Oh! Gizmo

By Andrew Liszewski

My parents often wonder what their dog does while he’s home alone. I’ve suggested they set up a digital camera to take some time-lapse photos while they’re away, but I think something like that might be a bit beyond their gadget comfort level. But if you’re the type who lets their pet wander the neighborhood all day, and have wondered where they go and what they do, this Pet’s Eye View Camera will document their wacky misadventures.

The built-in intervalometer can be set to automatically take photos at intervals of 1, 5 or 15 minutes, but even with a crappy resolution of just 640×480 (which they claim is fine for 4×6 prints) the camera only has enough memory to store about 35 shots. So if you set the timer for a 1 minute interval, it’ll run out of space in about 35 minutes. The camera includes a 4-foot USB cable for transferring the photos to your PC or recharging, and the ABS plastic housing is water-resistant so as long as your pet stays out of the local ponds or lakes, it should survive.

You can get it from Discover This for $47.95.

[ Pet’s Eye View Camera ] VIA [ bookofjoe ]

By Andrew Liszewski

Got a problem with nuisance animals in your backyard or garden? Why turn the hose on them when you can reach for this contraption instead. The Mega-Sonic Scatter-Cat Repeller looks like a megaphone because it actually is one. To use the Scatter-Cat you just point it at the cat, bird, dog, squirrel or other non-human intruder on your property and pull the trigger. An ultrasonic signal that’s undetectable to the human ear will scare off the varmint from up to 65 feet away. It may take a few blasts before the animal stops coming back, but they’ll eventually get the picture.

To ensure the signal is being aimed in the right direction, the Mega-Sonic Scatter-Cat even includes a laser sight that’s activated when you pull the trigger. And while the ultrasonic signal won’t disturb your neighbors, it can also be switched to a sonic signal that can be heard by humans, presumably if you’re trying to scare off a group of toddlers or small children who are tearing up your garden.

You can get the Mega-Sonic Scatter-Cat Repeller from Selections.com for about $30.

[ Mega-Sonic Scatter-Cat Repeller ] VIA [ Crave ]

By Luke Anderson

I don’t know if you’ve ever tried to house train a dog, but it can be a difficult task. However, this strange little brick is supposed to make it about as easy as it gets.

There isn’t much information on how this works exactly, but the Potty Training Brick is supposed to have a unique scent that makes dogs want to pee on it. Will it work? Who knows, but at $20, it would be well worth it if it did.

[ TaylorGifts ] VIA [ RGS ]

By Luke Anderson

I have a cat that loves to hang out with me in my office. Usually he will either lie in my lap, or try to make himself comfortable on the desk. I usually don’t mind him in my lap if I’m not too busy, but my desk is too cluttered to accommodate my feline friend. That’s why I need the Kit in Box.

This is a nice little bed for your cat that clamps onto the edge of your desk. This gives your furry friend someplace out of the way that they can hang out while you work. Of course the trick is getting them to actually use the bed and not just try to plop down in their favorite spot on your desk. If they actually use it, then your $50 investment would likely be worth it.

[ RefinedFeline ] VIA [ Dvice ]

By Evan Ackerman

Unless you own Lassie (or maybe Triumph), you probably have no idea what your dog is saying most of the time. This prototype LED wand operates on the same principle as the Lampex LED message wand that we wrote about last year: persistence of vision turns a line of moving, blinking LEDs into text. The only difference here is, instead of waving a wand around with your arm (and looking like an idiot), your dog waves the Tail Communicator around with its tail. The Tail Communicator measures the WPM (wags per minute) and translates that into what your dog supposedly wants.

This concept was also shown as part of a Wired story from back in 2005 about Augmenting the Animal Kingdom. Other concepts from the article include night vision goggles and GPS devices for rodents and stealth jackets for whales; check out the slide show here.

