Best Fitbit for Dogs in the UK

A Fitbit for dogs is a band that needs to be attached to your pet’s neck or tail. The device will help you locate your dog as well as analyze its movements, rest hours, and activities. The data will then be transmitted to the app downloaded on your smartphone.

This highly beneficial gadget tracks your dog’s temperature, respiration, heart rate, calories burned, steps, distance covered, daily activities, and body posture. Some models provide breed-specific recommendations, allow you to set and track goals, earn funny awards.

Dog activity trackers can also alert you if an abnormal temperature is detected or your pet has crossed a virtual security fence. There are trackers that can work with multiple dogs and owners, enabling the user to set up as many dog profiles as needed.

When do you need a dog activity tracker?

Monitoring the pet’s activity will help you know whether it gets enough exercise. This is not just about your dog’s happiness but also its health. Many behaviour issues arise from the lack of daily activity and the decrease in movement may indicate an illness.

Moreover, one in 14 dogs in the UK is considered overweight or obese, which can lead to dire consequences. Obesity decreases your pet’s lifespan, impacts the quality of life, causes arthritis, diabetes, heart issues, and breathing difficulties. Also, many of these gadgets are designed to set daily activity and exercise goals for your pet, which is great for both its physical and mental health.

Expert Opinion: Hannah Capon, a veterinary surgeon and founder of the Canine Arthritis Management website

“The biggest benefit is helping people track changes in their dog’s activity over the medium to longer-term, as small changes are often missed by owners, especially when they are progressive,” the veterinarian Hannah Capon told the Independent newspaper. “But being able to compare baseline data over months is incredibly valuable, especially in picking up early-onset health and behaviour changes.”

GPS tracking

These devices may not be fault-free and some users complain that their Fitbits for dogs do not provide accurate enough GPS tracking. To make sure that your Fitbit for dogs is of good quality and will perform all tasks properly, consider the following features before making a purchase. First, keep in mind that water-resistant models can only survive a sprinkle, so opt for waterproof trackers in case your dog is a swimmer.

Secondly, look at the battery life. Feature-rich gadgets tend to last for a shorter period of time on a single charge — around one week — whereas unsophisticated models can operate for months. Anyway, battery efficiency primarily depends on technical characteristics and those batteries that are made by trustworthy manufacturers are typically durable enough. Last but not least, choose a gadget that is not heavy for your dog’s size to ensure that it isn’t cumbersome for your four-legged friend.

Best-Selling Fitbits for Dogs in the UK | Comparison Table