The landscape of smart technology for pets in 2020 is vast. Donnie Boutwell, CEO of Media Systems, gives his top three picks for keeping your four-legged family members safe, healthy, and comfortable.
Doggie Cams
Doggie cams are not very expensive, and they’re easy to manage. According to Boutwell, something as simple as a Ring Indoor Security Camera that allows you to see the room and even talk back is a great start. In addition to Ring, there are several other options on the market if this is what you’re looking for. “What we have in our home and love is Furbo,” says Boutwell. “Furbo takes doggie cams to another level by giving us real-time alerts to a cell phone. We know when Bennie is barking, crying or howling, and we can talk to him through the two-way audio feature. It records 1080p HD video with the added “Nanny” cloud recording service, and our favorite feature is that we can toss him a treat.”
Smart Collars
There are several smart collars on the market now, and if you read other reviews, you’ll see that Fi Collar is at the top of the list. The extended battery life sets it apart from other collars out there, and it can tell where your dog is within about 7 feet. According to Boutwell, that may be the most critical feature if you have a pet who tends to run. Fi Collar also has many health features to keep tabs on your dog and utilizes GPS over cellular service, which, according to Boutwell, is incredible technology for this kind of a device.
Connected Home
Crestron is the premiere home automation system with integrations for whole-home lighting, shades, drapes, music, climate, TV, Home Theater, door locks, and security. There are so many opportunities to automate your entire home with Crestron’s features, not only for your pet but also your whole family. Shades open and close with sunrise and sunset, lights ramp up gently in the morning, and the climate is automatically adjusted. Staying out later than usual? Not a problem, Boutwell says with the push of a button on your iPhone, your pet can be settled in front of the TV watching Animal Planet. “Crestron can integrate with WaveTrend.net RF Readers (worn on collars) to open doggie doors, change lighting scenes, turn on TVs, or whatever you could dream of doing for your pooch,” says Boutwell. “Automating the home is great for you, but it’s even better for your four-legged family members who stay home all day.”
For more information about home automation, visit mediasystems.com.