By Jordan K. Davis
Americans are on track to drop $62.75 billion on their pets in 2016 and while most of that will go toward food and wellness costs, a lot of it will pay for life’s little luxuries like high tech dog gadgets.
For modern doggies (and the people who love them), that means everything from smart leashes to gel beds that help Fido stay cool and comfortable – and even pet-friendly smartphones!
Here are just a few of the must-have high tech dog gadgets for dog lovers who want to pamper their pooches 24/7:
Petcube for Play
While a friendly dog walker is still a necessity for most pups with working parents, Petcube is an interactive pet monitor that lets you watch, talk to and even play with your dog from anywhere in the world.
The Petcube has a built-in microphone and speaker plus a laser toy you can control from any Android or iOs device.
Too busy to play? Set your permissions to let others give your pal some social stimulation.
The Kyon Pet Tracker
Kyon’s smart collar is essentially Fitbit for your furry friend.
It’s waterproof and rugged so you can track your dog’s temp, activity level and location for up to 30 days before the battery needs recharging.
Kyon even sends reminders about vaccinations and wellness checkups along with real time notifications about Fido’s health right to your phone.
PetChatz for Treats
Another way to stay connected (and make pups feel loved) during your days away is PetChatz.
This monitor lets you not only hear and speak to your dog, but also dole out treats straight from your phone via the PetChatz app.
The Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
As to where to store all the apps that make remote playtime possible, the S7 Edge is the way to go.
Its 25 megapixel camera has 4K capture capabilities plus a lightning fast Snapdragon processor so you can get picture perfect shots of your dog’s crazy antics.
Even better, this phone boasts IP68 dust resistance and long-term water resistance up to 3m so you can safely take it to the dog park or the beach on weekends.
Petbot’s Selfie Snapper
PetBot is basically a super simple smartphone for your pooch.
It senses when they’re nearby and will snap and share a photo to the app so you can see what exactly it is they do all day.
Like the monitors above, it also can send a live stream of your dog’s activities to your phone and if they’re being particularly well behaved, you can give them a treat.
SmartBowl’s Feeding Device
Figuring out how much to feed your dog can be a challenge, but SmartBowl is here to help.
Paired with the Petnet app it will tell you just how much to feed your pup and when, and alert you in real time if you’ve poured out too much.
It can also be programmed to reorder pet food whenever you’re running low.
The Smart Collar from DogTelligent
There are a lot of smart collars out there, but DogTelligent is one of the smartest.
It can track your dog’s location using GPS and uses integrated ultrasound and vibration commands to gently remind them that they’re out of bounds.
Built-in micro speakers let you talk to your dog from anywhere, and LED lights automatically flash if your puppy gets lost.
GoPro’s Fetch
Fetch is a water-proof and weather-proof dog harness designed by the cam experts at Go Pro to safely let you see the world from your pooch’s point of view.
Attach your camera on the chest clip to get a dog’s eye view of everything that’s fit to sniff or on the back clip to see what it’s like to virtually chase your tail.
Bottom line: Do dogs need a lot of high tech dog gadgets to have the best day ever? No, and that’s one of the things we love about them. But if you love tech why, not include Fido in the fun? The right high tech dog gadgets can make your relationship with your pooch even better.