Dogs

Documenting the location and number of rare animals isn’t an easy task - by definition there just aren’t that many of them around. That’s why researchers at Auburn University, Alabama, have turned to man’s best friend to lend a helping hand – or more accurately, a helping nose. The school’s EcoDogs project trains detection dogs to find endangered animal species, or rather their sign (read excrement), in the field to aid researchers in their goals of ecological research, management, and conservation.  Read More

Dogs make great pets - they are loyal, playful, enjoy being outdoors and are fairly easy to care for. But one job most people would happily give up (apart from poop-scooping!) is cleaning out and filling up the dog’s drink bowl. That’s why the Doggie Fountain is instantly appealing – not only does it provide your pet with clean, fresh water – once installed, you won’t have to lift a finger because it runs on pooch power.  Read More

Genetic fingerprinting using DNA is such a staple of TV cop shows that it’s easy to take such technology for granted. But it wasn’t all that long ago that DNA fingerprinting was cutting edge technology that was horrendously expensive. However, as the cost of such technology has plummeted, the DNA-based applications available to common folk have multiplied. Aside from using DNA testing to uncover ones genealogy, we’ve even got dating sites making matches based on DNA. Now man’s best friend can benefit from DNA technology with a DNA Breed Identification Kit that can identify the breeds that come together to make up your lovable pooch.  Read More

This is pure genius. Lieben, a company based in Japan, has created an umbrella that will keep your dog nice and dry when you walk him on a rainy day. The concept is surprisingly simple. It looks like a regular umbrella, but the canopy is inverted so that when you point it downwards it's actually right-side up. The umbrella is transparent as well so as to not impede the dog's vision.  Read More

The Pet Pooch Power System is a clever, cordless vacuum cleaner that deals with your dog’s mess. Its long handle means you won’t have to bend down to scoop up the waste and once collected, it’s deposited neatly into a biodegradable plastic bag for easy disposal.  Read More

Love your music but can’t understand why it sends your cat or dog flying out of the room? Well, apparently it’s because your furry friend hears the high and low frequencies in sounds that the human ear can’t detect – so playing your favorite tunes can really irritate, disturb or even scare your pet. Here’s a clever solution that could soon have you both in auditory heaven - the My Pet Speaker. It reduces the unsettling frequencies of music - so it’s gentle on your pet’s ears - and lets you still enjoy the music you love.  Read More

Wondering why your mutt is gaining weight and your pet food bill is going through the roof – even though you’re regularly feeding the dog what you always have? Could it be that someone else in your household is feeding your pet, too, or forgetting to walk your canine pal. And when was the last time your dog had its flea or heart medication? A new, easy-to-use three-button device called the Dog-e-Minder should help solve some of these problems. It attaches to your pet’s collar and shows the last time your dog was fed, walked or had its medication. When idle, the Dog-e-Minder works as a backlit identification tag.  Read More

Product designer Matteo Cibic has come up with a very distinctive desktop speaker in the aptly named Hi-Fido. Shaped like a headless dog wearing an Elizabethan collar, Hi-Fido sports a 150-watt speaker that “uses the acoustic properties of ceramic to diffuse the high quality sound with a bass reflex system”.  Read More

It's been a while since there was a dog and cat census in the UK - about three cat years or twenty human years in fact. They've gone undetected, hidden behind the sofa, curled up in the laundry, and therefore not considered much of a subject for scientific peer-reviewed journals. So for all this time it's escaped our notice that numbers of domestic dogs and cats are increasing, and while cats and dogs are owned by people with similar characteristics, cat owners are more likely to be qualified to degree level.  Read More