Hasta La Gadget!

Oh the joys of mans best friend, there’s something to be said about a creature that loves you so unconditionally. I’ve had a few dogs in my time and they were all special, and they all let me know they were fairly fond of me as well. I have to say that my daughter and husband were never as happy to see me as my dog. Sure, you might say it’s because the dog was waiting for food, and I might be inclined to believe that, but my family was always waiting for food as well! I really think my dog just loves me more.

I’ve never been one to humiliate my pup with boots, or coats, even during bad weather ,but there is one problem with our canine pals that had yet to be addressed, the way they smell when they’re wet! Sure, coming home from walking the dog with my hair all frizzy and my socks soaked through my shoes was bad enough, but when Fido sat down next to me shaking the rain off his fur all over my living room, and permeating the air with his pungent pooch-y aroma I knew there had to be a better way, and there is!

Welcome the Umbrella leash. This clear umbrella dome attaches easily to your dog’s collar, keeps your beloved buddy in full view, and properly protects them from the rain, sleet and snow. I have to say if your dog will allow it, its a much better option than one of those ridiculous plaid raincoats and it saves you from a living room that smells like a kennel, AND dirty towels. Just dont go out in the wind, you know, unless you have a really long leash.

The Umbrella Leash is under 20 bucks and is available from Amazon.com

[ Umbrella Leash – Keeping your Doggies Dry copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Hammacher tends to carry equipment that has superlatives. Case in point, the $119.95 The Largest Water Filtering Dog Fountain, and I am guessing that if you happen to own a toy or miniature breed, this is definitely not the dog fountain for your four legged friend. Basically, the The Largest Water Filtering Dog Fountain earns its stripes by carrying a whopping 3.5 gallons of water, which is far more than any pet fountain available in the market. The fountain itself comes with a 1.5 gallon basin and a couple of 1 gallon reservoirs, which is more than enough to deliver ample water for large breeds, including a Great Dane or St. Bernard. Of course, if you own more than just a couple of dogs who live in harmony without squabbling over mealtimes, then sharing this as their water source is also a good idea.

The Largest Water Filtering Dog Fountain was not developed just for cosmetic purposes only, as it comes with an integrated pump which results in a cascading stream of water into the basin, ensuring that your pooch will be attracted to the sound of trickling water, enticing them to get adequate amounts of water in the process to lower your pet’s risk of kidney disease and urinary tract infection. There is a pre-filter which captures large particulates such as pet hair, and a three-stage charcoal filter will help remove impurities that are responsible for unpleasant tastes and odors in water so that freshness is maintained. The fountain itself is made from UV-resistant plastic so that it is safe for both outdoor and indoor use.

[ The Largest Water Filtering Dog Fountain copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

You can say that owning a cat as a pet is better than a dog sometimes, especially when you do a whole lot of traveling around as a cat needs not be doted upon like a dog for its needs – even more so if you are living in an apartment. Of course, a cat returns different kinds of joys than a dog, but it sure as heck cannot play a game of Fetch with you. Well, pets do get bored especially when their masters are not around, so to keep them entertained, turning on the TV with endless reruns of sitcoms or Animal Planet would not do. How about considering the $39.95 Laser Chase Toy instead?

The Laser Chase Toy will be able to automatically project a couple of laser dots which dart across a floor in different, unpredictable patterns. This would definitely do its bit to incite a pair of pets to engage in perpetual play, which is an interesting method of bringing both a cat and a dog together – even better yet if they are still a kitten and a puppy. The lasers that emit from this machine are capable of turning rapidly, stop unexpectedly, and race in opposite directions – definitely helping trigger a dog or cat’s instinctual attraction to quickly moving objects. There are also four speed settings which can be set to tempt pets, and a trio of AA batteries can power this laser toy for up to 15 hours.

[ Laser Chase Toy copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Time to walk the dog. Run through your mental checklist. Coat? Check. Dog’s coat? Check. Gloves? Check. Leash? Check. Oh wait, it’s about to snap. Re tie it. Doggy bags? Check. Reflectors for walking at night? Check. Boy, this dog walking stuff gets more complicated all the time. Long gone are the days of just taking the dog out and letting them run.

I recommend making the walking process as efficient as possible. Quirky wants to help with their Kosoku leash which contains more features than I knew a dog leash could contain. Kosoku is good for dogs up to 45 lbs and offers a retractable 9 foot leash with a semi-rigid core. Around the core is neoprene and nylon canvas. Collectively the materials provide flexibility, strength, shock absorption and durability. The leash portion remains naturally comfortable in the hand via smart design and neoprene exterior. And most importantly the leash contains a pocket for the doggy bags! No more walking out of the house without them.

On Quirky’s site you will see that the Kosoku is still in development. But they also feature a video on the development process. Once done you can pick up a Kosoku for $29.99 which seems an easy investment if it helps cut down on some of the hassles of walking the pooch.
[ A New Leash on Life copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

I am a firm believer in Cesar Millan’s methods when interacting with dogs – you basically got to establish yourself as the alpha dog in the home, while the rest of your family members follow the pecking order with Fido (even though he might be one mean looking brute) right down there at the bottom. Right under the resident tortoise, even. Another thing is to make sure that your precious furkid gets an adequate amount of exercise each day, and how do you do that? Obviously bringing Fido out for walks in the mornings as well as evenings would be part of the routine, and you can also get some exercise along the way as well. Some breeds do require more exercise than others, and if you want everything to boil down to exact figures, then you might be interested in the Tagg Pet Tracker that will let you, the pet’s owner, know just where your pet is, as well as receiving a notification just in case it gets lost.

Not only that, it will be able to offer a new activity tracking feature that lets you have a greater, detailed breakdown on your furkid’s daily activity. Has it been lounging around at home, or burning enough calories chasing the postman? This new functionality will be available when October rolls around, where current Tagg users are able to take advantage of it without having to fork out a single cent, ensuring that the device will be enhanced with existing location tracking capabilities.

In addition, the new activity tracking feature will allow pet parents to indulge in this thing known as daily Tagg Points, where you can take advantage of at-a-glance snapshots of your pets’ activity in a 24-hour period. All movement will be detected by the Tagg tracker, and points are assigned based on the intensity and duration of the activity, where the scale ranges from resting to highly active.

Tagg Points can be accumulated and charted each day, so that you have conclusive data that would help you make more informed decisions about your pets’ exercise routines. So how about it? Ready to fork out $99.95 for a (theoretically) fitter Fido?

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[ Tagg Pet Tracker ensures you know just how much activity your pet has been getting copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]