Best Pet Tech for Dogs

Dog resting its head on a Furbo smart pet camera on a bed, showcasing smart technology for pets.

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Pet Photographers & Dog Lifestyle Writers

Updated 19 September 20269 min read

Shell & Katy are two style-savvy dog mums celebrating the best in pet-friendly living. A pet photographer and dog lifestyle writer, together they share trending pet products, recipes, inspiration and expert tips with discerning dog lovers around the world.

All articles by Shell & Katy

Every dog owner knows the small pang of leaving the house: wondering whether dinner will be on time, whether the barking has started, whether that gap in the fence has been discovered. The best pet tech for dogs is built for exactly those moments. Good smart pet products do not replace time together; they fill in the hours when you cannot be there, and make the ones you share a little easier.

The 13 picks below are grouped by the problem they solve, from GPS trackers and pet cameras to smart feeders and health sensors. Each one comes with an honest note on who it suits and whether it needs a subscription, because the gadget that earns its place is the one you use every day, not the one that lives in a drawer.

Best pet tech gadgets for dogs, including automatic feeders, ball launchers and smart pet cameras

What Is Pet Technology?

Pet technology, or pet tech, is any smart electronic device designed to improve a pet's safety, health, routine or entertainment. Unlike ordinary accessories, pet tech connects to an app, uses GPS or cellular signals, or automates a task that once needed you in the room. The main categories are GPS trackers and smart collars for safety, pet cameras for monitoring, automatic feeders and fountains for routine, health sensors for wellness, and interactive toys for play.

Which Dog Technology Products Do You Actually Need?

Start with the problem, not the gadget. Match your situation to the type of pet tech that actually solves it.

Your situation	Pet tech that helps	Why it works
Dog is an escape artist	GPS tracker	Live location and an alert the moment they leave a safe zone
Long workdays	Automatic feeder and pet camera	Meals on schedule and check-ins from anywhere
Worried about time alone	Two-way pet camera	See, hear and talk to your dog, and toss a treat
Senior dog or health concerns	Health sensor or smart collar	Trends in sleep, activity, breathing and scratching
Frequent travel	GPS tracker and camera	Safety and monitoring covered, home or away
High-energy dog	Automatic ball launcher	Independent play that burns energy
Dog and cat under one roof	Smart fountain, self-cleaning litter box	Less daily maintenance for mixed households

Smart Safety Tech: GPS Trackers and Smart Collars

A GPS tracker is the pet tech with the highest real-world payoff. If your dog slips a lead or finds a gap in the fence, you see exactly where they are instead of searching street by street. For a deeper comparison of every tracker type, including radio collars for off-grid hiking, see this guide to the best GPS dog collars.

Tractive GPS Tracker

A reliable bodyguard for escape artists. Tractive clips onto an existing collar, tracks live in more than 175 countries, and sends an escape alert the moment your dog leaves a virtual fence. It also logs sleep and activity, and the latest DOG 6 model adds bark monitoring and a battery rated for up to 14 days with power-saving zones. It is waterproof and made for dogs from about nine pounds.

Best for:

escape artists, active dogs and travel.

Subscription:

required for live tracking.

Fi Series 3+ Smart Dog Collar

The long-haul smart collar. Fi is rated for up to three months per charge, works best paired with your phone or its charging base, and sends escape alerts from custom virtual fences. Its behavior insights track activity, rest, scratching, licking, eating, drinking and barking, and Apple Watch owners can check their dog's location from the wrist. Rugged and waterproof, it suits dogs who treat every walk like an expedition. For a subscription-free backup in busy areas, these AirTag dog collars are worth a look.

Best for:

adventurous dogs and owners who hate charging gadgets.

Subscription:

required for GPS tracking.

Smart Pet Cameras and Feeders

Cameras and automatic feeders are the smart pet products most owners use every single day. Together they cover the two biggest worries of a long day away: is my dog okay, and has my dog eaten?

Furbo 360° Dog Camera

Ever wondered what your dog does all day? The Furbo 360° rotates to follow them around the room, lets you talk and listen through two-way audio, and tosses a treat from your phone. Bark alerts tell you when things get noisy, and color night vision keeps the picture clear after dark. For dogs who find time alone hard, it pairs well with calming aids like the one in this Thundershirt review, alongside training and, where needed, advice from a vet or behaviorist.

