Tech them for walkies

A STRING of gizmos and gadgets has transformed the lives of dog owners and there’s plenty to keep the pets yappy and the owners happy. Here’s a round-up of the latest tech on offer:

Dogbuddy, itunes.apple.com – free Pet-sit app Dogbuddy connects owners with trusted local sitters who can walk your dog. You can summon their services at the touch of a button, follow walks via a GPS tracker and even ask them to send photos and videos. You pay a fee and for services as you go.

Furbo, amazon.co.uk – £239 Automatic food dispenser has fitted camera and audio so you can watch your pet and speak to it via the app as you dish out treats. Useful if trying to control intake, managing prescription diets, or stopping other pets eating their food.

PitPat, pitpatpet.com – £39.99 A monitor is fitted to your pet’s collar and a free app tracks activity so you can learn how much walking, running, resting and playing your dog does when you’re out. can give early warning signs of illness and discomfort in your pet. You can share the activity log with vets, trainers or behaviourists to eliminate bad habits they nurture while you are away from home. Adaptil pheromone collar petshop.co.uk – £16.50 Collar releases appeasing pheromone when in close contact with your pet’s warm skin and lasts up to four weeks. Helps relax a dog and enables them to cope better with thunderstorms, travel, kennelling and even moving home. LED dog collars and leads squeakerdogs.com – from £22.71 Keep sight of your pet by using an LED collar and leash such as the Squeaker Poochlight. Makes them more visible to motorists too. iFetch automatic ball launcher goifetch.com – from £30 Throwing balls and sticks for your energetic dog can be tiring and even lead to injuries for owners. But this automatic launcher has various distance options so can be used indoors or outdoors. Your dog drops the ball into the top, saving you the trouble of reloading.