of Use
Your comfort with technology is important when choosing pet tech. Some devices may require more hands-on setup or frequent monitoring through apps.
- User-Friendly Apps: Opt for tech that integrates easily with a smartphone app that offers clear, intuitive interfaces. Check reviews to see if other pet owners find the device easy to set up and use.
- Minimal Maintenance: Devices with automated functions (like automatic health updates or behavior tracking) may be easier to maintain than those requiring manual input.
7. Compatibility with Multiple Pets
If you have more than one pet, check whether the device is compatible with multiple users or pets.
- Multi-Pet Tracking: Some wearables and apps allow you to track the health or location of multiple pets through the same system. For example, Whistle and FitBark allow you to monitor multiple pets through their respective apps.
8. Cost Considerations
Pricing varies widely depending on the features of the pet tech. GPS trackers, for instance, often require a subscription for location services, while health monitors may have one-time purchase prices.
- Initial Costs: High-tech wearables can range from $100 to $300+. The Link AKC Smart Collar or Whistle Go Explore are on the higher end but provide comprehensive features like GPS, health tracking, and temperature monitoring.
- Subscription Fees: Some tech (particularly GPS trackers) require monthly subscription fees for location tracking or additional services like data storage. Make sure to account for these recurring costs.
9. Customer Support and Reviews
Check the reliability of the tech through reviews and customer feedback.
- Look for Reviews: Read through real customer experiences to see how reliable the tech is in everyday scenarios. Issues like poor battery life, inaccurate data, or malfunctioning apps can be red flags.
- Customer Support: Make sure the company offers reliable customer service in case you encounter any issues or need guidance with setup.
Conclusion
To choose the right tech for your pet, start by assessing their specific lifestyle, health, and training needs. Whether you’re focused on improving their safety, tracking health metrics, or keeping them entertained, there’s a range of tech devices available. Look for products that fit both your pet’s and your own requirements in terms of functionality, ease of use, durability, and budget. Balancing these factors will help you make an informed choice that enhances your pet’s quality of life.
