There is no shortage of smart devices designed for our furry friends, many of which mirror devices that we use for ourselves. For example, you can wear a device to monitor your pet’s health, track his activity, or record his day to day activities.
What are Pet Wearables?
We can divide pet wearables into three different categories: camera, sensors and trackers.. Some of these devices are simple while others are more complex.
Wearable Cameras
Most wearable cameras clip to a collar or can be built into one. These cameras are great to monitor your dog when you are away from home, allowing pet owners to see things from their dog’s perspective. Monitoring your pup through cameras provides a sense of comfort and allows you to make sure your dogs are safe by themselves.
Wearable trackers
Trackers are helpful devices for busy pet parents. Their price is a bit higher than cameras, but they are worth the investment. You can use trackers to:
- Find lost pets during travel.
- See how your dog is spending his time.
- Estimate the amount of exercise your dog gets.
- Get alerts when your pup leaves the normal, safe area.
By using trackers, you have an idea of how much your dog is moving. They do come with limitations. For example, many of these trackers require batteries and without power they won’t work. Additionally, they do not work in areas with limited or no access to mobile data.
Wearable sensors
Sensors can be applied to heart rate monitors, thermometers, pedometers, and other tech. They go into your dog’s collar and provide plenty of health data for owners to monitor, including activity level, body temperature, heart rate, respiration rate, and minutes of activity.
Owners can use the data to determine whether their dog is excited, afraid, or nervous. If you have a dog with an underlying health issue, your vet can use the data to provide a diagnosis.
Top 3 Popular Pet Wearables
To get a real, applicable idea of how pet wearables work, let’s take a look at some of the popular products on the market.
Tractive
Tractive is a GPS tracker for dogs and cats that goes beyond the usual data. This smart collar offers health stats and can help you spot an ailment. Some of the features include activity tracking, calorie counting, sleep scores and comparison, live location alerts, geofencing, and setting fitness goals.
The GPS tracker costs around $50, but you also have to pay a monthly subscription.
Whistle
Whistle is a leader in pet wearables with its flagship product, a collar that can track the health, fitness, and location of your pet. The app delivers real-time data and notifies you for subtle changes on your smartphone. For example, the app will notify you when your dog scratches himself for a prolonged period.
Halo
This smart collar startup works differently than most companies, allowing owners to create a virtual fence around their dog and prevent it from roaming.
The company came up with an idea to replace the invisible fence with an accurate GPS tracking system and keep your dog safe. Working with professional dog trainer Cesar Millan, they came up with a device that doesn’t cause pain and allows your dog to be free.
The warnings begin with a beep to keep your dog within the limited area. If the dog ignores the first warning, the second is a vibration, and then eventually a static feedback that mimics a tap on the shoulder.
State of the Pet Wearable Market
In 2023, the global pet wearable market was estimated at $2.7 billion. Most estimates per financial experts is that it will grow by 14% each year, from 2024 to 2030.The market will grow by 14% from 2024 to 2023.
The three main reasons that drive the market are:
- Health awareness among pet owners.
- Considerable amount of funding from tech companies and startups.
- Increased ownership during the COVID-19 period.
What Does the Future Hold?
The possibilities are endless for this technology. As we continue to get obsessed with health data, pet wearable technology will be the next big revolution in app development.
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Additionally, the last few years have been all about artificial intelligence and its application in everyday products. It is not a far-fetched idea to think that Amazon Alexa might be able to translate your pet’s sounds into simple statements.
The Evolution of Pet Wearables
Several years ago, smart collars offered nothing more than simple GPS tracking. Now, these tracking devices can monitor sleep, footsteps, and keep track of your pet’s location at all times.
GPS tracking systems are still the most popular wearable, but many companies are offering health monitoring, activity tracking systems, and more. Companies are shifting their focus on pet’s health, a big reason for the increased popularity.
With plenty of miniature sensors in the wearable and the help of AI, these devices can measure your pet’s vital signs and interpret the findings. They can now detect anomalies like arrhythmia all while you get personalized data to keep you informed.
Think of it this way: if our animals could talk, they would have a lot of things to say. These devices enable us to understand a bit of what they would say, and how happy they are.
What Can Pet Technology Do For Your Dog?
Pet technology, including wearables, can make life easier for pets and their owners. Here are some practical ways technology helps.
- Keep your help healthy by monitoring activity levels, vital signs, and sleeping patterns.
- Keep your pet’s health records up-to-date and easily accessible.
- Keep your pet safe with a GPS collar, monitoring his location at all times.
Final Words
Imagine being able to track your steps, but also your pet’s adventure, sleep, and heartbeat. That is what pet wearable technology allows you to do, giving pet owners an unprecedented view into the daily lives of canines.
With features like tracking health metrics to monitoring behavior, pet wearables change the way we understand and care for our pets.
