Those of us who have pets know how important it is to take care of their health and well-being. It is not just a matter of feeding and protecting them, but that they have all the necessary care so that they can develop a full life. That is why we often resort to technological devices for pets, but is it really worth investing in them?
The answer, logically, cannot be an absolute yes or no. There are really useful gadgets and others that, on the other hand, are more aesthetic than practical. At the end of the day, it is about knowing which are the ones that really interest us.
So, to put some order in the matter, in this post we are going to analyze some of these devices to find out if they are what we need or not.
smart feeder
The smart feeders o smart feeders have proven to be an excellent solution for those people who cannot always be at home to attend to the needs of their pets. With them we will have covered at least the concern that they receive a correct diet, because they allow us to control the quantity and quality of the food they consume.
You just have to be careful to know exactly the habits and schedules of our dog or cat to know when to schedule their rations.
When choosing the right model of smart feeder, we must consider the size and strength of the animal (better that it is resistant), that it has long-lasting batteries that allow the feeder to work even when we are traveling for several days and that it can be controlled from anywhere through an app.
Worth? The truth is that smart feeders can be a good solution to be calm regarding the correct feeding of our pets when we are absent. If that happens with some frequency, it is a good buy.
Pet GPS Tracker
There are few things more heartbreaking than losing our beloved pet. We return home one day and the cat is gone. Days go by and he doesn't come back... Or our puppy escapes from us in the park or walking through the countryside without us knowing where he has gone. It is in those situations that we will miss having a pet gps tracker.
These devices are not too expensive, there are very good models below 50 euros. In any case, it is little money for the service they provide us. They have a very small size, perfect to be attached to the animal's collar without it hardly noticing, and they work through an app that we have to download to our mobile phone.
Simply consulting the app we can know at all times the exact location of our dog or our cat. If it is lost and does not know how to return home, we can go ourselves to look for it where you want it to be. Its autonomy of 10 days and the fact that there is no maximum distance limit play in our favor.
Lastly, it must be said that, although the GPS locator is cheap, you have to add the app's subscription cost to its price (maybe that's the trick).
Worth? Definitely. Such a device provides security and the peace of mind of knowing where our pet is at all times.
Dog Activity Collar
If humans use smartwatches and activity bracelets, why can't our dogs use these types of devices?
This is a small, sturdy device that is attached to the collar to monitor numerous aspects about the dog's activity. Their indicators will provide us with detailed information on their movements, the time they spend sleeping or exercising, their heart rate, the distance they cover per day, etc.
They are not expensive devices (there are quite complete models starting at 12 euros), but whatever their cost, they must be considered as an investment in the health of our pet. In fact, it is a gadget more and more recommended by vets. And it is that the results obtained by the activity collar can help them to outline diagnoses, recommend diets, etc. Technology at the service of the health of our furry friends.
Worth? If our goal is to take care of our dog's health down to the smallest detail, we are not going to find anything better.
ball launcher
This may be the oldest game in the world: throwing the ball and having the dog run to get it and bring it back to us, to repeat the action until one of the two (the human or the animal) runs out. Let's be honest, we always get tired before they do, that's why there is nothing wrong with the help of a ball launcher automatic.
The way to use this gadget does not present any difficulty for a dog of average intelligence. In a few seconds you will realize where you must insert the ball (the upper tray of the device) so that it shoots out of the other hole. And so it can spend hours and hours entertained, leaving its owners to deal with other tasks.
In the market there are many models with a wide price range that goes from 20-25 euros to over 100 euros. Almost all of them usually work on batteries and allow adjust launch distance to adapt it to the dimensions of our garden or our living room.
It is recommended to use the launcher only with the balls that come with the device. If we use others, of different sizes, it can end up damaging the mechanism.
Worth? Honestly, it is not an accessory that we can classify as absolutely essential, but it can be fun and also convenient when we have young dogs endowed with inexhaustible energy at home.
LED Fluorescent Collar and Leash
According to the figures handled by the DGT, Hundreds of dogs are killed every year. in the streets and highways of our country. Most of these deadly collisions are accidental and a good part of them occur at night or when there are poor visibility conditions. It is in this context that it is understood the usefulness of luminous collars for dogs.
Buying these necklaces We invest in the safety of our animals, which often move away from us and get dangerously close to busy roads. Other times they escape or get lost, ending up on highways and roads where vehicles roll at high speeds.
There are many models available, of all qualities and prices (never more expensive than 30 euros). It is best to opt for one that is comfortable for the dog, adjustable and waterproof. Technical issues are already in the background, such as recharge time and autonomy, or aesthetic, such as the color of the LED light or the possibility of playing with various brightness and intensity options.
Also to highlight the light up straps to walk the dog at night and be visible. Both objects, collar and leash, are perfectly complementary.
Worth? It's a handy gadget that, while it's true that it could be replaced by a simple reflective vest or some other similar piece of clothing, can bring a lot of peace of mind to owners of particularly active dogs who sometimes escape permission.