Sometimes it’s easy to forget that everything we use in our daily lives was once “an invention”. At one point in time, dog owners didn’t have a no-pull leash or a flea collar, until some really smart person decided they were tired of their shoulder aching or their ankles itching. All it takes is one person deciding they’ve had enough, and suddenly we’ve got a cool invention that can solve a big problem. Even if we first thought they were a little nuts for suggesting that a collar could take care of fleas, we soon saw that these were pretty good tools.
Dog’s Products On Amazon
Last update on 2023-12-21 at 07:01 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
I recently came across some weird inventions for dogs on Pinterest and got lost for a few hours looking at things that people today think will be the future of dog products. While they may look odd now, who knows? They could be the next flea collar. I wanted to share some of the inventions for dog owners that tickled my fancy. Janice and Leroy are already giving me a side-eye with some of these, but I think they just need to catch up with the times.
1. Fence Window
Let’s start with one that’s not quite so weird. If you’ve ever had a dog that digs under fences just because they want to get a better look at the world, then this one’s for you. Instead of having an empty hole in your fence for them to look through (which could be a safety hazard for anyone walking by, or for your dog), you can put in a PetPeek Fence Window. These are clear glass half-domes that stick out from your fence on the outside. The dog can put his snout into it and look around, getting a view to the front and to the sides, which is what makes this invention more ingenious than just putting a flat window in a fence. One great thing about these is that they can help curb barking – if your dog can see what’s going on, he won’t be so alarmed about the noises from the other side of the fence.
2. Car Zip Line Harness
If you’ve ever taken your dog on a car ride, you might recognize this story: Your furry pal starts out with his head out one back window, then moves to the other back window, then stands on the center console next to you, then hops into the passenger seat, then back to the back, and soon he’s trying to wiggle his way into your lap. This sounded like Leroy when he was a puppy to a T, and my only option at the time was to put him in a seat belt harness. Well, let me tell you, he hated that! He couldn’t get his head out the window,and car rides stopped being fun for him. But I needed to be able to drive safely. Enter the Doggy Car Zipline Restraint, one of the neatest things to be invented lately. It keeps your dog secure in the back seat but lets them zip back and forth between the two back windows. They get to move around a bit, and you get to drive safely.
3. Activity Monitor
Have you tried using a Fitbit or some other activity monitor for yourself yet? I admit I’m pretty behind the times, but so many people swear by those things that I at least know what they are. Well, I saw a product recently that advertises itself as a “Fitbit for dogs”, and they are pretty cool. These collars use a GPS locator to tell you where your dog is at all times, and can even alert you if your dog leaves a specific area. You can track how much movement your dog is getting, which may be good for dogs who need to lose a few pounds, and you can also use the collar to make certain sounds for training. The LINK AKC Smart Dog Collar may be the start of a new trend of dog products.
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4. Chilled Water Bowl
Getting back to the low-tech end of things, this little invention actually makes a lot of sense. It’s a dog bowl for water that has an insert that you can freeze. The insert then chills the bowl itself so that the water stays cooler, longer. Why not just put ice in the bowl, you ask? Well, ice melts and the water only stays cool for a little while. The FrostyBowlz Chilled Pet Bowl keeps water cool for about 14 hours, and some reviewers say it actually lasts way longer than that. If you have to go to work and leave your dog outside (or in a warm house), this could be a lifesaver. I actually ordered one of these after my Pinterest spree the other day, and I’m looking forward to trying it out.
5. Car Window Vent
Here’s something I would never have thought of, but it makes perfect sense! If you’re ever traveling with your dog and you worry that they may jump out the window; or if you need to leave them in the car for a second, and want to leave a window cracked – but don’t want to worry about idiots walking by reaching in to pet your dog – then this is the invention for you. It’s a small collapsible grill that basically creates a barrier between a half-open window and the top of your car. This allows your dog to get fresh air but stops them from getting out, or anyone getting in. And best of all, the Beirui Universal Car Window Travel Vent is pretty cheap. You can try out this dog invention for less than $15. It beats trying to rig up something yourself.
6. Leash with Umbrella
All right, people, look: Dogs don’t mind getting wet. There, I said it. But if you don’t want to dry off a wet dog when you get in from a walk in the rain, then you might love this dog invention. It’s a leash that has a dog-sized umbrella right over the dog. It’s only made for smaller dogs, under 20 inches long, such as a Yorkie or a Pomeranian (or a puppy of course), but I admit it is a pretty smart way to keep your dog from getting soaked. It won’t stop their feet from getting wet. Reviews are mixed on the LESYPET Umbrella with Leash, but it’s worth a try if this has plagued your life.
