Pet wearables and other pet tech

Wearable tech gadgets might seem a little… well, unnecessary, in relation to your pet. But given they can do everything from track a missing pet (not to mention send you an alert when they wander outside your property), tip you off to possible illnesses, or even help control problem barking; it’s little surprise pet wearables are now worth $2.62 billion a year globally. And the global pet wearable market size is estimated to exceed USD 2 billion by 2023.

While there are many makes and models of the various types of wearable pet tech products out there, here are a few of our faves.

The Fitbark
Dubbed the ‘Fibit for dogs’, this sleek little bone shaped tracker fits the smallest of dogs, and can be synced to your Fitbit, or mobile via their app. What does it do? It basically provides data on your pet’s activity levels, which means you can get an idea of how much exercise they’re getting when you’re not around. You can even check out how their activity levels compare to other dogs of the same size, age and breed. Aside from making sure your pet is getting the exercise they need to maintain a healthy weight, declining activity levels can be an early warning sign of illness or injury, making it an investment in their long-term health and wellbeing.

RSPCA TrakaPet-GPS for Australian conditions
Got yourself a wandering pet? This tracker will not only allow you to find them easily, you can also set up your own ‘virtual boundary’ so you’ll receive an alert if they leave the area. They’re only half the size of a credit card, lightweight and waterproof, and you can activate the bright FindMe light when looking for your pet.

The DOGlite
A range of collars, harnesses, leads and tags that use LED technology to light them up with the push of a button. The battery lasts for up to 80 hours of ‘glow’ time – and means they don’t require constant charging. Why consider them? Many of us spend the daylight hours away from home – especially in winter, and these glow in the dark accessories mean being able to exercise your dog more safely in the dim light or the dark, as they’ll be easily visible to cars or cyclists, or you’ll be able to easily see them in low or no light if they like to run off the lead. During the past 18 months, DOGlite has conducted studies showing an increased level of exercise and activity from test subjects.

READ MORE: Safety tips for walking your dog after dark

The Go-Pro Fetch
Definitely more of a novelty item, this pet harness lets you safely clip your Go Pro to your pooch and get their view of the world on video. Get one of a kind footage of your next hike or surf sesh, or even just a walk through your local neighbourhood. A word of warning - as tempting as it may be to put one on your pet to see what goes on when you’re not about, this one shouldn’t be left on your pet unattended.

Scollar
Still in the ‘coming soon’ column – having recently hit crowdfunding targets, they are in production with an expected delivery date later in the year. This e-collar allows you to track all kinds of information about your pet. Designed to fit even the smallest dog and cat breeds, the collar has inbuilt technology that can track your pet’s activity (and can be used to track pets that have wandered off). You can also set up feeding times, flea and tick and other medication reminders, or track which training commands they’ve mastered – and which they still need to learn.

While a lot of pet wearable tech products are still pricey, continuing tech developments means they’ll only get cheaper and smaller in the years to come!

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