Pet Gadgets Bring Technology to the Dogs

Aug. 23, 2007 — -- Technology has gone to the dogs and cats are getting in on it, too.

Several companies are marketing smart products for pets, including talking pet collars and Global Positioning Systems. Now, pets need not be lost forever if they stray from familiar territory.

Discover some of the gadgets geared to make you and your pet's lives easier:

Talking Pet Collar

This is a little device that hangs off your dog's collar. You can record a message for anyone who finds your dog. This especially could be helpful for someone who lives in a rural area and lets their dogs roam freely.

Well-meaning folks will often try to rescue missing pets and if you want to give special instructions to someone trying to return your dog, it's a nice way to get specific and maybe thank the dog rescuer. Or a little reassuring message could let them know that your animal is a roamer who has good car/street sense and can find its way back home just fine.

Blinker Glo Collar

This is a peace of mind gadget for nighttime dog walkers. This collar has lights that illuminate in the dark so you can see your dog if you go for a walk at night. They say you can see the collar from half a mile away.

Quiet Spot ID Tag Silencer

Some neighborhood dogs do not have tags on their collars. Their owners no doubt have tags for these dogs, but the incessant jingling of the dog license and ID tags is enough to make anyone insane. So, owners take the tags off.

But if the dog gets out, it could be lost forever. The solution is simple: use a dog tag silencer. It is a little neoprene pouch that holds the tags together and prevents them from jingling. Somebody finds your dog, opens the pouch and sees where your dog lives.

Global Pet Finder GPS

The Global Pet Finder collar is GPS enabled, but it is smaller and works with a different premise: If you have an escape-artist dog who always gets out of the yard, this is an everyday tool to help you find it. You buy the collar for about $300 and then pay a $20 monthly fee to have Web and cell phone tracking access to your dog's location.

If it gets lost, you can enter your information online and the site tells you exactly where the dog is. Also, you can set up alerts to inform you when the dogs run away from home. You initially use the GPS device to set up a perimeter around the house. If the dog strays from the property, you get a text message on your phone alerting you of the escape. Next year the company is coming out with a new version that's 50 percent smaller and is more durable.

Garmin Astro GPS

The Astro is one of the newest developments in GPS tracking for your dog. It was developed for hunters who were training young gun dogs that are prone to getting lost while out in the field.

It works with an antenna that straps to the dog's back and a receiver helps the dog owner track the dog from up to five miles away in open territory. This is an ideal GPS dog tracking option for any type of sportsman who wants to go into the wild with a dog.

The antenna that the dog wears on its back is not small, so this is not an everyday solution for around the house. But it is a way to really relax while in nature with your dog. You have the peace of mind to know you could track it if it runs off.

It's important to note these gadgets are not meant to be the first line of defense. In addition to smart collars, owners can get microchips implanted in their pets.

The technology prevents pets from being lost permanently. A vet implants a little scannable chip under the dog's skin, between the shoulder blades, and if it's ever found without tags, any shelter can scan the dog to find out its owner.

Check out petgadgets.com for more information on pet gadgets.