7. iFetch
When I think of inventions, I think of something like the iFetch. This is an automatic fetch ball launcher for little dogs (there’s also a version for big dogs) that teaches them to interact with the toy. Basically, when a dog goes around to the back of the toy and returns the ball, the ball gets launched. You can set it to launch in three different distances, and it doesn’t launch them hard enough to damage your house, so you can leave this out for a dog to play with while you’re at work. Pretty neat, and very simple. There’s no fancy app or sensor or anything else you have to worry about breaking down. The dog learns to return the ball, the ball gets tossed. Easy as pie.
8. Stairs for the Car
Do you have a bigger dog who is old or unable to jump out of the car without hurting themselves? You can get a set of stairs that attaches to the hitch of a vehicle so that they can climb down without breaking their back or yours. I think this is one of the smarter dog inventions I’ve ever seen, but that could just be the aches and pains I remember from lifting my old Boxer, Gloria, in and out of the truck when she got older. The PetSafeSolvitPupSTEP is a pretty useful invention that doesn’t seem at all crazy to me.
9. Scratch Shield
This isn’t the most ingenious invention I’ve ever seen, but it’s simple, easy to use, and solves a serious problem that most pet owners struggle with. The Laminet Deluxe Pet Scratch Shield is a flexible plastic guard that fits over your door, hanging from the handle and attaching at the bottom of the door. When your dog jumps up to beg entry or exit, the door is protected from their nails. It’s clear so theoretically it won’t ruin your décor, and most of the reviews fall in the five- and four-star range. If my door hadn’t succumbed long ago to its scratched appearance, I’d get it for myself.
10. Garden Hose Fountain
If your dog spends a lot of time outside, and you don’t want to worry about their water bowl getting tipped over, or worry that your dog will drink up all the water before you get there to refill it, you’ve only got a few options. One of those is this neat invention that attaches to a garden hose. You just attach this little fountain to a hose, turn on the water, and leave. Much like a sprinkler with a timer, the water won’t just spray all over the place, so you aren’t wasting anything. When your dog steps on the pad, water shoots up from the fountain,and they can get a drink. Provided your dog won’t just stand there wasting water, it’s a pretty good way to ensure that they’ve got backup water before you go. This one is the MATOP Pet Water Fountain,and you can usually get it for under $50. Reviews are all over the place on this one, so buyer beware, but I do think it’s a fun invention worth mentioning.
11. Smart Feeders
We can’t really talk about cool dog inventions without mentioning the world of smart feeders. There are a ton of them out there, and they all serve the same purpose: to feed your dog the correct amount of food, and only the correct amount of food, at the time that you specify, when you’re not around. Some of them work with a timer and just dispense a pre-measured amount of food at a set time. A good example is this cool smart feeder, the CO-Z Automatic Pet Feeder. It lets you pre-load up to five one-cup servings for a small dog, so you can get through multiple feedings without having to refill. You set the meal time,and you also record a little message to alert your dog to the fact that the food has been served.
Another type of smart feeder works with your smartphone. You feed your dog by opening the app and commanding the device to dispense a given amount of food. These are better for houses where you’ve got dogs who have different serving size needs, provided they are trained to eat at different times and don’t steal each other’s food. The PetnetSmartFeeder is a good example.
Finally, you’ve got a smart feeder that reads a pet’s microchip to dispense a specific amount of food, like the SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder. If food theft is a problem in your house, and you’ve got one pet who needs prescription food or a specific serving size, this could be the answer. But you have to load the meal yourself every day – all the feeder does is open the covering on the food to the right pet.
Dog’s Products On Amazon
Last update on 2023-12-21 at 07:01 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The Final Word
So what do you think about all these nifty inventions? I love checking out all the ways that dog owners are making life easier for themselves, and for the rest of us. While some of these are a little high tech for my tastes, I like that many are just common sense solutions to problems we’ve all struggled with. I think I’ll be keeping my eye on the world of dog inventions – maybe I’ll find something that will change Janice and Leroy’s lives! Or maybe I’ll just find something that makes me chuckle. I could always use a good laugh.
Related Content:
3 Steps to Choosing the Right Dog Collar
The Best No-Pull Dog Leads and Collars
5 Best Leather Dog Leashes