What does your dog do all day?
Sure Petcare’s new hi-tech dog behaviour and activity monitor Animo won’t exactly report what the canine wearer gets up to when it’s home alone, but it does provide all sorts of useful information.
That includes monitoring changes in the dog’s behaviour — barking, scratching and shaking, which can be an indication of discomfort, illness or distress.
The device gives the owner a comprehensive picture of their dog’s behaviour and wellbeing, through charts and graphs on the Sure Petcare Animo app, identifying what is normal and unique for the dog, particularly if vet intervention is required.
Animo is available to buy both online and in-store at Animates, retailing for $99.99.
The device enables the owner to:
■ Set and monitor daily activity goals, check the last time the dog was walked and view activity reports by the day, week, month and year.
■ Check the quality of the dog’s For the dog, the Animo might be a fashion accessory. For the owner it is a source of all sorts of information.
sleep — a poor night’s sleep can be an indication of stress, discomfort or illness.
■ Track the calories the dog has burnt, and compare that with a recommended daily target based on its breed, age and weight.
■ Notice changes in behaviour,
such as increased scratching or shaking.
Animo can be synched by any member of the app household, and owners can share access to it with friends and family, making it ideal for pet sitters and doggy day care users.
barking,
Animo comes with three different-sized attachment bands, making it suitable for dogs of all sizes. Weighing 22g, and waterproof, it sits flat against the collar, is easy to attach and detach, and uses a standard coin cell battery which lasts for six months.
It connects to the Sure Petcare Animo app via Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE).
Animal behaviourist Mark Vette, who was involved in Animo’s development, said a dog’s activity level, and most importantly changes, could tell a great deal about their inner lives.
“With many owners juggling multiple responsibilities and distractions, they can often miss the subtle but important changes in their dogs’ behaviour, which might be early warnings of developing difficulties,” he said.
“With four dogs of my own of varying breeds, size and ages, Animo is an easy and effective way to ensure I’m meeting each of their different needs.
“We are increasingly used to tracking our own activity and health information using healthmonitoring devices, and doing this for our dogs is just as important.
“Animo provides yet another, deeper way we can get an insight into our dearly loved dogs’ lives.”
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Go to www.surepetcare.com/