Facebook Meets Fido: Pet Connections for the Digital Age

As technology for communicating over the Internet and for monitoring health gets better, entrepreneurs are inventing ways to apply these new tools to the relationship between you and your pet. And why not? You’ve got an Internet connection in the house anyway. Learn about three products that supplement visits from your pet sitter by allowing you to find out how your furry friend is doing and even interact a bit while you're apart.

Tagg You may have heard of the “quantified self” movement. The idea is that gadgets packed with sensors measure your body's data, such as heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, weight, walking distance, amount and type of sleep and other metrics. These readings are uploaded into special software to be tracked over time, telling you about progress toward fitness goals.

Now this gadget-freak-meets-health-nut movement is becoming available for pets.

One device called Tagg is a dog collar with sensors built in. For example, it has GPS so you can track the whereabouts of your dog on your smartphone while you're at work. You can even set it up to send you a text or email if he gets out of the yard. On the fitness front, you can set distance targets for your pet, then be notified when Fido has met them. An “Activity Snapshot” and “Activity Timeline” show your dog’s activity at a glance. It can also alert you to long-term trends, such as a drop in activity, which may indicate a health problem.

Tagg works with a PC, Mac, tablet or smartphone — basically any device that can run a web browser.

Track the dog via the company’s cloud subscription service.


Petzila - $169 Petzila is a webcam for dogs that you control with the Petzila app on your iPhone. The app lets you see and talk to your dog and, by pressing a button, drop a dog treat.

If your dog is being extra adorable, you can record pictures and videos remotely.

The Petzila has what I think is a feature that makes it super convenient. You simultaneously mount it at pet level and power it by simply plugging it into the wall. And instead of an electrical cord, the Petzila itself plugs in. Plus, it’s slobber-proof, according to the company.

Petzila is expected to be available in December 2013.


SinglePet - $300 Another remote gadget, SinglePet, connects you to your dog (or cat) by video through your smartphone app or via the company’s website.

The app not only lets you see, talk to and feed your pet, it also enables you to order more pet food for delivery.

The device is expected to go on sale later this year.

Using the Internet to monitor and communicate with your pet when you're away for short periods can make both of you happier and maybe healthier, too.

More: How to Help Your Dog Be a Good Neighbor

URL: Facebook Meets Fido: Pet Connections for the Digital Age http://www.decor-ideas.org/cases-view-id-21863.html