It's OK: Top gadget gifts for your pets
Did you know just about as many pets as people are getting a gift this holiday season? In a recent survey, about 85% of pet owners said man's best friend is at, or near, the very top of their list. Here are some of the most pawsome gifts for pets and the people who love them:
• PetziConnect
I'm sure your dog loves you just for you. But let's face it, they love treats, too, and the PetziConnect ($169) can keep them well fed and smiling even when you're nowhere near home. This super smart little gadget is a cool combination of an HD webcam, speaker, microphone, and treat-tosser. You read that right — it can rocket out a tasty treat right into their little gaping mutt maws.
Once the PetziConnect is paired up with your home Wi-Fi and filled with Spot's favorite kibbles, you can connect to it via the free app and catch a live feed of wherever your pets happen to hang out. You can record the video feed, talk to your dog remotely, and even toss a treat to them — all from your smartphone. Your pets will always be happy to hear your voice, and double happy to get that treat.
• DogVacay
We know you never want to be away from your pets, and they hate it when you go away too. But with so many of us traveling over the holidays, there's finally an easy way to curb the separation anxiety for you and your pooch called DogVacay (starts around $20 per night). DogVacay is like Airbnb for your dogs, with more than 20,000 approved pet sitters — yes, that's 20,000, with four zeroes — so that you can find the perfect temporary home for your beloved four-legged companions no matter where you're from. There are even recommendations and reviews so you can really customize your match. Over a million nights have already been booked using DogVacay, and the response from pet parents has been overwhelmingly positive.
• GoPro Fetch
Your four-legged friend might be an aspiring movie director and you don't even know it! That's why GoPro makes the Fetch harness ($59.99) — It's a comfortable, durable dog harness that secures GoPro's awesome action cameras to your canine so you can see the world from their point of view. Get ready for a Hollywood blockbuster production complete with chasing mailmen, tipping over garbage cans, and maybe even a few impromptu butt sniffs.
• Halo Mini
Fancy nighttime strolls through the park with your canine companion? Equip them with the super bright Halo Mini LED collar ($35) and let them shine bright like a diamond. Everyone, including you, will always be able to see them trotting along, which is a safety bonus for both all involved. This crazy collar is reflective, water resistant, and recharges the same way you power up your smartphone.
• Pet Umbrella
This one is so silly simple it's amazing it's not more common: The dog umbrella ($39.99) is a genius little invention that keeps your walking companion dry in the event of a downpour. I mean seriously, have we been so inconsiderate as to let our dogs walk all willy nilly in the rain for this long? Sure, maybe they love it, but once the smell of wet dog wafts back into your home you definitely won't. This magic little gadget will keep you both bone dry.
• CritterZone Air Purifier
A breath of fresh air can do wonders for your mood, and the same is true for your pets. Your dogs and cats are usually cooped up inside for the vast majority of their day, especially in the chilly winter months, which makes them even more susceptible to poor indoor air quality. CritterZone's air naturalizer (starting at $99) is super tiny, but it does a whole lot of work to make the air in your fresher, and without the use of nasty chemicals. It even pulls double duty by capturing those pet odors that make guests scrunch their noses and run for cover.
• Whistle
The Jawbone might already sound like a dog toy, but if you actually want an activity monitor for your pup, Whistle ($99) is the answer. It's a super smart little snap-on gadget that clings to your dog's collar and keep tabs on them, sensing their movements and charting patterns that are sent directly to your smartphone. Once you get a glimpse at your dog's lifestyle you'll see areas where you can improve it — like evening lulls that would be perfect for a quick walk — which will make both of your lives better. Win/win!
You have a smartphone, a tablet, a smartwatch, and a half dozen other super high-tech gadgets, so why shouldn't your dog have some smart high-tech toy too? Pet tech is a huge, constantly growing market with all kinds of awesome gizmos for your cats and dogs that will not only make both of your lives better, but might even help lengthen the amount of time you have with them.
Jennifer Jolly is an Emmy Award-winning consumer tech contributor and host of USA TODAY's digital video show TECH NOW. E-mail her attechcomments@usatoday.com. Follow her on Twitter @JenniferJolly.