VIA [ DVICE ]

By Luke Anderson

How many times have you had a dog run away? Usually if you live in the country it isn’t a big deal (except during hunting season) however, in the city your pet can be in a lot of danger from all of the traffic. If you’re concerned about losing track of them, you might be interested in the PetsCell.

This cool device straps around your K9’s neck and can do a multitude of things. First it will track your dog’s location at specific intervals (from every minute to every hour or more) and let you know when they have left a specific area. If they do go outside of your designated perimeter, you will be notified via email and SMS. The GPS tracking of your pet is also stepped up to once per minute until they are back home safe and sound.

You can also use the web interface to track where your dog goes throughout the day, that way you can get to know their habits. You can even export these tracks to Google Earth for a better look. One more excellent feature is the inclusion of Skype compatibility. Why would you need to call your pet? Sure, it would be funny to see their reaction, but that’s not why it’s there. If your dog is taken in by someone, they can call you to let you know where they are. There is also a smaller model that does not include this.

There is no word yet on pricing, though they do hope to ship it out sometime in the fall of this year. Expect to pay a price for both the collar itself and a monthly fee for service.

By Andrew Liszewski

Check out this fantastic do-it-yourself project from the June 1936 edition of Popular Mechanics. If you need to travel with your dog but hate getting all that pet fur in the back seat, why not just stick him in a crude canvas sack that’s hanging off one of the rear doors? I’m sure the animal will feel completely safe and comfortable, and as long as you remember to cut the “hole for head” the dog will also be able to enjoy the refreshing breeze while you’re cruising down the highway… Awful… Just Awful.

And let’s just hope that Mr. Responsible sitting in the driver’s seat there doesn’t forget about his loyal companion when he goes to open his door. Next month, how to turn your roof-mounted ski rack into a jungle gym on-the-go for your kids!

[ Dog Rides Comfortably in Sack on Running Board ] VIA [ Autoblog ]

By Andrew Liszewski

If you have trouble finding the perfect sized collar for your dog, large cat, wolf, hyena etc. the Cinch-It should put an end to your search. Instead of holes that are usually spaced about a half-inch apart, the Cinch-It uses a ratcheting system similar to a zip-tie. As a result it can be adjusted in 2mm increments making it pretty easy to find the perfect fit for your pet. It’s also easily removed with just the push of a button and is made from 100% non-toxic materials in case someone thinks it will make a better chew-toy.

It’s available from the Petnique website in large ($25) or medium ($22) sizes and comes in black, blue, orange, green or pink.

[ Cinch-It Dog Collar ] VIA [ Coolest Gadgets ]

By Andrew Liszewski

Are you worried that your dog might be increasing your carbon footprint? Well instead of giving them a tennis ball to gnaw on, you might want to try the RecycleBall or RecycleBone. They’re both made from the ‘rubbery scraps’ that are left over from the manufacturing process of Orbee-Tuff toys, and apparently the recycled versions are just as strong and durable as the real ones.

But to be honest I’ve always considered dogs to be an eco-friendly pet anyways. They’re handy for dealing with food scraps, are a great source of heat on a cold night and will pretty much recycle anything in your home into a chew toy whether you like it or not.

Both the RecycleBall and RecycleBone are available from Branch for $12.

[ RecycleBall & RecycleBone ] VIA [ Cribcandy ]

By Andrew Liszewski

I really hate seeing overweight pets, so I’m not exactly thrilled with this Jogger designed to carry larger dogs. I can maybe see the need for one for smaller pets who tire quickly, or an older one who has trouble walking, but if you’ve got a healthy Golden Retriever at home you really shouldn’t be pushing it around in something like this. No matter how pampered the pet may be.

Now to clarify, this kit actually converts the Solvit Track’r Pet Bicycle Trailer into a jogging friendly version. So the kit’s $49.99 price tag from K9 Electronics doesn’t include the additional $149.99 for the trailer itself.

[ Solvit Jogging Kit for Track’r ] VIA [ The Red Ferret Journal ]