Pamper with Pet Tech Presents

From 3D printing to smart watches and doorbell cameras, modern technology has revolutionized the way we live, so why not the lives of our pets? When shopping this holiday season, you can never leave out the four-legged family members. For my family, those gifts are usually new chew toys or a bag of treats. Simple gifts but they always get the tail wagging. This year, rather than a new squeaky toy (that may end up torn to shreds anyway) spend a bigger buck on tech products that are just as much a gift to your pet as they are to you. As with most technology, pet tech has been growing in popularity over the years, providing pet owners with convenience, safety and health monitoring among other things. Pet technology includes a wide range of products, but most fall into the categories of health monitoring and management, safety and surveillance and enrichment. Health Monitoring and Management: If your pet is older or has any health concerns, products that aid in health monitoring are a great investment by helping to avoid any unexpected visits to the vet clinic. With a smart feeder and/or water dispenser, pet feeding becomes automated and portion controlled. This prevents overeating and helps to monitor food and water intake, evidencing any changes in appetite. There are even wearable fitness trackers such as the FitBark that will track a pet's physical activity, sleep quality and more — an Oura Ring for your dog! Safety and Surveillance: For outdoor cats, wandering dogs or anxious animals, new surveillance technology can give owners peace of mind for their pet's safety. GPS tracking devices are the simplest form of surveillance and great for those that wander. Gone are the days of hanging "lost dog" posters; a quick check of the paired GPS app will give exact coordinates of your adventurous pal. Keep them from getting lost to begin with by using automated pet doors. Automated pet doors have controlled access, only allowing authorized pets to enter or exit through their microchip or a sensor on their collar. Using an automated door allows owners to have more control over their pets' movements and the ability to monitor some of their behavior. As home security systems gain in popularity, so do pet cameras and surveillance systems. Have an anxious pup? Check up on the animals while away from home. Some systems like the Petcube and Furbo 360 even include two-way audio for communication. Now you can ask, "Who's a good boy?" from across the globe. Enrichment: Lastly are the pet toys and enrichment tools. Is your dog the type to keep coming back with a ball no matter how many times you throw it? Give your arm a rest with an automatic ball launcher such as the iFetch. Away from home for long hours during the day or need to distract your pet while working from home? Engage them with an electronic ball toy like the PetGeek. These are made for both dogs and cats and often dispense treats. Not as "smart" but more affordable, analog pet puzzles and snuffle mats will keep animals entertained with moving components and food rewards, giving them the mental stimulation that many indoor pets lack. And although technology continues to simplify our everyday, it is most important to engage with your pets whenever possible. An automated toy is not a reason for not throwing a frisbee for Fido – but all you pet lovers already know that!