Does your dog need a smartphone?

What do you do when you miss someone? You pick up your smartphone and give them a call, right? Wouldn’t it be nice if you could do the same thing with your dog? Well, now you can – kind of. PetBot claims to be the first device on the market with “petificial intelligence” that can watch over your dog and let you know when he’s up to something.

This device uses a built in camera, automatic treat dispenser and a speaker to send you pictures of your dog and bark messages from him when you’re away from home. The camera also allows you to send voice messages to your pet telling him how much you love and miss him. You could also play some soothing music for a dog that has separation anxiety.

PetBot links to an app on your cellphone so you can receive updates on your Fido throughout the day. The app that accompanies the device can be downloaded for free on both Android and iOS devices. Through the app you can send your dog a voice message or you can reward him with a dog treat.

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PetBot has multiple treat gears, which allows you to choose the size of the dog treat that your pet gets. This way you can watch your pooch’s calorie count even when you’re not around. On top of all of this, you can also receive videos of your dog through the smartphone app. This allows you to check in on him during breaks at work.

It would also be great to use if you travel a lot and would like to check in on your pet from time to time. If you’re worried that your dog may be able to get to the PetBot and tip it over, you can attach it to the wall via the wall mounts on the back of the device.

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You do need to have WiFi in your home for this device to work. PetBot connects to the WiFi and sends you notifications if it senses your dog barking or moving around. You’ll have up-to-date information coming to your phone all day about what your dog is doing while you’re gone.

The pet selfies that you will receive can be shared on social media as well, so you can update family and friends about what’s going on with your Fido. If you’re not allowed to have your phone with you at work, have no fear. PetBot is also accessible through the company’s web interface.

This works great for dog owners that travel often and would prefer to interact with their pet via a laptop or tablet. You can perform the video recording and picture taking actions manually as well- just in case you can’t wait for PetBot to send you a message.

PetBot hasn’t been released yet. The company is in the final stages of acquiring funds through the crowd funding site Indiegogo. They are expected to begin shipping their product in May of this year.

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Thankfully for pet parents, technology in the pet industry is growing rapidly. It allows us to entertain our dogs, contact our vet with the push of a button and now we can even check up on our furry family members when we’re not home. Imagine the benefits that a product like this could have on dog’s with separation anxiety!

A device like this will surely be outside the budget of most dog owners, but for those that can afford it a PetBot will offer happiness and peace of mind to dog owners who work outside the home or travel frequently. There are similar devices on the market, like the Petzi Treat Cam, and I’m sure we’ll be seeing more developed in the coming months. Don’t forget to let us know your opinion of the PetBot, or a similar product, if you have one in your home.

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