Betty, fone home
Betty. BETTY. BEEEEYYYYTTTY! If you’ve ever heard this strangulated cry, have no fear – it’s just me trying to find my wandering dog. But thanks to a clever little gadget from Vodafone, my fears – not to mention my voice box – could finally receive a respite.
The V-Pet Tracker attaches easily to your dog’s collar and uses GPS to keep tabs on it, displaying its position on your smartphone via an app called Kippy.
The app displays a flashing green circle pinpointing you and your dog.
If your pup does a runner – yes, Betty, I mean you – the dog and owner graphic splits in two and you can see where your dog is.
The live tracking updates every three seconds and if your dog is out of sight, a compass button will direct you to them.
For many, this technology will come as a relief because, though it is a legal requirement to microchip your dog, it is not compulsory for anyone who finds them, including vets, to scan them. This has no doubt led to a rise in the number of trackers.
Vodafone’s device covers all the bases. As well as a road map, there’s a satellite positioning display for open countryside as well as an LED light for nighttime.
The V-Pet is also an activity tracker, counting your doggy’s steps, calories burned (handy if, like Betty, yours is a podgy pooch) and length of your walk.
It even logs running and playing minutes, and the hours your dog sleeps. Depending on your pup’s weight, age and breed, Kippy suggests exercise goals and food tips from vets. “Geofences” let you define safe areas – for instance, your garden – and the app alerts you if the dog goes outside the perimeters you have set.
You can also create a virtual leash which uses Bluetooth to check your dog is within a set distance.
The robust V-Pet Tracker can withstand wild, wet weather walks and has a battery life of up to 10 days. V-Pet Tracker is £99, with a year’s service. It’s £4 a month after that.