With the holidays right around the corner, why not think about updating Fido to more tech centered devices in his everyday life? The world is full of new and improved tech gadgets, so why not get your pet up-to-date with some new toys, accessories and items to make the day more paw-some for your four-legged friend (and yourself). While nothing can replace the touch of a human, we at Going Mutts Pet Services put together a list of the top gadgets for dogs and cats this year that you may want to think about putting under the tree for Fido and Fluffy.

Smart Feeders

While scooping your pet’s food into a bowl with a scooper may be the traditional route, there are lots of automatic self feeders out there that can help when life just gets a little crazy. We suggest looking into the PetSafe Healthy Pet Simply Feed Automatic Feeder (found on the PetSafe website, Petco, Chewy and on Amazon) or the PetKit Automatic Pet Feeder (found on Amazon or on the PetKit website). 

The automatic feeders can store a variety amounts of food, be programmed to dispense food on a schedule and can provide a slow feed option to help your pet slow down while eating. The containers are easy to disassemble and clean as well as equipped with great locking systems to keep your pesky pets from getting in for more food. If you’re a super techy person and want the ease of using your smartphone to help with feedings, the PetKit Automatic Feeder has you covered with the smart feed app to allow you to feed your pet from your smartphone while you’re out and about. But don’t forget that feeders can’t let your dog out when you’re not home - so contact Going Mutts Pet Services to help Fido digest that food with a daily walk!

Smart Water Bowls

Yes, water is water and it’s just as easy to set out a bowl for your pets in the morning as it is to fill up a water fountain for them, but flowing water is way better than stagnant! The Catit Flower Plastic Fountain (found on Chewy and Amazon) and the DogIt Design Drinking Fountain are fun designed drinking bowls to help capture your pets interest and make them drink more water throughout the day. With triple-action filtration systems and consistent moving water, these fountains are able to keep a consistent flow of clean water for all pets! Plus, a pet water fountain sounds way more cool than just a plain old water bowl. While this allows you less time filling their water bowls, it may make for more trips outside to empty their bladders. So if you’re feeling overwhelmed with the holiday season, reach out to us at Going Mutts Pet Services to help give some extra attention to your fur baby while you deal with the holiday crazies! 

Smart Toys

Need to keep your pet entertained when you can’t get outside because of the weather? Or just have an overly excited and energetic pet that needs more mental and physical stimulation? Check out the GoBone (found on Amazon) and Cheerble Wicked Ball (found on the Cheerble website). Each one offers great ways to keep your cat or pup busy while you’re at work or away from the house for long periods of time. These toys help to eliminate the feelings of loneliness and boredom with your pet while you’re away, giving them fun, interaction and exercise they crave when you’re not around. These are great ideas for your pet’s Christmas list to help you with some ‘you’ time while helping them learn something new! Although always remember that there is nothing like a good old fashioned walk outside and we at Going Mutts Pet Services understand that the weather and errands get in the way, so contact us today to do it for you! Nothing like fresh air and paws on the pavement to get Fido mentally and physically stimulated (and tired).

Pet Cameras

It can be hard on the nerves and pull at your heart strings when you must leave your pets behind to go to work for the day, but technology has made it SUPER easy to be able to check in on the little furballs, especially if you have a young one being left alone. Pet cameras are a great way to peek in on your four-legged friend and even interact with them while at the office! Check out the Furbo Dog Camera (found on their official Furbo website or Amazon) and the Skymee Owl Robot (found at the Skymee website or Amazon). 

The Furbo Pet Camera dispenses treats, has a two-way audio and night vision to check up on Fido along with the ability to control all of this from their mobile app. The Skymee Owl Robot is one of the most interactive pet cameras out there and is like a pet for your pet; part robot, part treat dispenser and part HD camera. The Skymee Owl can be controlled from their app on your phone and you can zoom around with your pet while you’re away from them! 

But don’t forget what running around can do to your pet - bathroom trips! While it is nice to be able to see what they are doing from your office chair, remember that they still need to go out for that potty break. Going Mutts Pet Services is here for all the things technology cannot do - like potty breaks and walks! Contact us today for a free Meet ‘n Greet to get the ball rolling. 

Smart Litter Box 

Instead of rock, paper, scissors to decide who gets to clean the litter box, why not buy a robot that does it for you? Check out the Litter Robot 3 (found on the Litter Robot website) and the PetSafe Self-Cleaning Hooded Litter Box (found on the PetSafe website) and think of this as a present for your cat and for yourself. The Litter Robot 3 is a newer product on the market with the ability for cat owners to monitor and control the litter box through their smartphone. Both litter box robots will notify when the waste drawer is full and the PetSafe Litter Box has a health sensor for you to track your feline's bathroom habits. Don’t worry, the technology also makes sure the robot cleans the litter AFTER your cat has left the litter box, so Fluffy won’t get trapped in the cleaning process of the robot! While the numbers range from decent to whoa, keep in mind that this does save you the time of cleaning the litter box and contains everything with odor locks.

Smart Accessories 

While the humans have Facebook, Instagram, Fitbit and the Apple watch, what do the furry friends have? Thanks to technology minded businesses, your furry friends can now join the paw-fect social media network with Patch Pets and have their activity and location monitored within their collar with Whistle GO and Whistle GO Explore (found on the Whistle website). Patch Pets is a social media app designed purely for your pup to discover furry friends nearby, find and see what's happening at nearby dog parks in real time and discover pet-friendly businesses near you - can you say totally paw-some?! If you have a very curious and adventurous furry friend, the Whistle products put GPS tracking plus fitness and health monitoring all into one device that is wearable on your pet. You can set and track fitness goals for Fido while always knowing where he is with real-time tracking! Isn’t technology glorious?

As the world becomes more technology driven for us humans, let’s not forget to bring our four-legged friends with us! The holidays are a great time to rethink some new toys and pet gear for your furry friends, or to let your family (and friends) know what Fido needs to keep up with this ever-changing world we live in. When you treat your pet, you treat yourself! However, nothing beats the companionship of other humans with your pets, so be sure to treat your pups to a daily dog walker at Going Mutts Pet Services to keep up with their smart collar activity trackers! Contact us today for a free Meet ‘n Greet!