I’m currently writing about the huge variety of fitness trackers and sports watches out there. For humans. What about our four-legged running buddies? I’ll admit I’ve tried putting my GPS watch on Moxie before to get her stats. You can imagine how that went. Good news – there is a better way. It’s called Whistle!
I’m going to give you a discount code and opportunity to WIN a kit, but first let me tell you what it is and how it’s worked with Moxie.
What does Whistle do?
A lot! First and foremost, it is a GPS tracker that alerts you via email and/or text if your dog escapes. You attach the tracker to your dog’s collar and use their app to designate your “Whistle zone” on a satellite map. This zone is where your dog is supposed to be, i.e. your property. If Moxie leaves her Whistle zone, I get an alert.
Second, it is an Activity Tracker! Kind of like a Fitbit for Fido. You can see how active your dog is or how much rest she’s getting throughout the day and set custom goals. How much romping around in the backyard is Moxie really doing? [Spoiler alert: absolutely none.]
What else can it do?
- If your dog goes AWOL, you can ping his or her location in the app. A map will show you where your dog is! No more frantic guesswork and driving aimlessly around the neighborhood.
- Easily reset Whistle zone. Traveling? Camping? Easily reset your Whistle zone when you arrive at your destination and avoid any Homeward Bound situations. (Remember that movie?)
- Set medication reminders! Never miss a dose and log what was given and when so there are no mistakes.
- Activity history & charts can help you see positive or concerning trends in your pet’s health.
- Enjoy the Whistle community! Interact with other dog lovers who actually enjoy seeing Moxie’s photos and stroke my furmom ego.
- Multiple “owners”. Obviously Moxie owns me, but as far as the device is concerned, I can give others access to her pet tracker. This will be useful when we’re away for Christmas and she’s staying with friends.
- Too hot? Too cold? While this feature hasn’t been released yet, the pet tracker does have the capability of sensing your pet’s ambient temperature!
Whistle Pros & Cons
The battery life on this thing is excellent! It has a base/charging station that senses the pet tracker. When Moxie is near the base station, the device automatically goes into power saving mode. Genius. Also, it’s really simple to set up and start using.
The tracker itself is pretty large. On Moxie, an 80lb dog, it seems proportional. However, on my mom’s mini Yorkie? This might be a non-starter. Also, the way the device attaches to the collar is no good for the braided paracord collar (too thick) my husband made for Moxie. So we have a secondary strap that holds her Whistle.
Pictured above is the tracker tied on to her paracord collar. Still worked.
To be fair she hasn’t seemed to notice or mind at all! And it does seem very secure and sturdy, so she can’t scratch it off, rub it off, or damage it.
And of course, there is the monthly fee for the GPS service. However, if you have a Houdini hound dog or spend a lot of time on off-leash adventures, I’d say it’s worth the fee to make sure your pet stays found.
#MoxieTheRidge is fit and fashionable!
[…and she hates sunglasses….]
Whistle Giveaway & Discount
Discount code: Use WHISTLEFIT for $30 off until the Wednesday before Thanksgiving (11/23).
Giveaway: Enter to win (1) Whistle and 3 months of service! Ends Sunday, 11/20 at midnight PST. Winners must be U.S. residents. One prize per person as there are multiple giveaways on other blogs.
How cool is that? I would love to win won for my dog! What a great idea!
Good luck, Donna!
I think this product would be great to see/track what our dog actually does all day while we’re gone. As far as the GPS thing…not really something we’d need because he stays inside the house. We seldom ever let him out unless we’re with him (on a leash). I think the monthly fee would be a deal-breaker for me ;-(
Kimberly Hatting recently posted…Hullabaloo all over the place
You should get the Activity Monitor then – no GPS or monthly fee but you get the other benefits! http://shop.whistle.com/products/whistle-activity-monitor
I saw this on another blog and it’s just so brilliant! I love that it will text you. Awesome. (PS I love Homeward Bound.)
Chase, Sassy & Shadow forever! 😀
We have three pugs. They are all very different, even though they are all ridiculous. However, the activity tracker would be great for the one I need to have on a diet. She’s really not very… how shall I say… interested in doing anything that requires moving.
Jenn recently posted…race report: evergreen pumpkin run 10 miler {10.30.2016}
OMG I soooo want to win one of these, I wasn’t picked to review it but I run with my dog a lot and I secretly want to see what he does the rest of the day after we run! lol. No shame!
Haha! Yes, just how active are they when we’re not around? Hmmm.
This is a cool idea! I don’t have a dog but I would use it if I could
Deborah @ Confessions of a mother runner recently posted…Veteran’s Day & Birthday Runs & Fun
I’ve been considering one of these for Sol as she gets older and I want to make sure she’s getting a good amount of exercise each week. I didn’t know it helped remind you about meds too, that could be helpful in the future. Great write up!!
Thanks Meg!
I think this sounds like a neat thing – much more useful than a Garmin and associated account for the pup.
Moxie’s face with the glasses on… is everything. I’m giving one of these to my mom for christmas because she lives in the middle of nowhere! I hope I win one for her!
I assume your mom has a dog…and you’re not expecting your mom to wear this herself? :-p
This is a fun idea. I like the texting feature – that makes it useful as well as fun.
My pup Cocoa is the most active cocker I’ve had! She could escape at any minute–I think I might need this!
Wendy@Taking the Long Way Home recently posted…What’s All the Fuss About?
This would be great for my pet, he likes to run and I would love to see how much activity he actually gets during the day. He’s a little chihuahua.
Toni recently posted…5 To The Finish Line…Redemption #TeamASICSNYCM
What a cool product! We only have a gecko and a cat, but I could see how it would be really useful if you had a dog who likes to roam.
I don’t know, I bet that Gecko gets around. 😀
Our dog is a very overprotective watchdog. Just barks at EVERYBODY, lol. At least we know that he likes to look out for us, and his house.
Kathryn @ Dancing to Running recently posted…Holiday Gift Guide and Dick’s Gift Card Giveaway (Courtesy of XShadyside Pittsburgh Gyms)
Good boy! He’s got the ruff job. 😉
very cool! We lost our lab lost year but are thinking about getting a puppy 🙂
Oh sorry to hear that! I think you should get a puppy. Puppies are the best!