By Andrew Liszewski

Unless you own one of those little spazz dogs that never stops running around and yapping, your four legged friend needs as much exercise as you do to stay in shape. And to make sure they’re getting that exercise, Takara Tomy has come out with a pedometer created specifically for dogs. It was designed under the supervision and advisement of vets and dog trainers and is able to monitor movement in four legs instead of just two. It’s also got a small sensor that can differentiate between walking, and when the animal is just shaking or moving its head.

The small LCD display provides feedback on your dog’s physical activities via a set of thirty-two different icons like sleeping, running or eating, and since they’re designed to wear the pedometer all day, it also doubles as a digital dog tag. Now I’m not sure where online you can buy one, but if you find a place you can expect it to run about $55.

[ Newlaunches - A Pedometer for dogs so fluffy stays in shape ]

By Andrew Liszewski

So far Hammacher Schlemmer has managed to avoid the unfortunate demise of The Sharper Image by keeping their catalog stocked with unique items that don’t immediately make you think “crap!” But it’s items like this that make me wonder if the road to SharperImageTown isn’t just a few short turns away. The Fish Agility Training Set will apparently allow you to teach your ‘pet’ fish a series of underwater activities like swimming through hoops, pushing a soccer ball or navigating a slalom course. Instead of their usual routine of eat, swim, eat, swim, eat, swim, die.

The set comes with all the paraphernalia you’ll need to provide training and positive enforcement like a feeding wand you can use to lead them around. And if your fish tank happens to include certain varieties like Parrotfish or Cichlids, you can even teach them to play fetch thanks to their natural tendencies to move gravel around with their mouths. Thrilling!

Checking the calendar again it’s definitely not April 1st, so you can actually buy this set from Hammacher Schlemmer for $39.95. Oh I get it! There’s the real trick!

[ The Fish Agility Training Set ]

By Luke Anderson

I’ve never had a dog that couldn’t swim. In fact, all of the ones I did own loved to go swimming. I guess I always figured that swimming was just one of those normal things that every pooch can do. Apparently there’s enough of a demand for canine water safety equipment that someone developed this floating collar.

This strange contraption is worn just like any other collar, but has a few tricks up its sleeve. There is an on-board humidity sensor that can detect when it has been submerged in water. The collar then inflates to keep man’s best friend from sinking. The collar seems pretty obtrusive to be worn all the time, so I guess you would just put it on when it starts to flood, or you decided to take your pup out on the lake. It’s currently only a concept design, so you’ll just have to teach your pet how to doggy paddle for now.

[ Degree119 ] VIA [ Dvice ]

By Luke Anderson

I’m not sure how many of you are cat owners, but of those that are, I wonder how many of you actually buy toys for your feline friend. I used to, however, I have discovered that my cat tends to lose interest in most of them, opting instead to chase after my feet, the curtains, and other times, absolutely nothing at all. Seriously, she’ll tear through the house as if she were chasing some sort of prey, when in reality there isn’t anything there. Well, if your cat actually plays with the toys you purchase, then you might check out this Fishing Rod & Reel.

This little number is basically a small fishing pole with catnip-filled toys in place of a hook. This lets you participate in your cat’s fun, while still sitting comfortably in your chair. If you need another cat toy in the house, then this can be yours for $22.

[ WhatOnEarth ] VIA [ FoolishGadgets ]

By Luke Anderson

Cats tend to be creatures that like to come and go as they please. Sure, you can try and regulate when they are outside and when aren’t, but at the end of the day, the cat only comes back in when it wants to. One option you have is to install a cat flap, which will let them enter and leave when they chose. Of course the downside is that any cat can make their way into your house. That’s why you need a SureFlap.

If you don’t mind implanting your feline friend with a tiny microchip, then this might be a great solution for you. When your cat walks up to the door, the ID chip will let the door know that its safe to open, and it will do so.  The real question is how much the device will cost, since there is no word on pricing or availability.

[ SureFlap ] VIA [ GeekAlerts ]

By Luke Anderson

Have you ever had a car which was so slow that you were convinced it was powered by a small rodent? While I doubt that there was actually a hamster under the hood of that old Geo, this plastic vehicle is strictly critter-powered.

The Critter Cruiser  and Hamtrack are, as you would imagine a race track and plastic car. Just put your tiny pet into the plastic exercise wheel (which powers the car) and set it on its way. The car works both on and off of the track, so it can wheel its way all over the house. The car itself is around $36, or you can get the car and track set for around $63.

[ Firebox ] VI [ RGS ]

By Andrew Liszewski

Ok, so maybe simply multiplying by 7 isn’t the most accurate way to gauge your pet’s age. In fact, university studies have shown that depending on the size and breed of your cat or dog, they could be anywhere from 2x to 7x the equivalent human age, which complicates things a bit when it comes to crunching the numbers. Thankfully though, this Pet Care Clock from Sega Toys is designed to do the difficult math for you. It’s your standard LCD desk clock that shows the time and date, but once you enter your pet’s birth date and specify their approximate size, the clock will also show you their supposed age. (Calculated with a variety of different formulas.) And if you’re the type who likes to celebrate a pet’s birthday you’re in luck. In theory if your dog is aging 7x as fast as you, they should also have 7 birthdays a year, and this clock will actually alert you to every single one of them so you can remember to pick up a gift and a cake on the way home.

[ Pet Care Clock ] VIA [ Gearlog ]

By Luke Anderson

I’ve always loved cats, and generally enjoy having one around the house. Of course some felines have a tendency to scratch every piece of furniture in the house to bits, despite the fact that you’ve purchased a perfectly good scratching post. Others might decide that certain items around the house need “marked”. Well if your cat has a bad habit or two that you need to take care of, you might consider the Tabby Tote Cat Carrier.

No, this isn’t a real device (this one was), but it is hilarious. Yes, I know that it’s completely wrong, and I’d never subject an animal to that kind of cruelty. However, when you come home to discover your brand new couch has been shredded to bits, you’ll remember this one.

VIA [ FoolishGadgets ]

By Andrew Liszewski

I know there’s a lot of hype surrounding them, but if you’re in the market for a new vacuum cleaner I can’t recommend the Dyson models enough. Their upright ‘Animal’ model has particularly impressed me when it comes to battling a golden retriever who seems to shed and regrow his coat every 4 to 6 hours. Unfortunately though the upright model isn’t incredibly portable, and if you’re battling pet hair in your house, there’s a good chance you’re waging the same war in your car which is why Dyson has also introduced an ‘Animal’ version of their handheld DC16 line. (Also known as the Root 6 in North America.)

What sets the Animal version apart from the other Root 6 models is a motorized brushbar attachment that basically ‘scrubs’ the pet hair off of fabrics and other upholstery. But like with the other handheld Dyson vacuums, the amazing suction power means you only get about 6 minutes of battery life. However, they do apparently recharge up to 3 times faster than their competitor’s models, which is great because I don’t anyone who can’t wait to clean. The Root 6 Animal is available directly from Dyson for $199.99.

[ Dyson DC16 Animal Handheld ] VIA [ Shiny Shiny ]