Best for:

monitoring and dogs who struggle alone.

Subscription:

optional; the Furbo Dog Nanny plan adds smart alerts and video history.

PETLIBRO Automatic Feeder

No more guilty sprint home when a meeting runs late. PETLIBRO feeders serve measured meals on a schedule you set in the app, which keeps routines steady for dogs whose tummies prefer clockwork. The design is clean enough for an open-plan kitchen, and camera versions let you watch dinner being served. Portion control is also a quiet help for dogs who need to watch their weight.

Best for:

busy owners and dogs on strict feeding schedules.

Subscription:

none needed for scheduling.

Best Pet Tech for Health and Comfort

Health tech works quietly in the background, building a picture of what is normal for your dog so that changes stand out. None of it diagnoses anything, but it gives you better information to bring to your vet.

Maven Pet Health Tracker

A small sensor with a big job. Co-created with veterinarians, Maven clips onto your dog's existing collar and tracks activity, rest, heart rate, resting breathing rate and itch behaviors, then flags changes against your dog's own baseline. It is especially reassuring for senior dogs and those managing heart or skin conditions. Read the full Maven Pet review for a closer look at the app.

Best for:

seniors and dogs with ongoing health needs.

Subscription:

required. Use code PETCARE10 for 10% off.

K&H Heated Dog Bed

A warm hug that lasts all night. K&H heated beds warm to a gentle set temperature rather than getting hotter the longer they run, which makes them a comforting choice for older dogs with stiff joints, thin-coated breeds and chilly homes. Check the cord is protected if your dog is a chewer, and make sure they can move off the heat whenever they like.

Best for:

senior dogs, thin coats and cold climates.

Subscription:

none.

Smart Play and Enrichment Gadgets

Play tech is at its best as a supplement to walks and games with you, not a replacement. Rotate these with simple ways to mentally stimulate your dog so the novelty never wears off.

iFetch Automatic Ball Launcher

For the dog who would play fetch until your arm gives out. The iFetch launches mini tennis balls at adjustable distances of up to 30 feet, and many dogs learn to drop the ball back in themselves, which is endlessly entertaining to watch. Keep sessions short and supervised so enthusiastic dogs do not overdo it.

Best for:

small to medium high-energy dogs.

Subscription:

none.

Wobble Wag Giggle Ball

Low tech with a high fun factor. The Giggle Ball makes silly giggling sounds as it rolls, with no batteries or charging required, and a glow-in-the-dark version keeps evening play going. It taps straight into a dog's urge to chase and makes solo play far more interesting.

Best for:

high-energy dogs who need solo play.

Subscription:

none.

Smart Home and Care Tools for Dog Owners

Some of the most useful pet tech tools are the unglamorous ones that quietly take care of the chores.

Power Pet Automatic Door

A door that opens only for your dog. An ultrasonic collar key tells the motorized panel to slide up as your dog approaches, then close behind them, keeping neighborhood cats and wildlife outside. It is made in the USA and runs quietly. Installation is more involved than a basic flap, so it is worth it mainly for households where a dog genuinely comes and goes all day.

Best for:

homes with safe, fenced yards.

Subscription:

none.

LuckyTail Pet Nail Grinder

Nail day without the drama. This cordless grinder uses a diamond bit and two speeds to smooth nails gradually, avoiding the pinch that makes many dogs wary of clippers, and it runs quietly enough not to spook nervous pets. For more at-home grooming tech, see this guide to the best dog nail grinders

Best for:

dogs who dislike clippers.

Subscription:

none.

Pet Genie Pail

Someone has to talk about waste. The Pet Genie locks odors away with a sliding lever system and swallows used pee pads, dog diapers and waste bags, which makes it a quiet hero for puppy training, senior dogs and apartment living. One refill lasts a good while, so it is easy to keep on top of.

Best for:

puppy training, seniors and small homes.

Subscription:

none, just refill bags.

Smart Pet Products for Multi-Pet Homes

If a cat shares the household, these two smart pet products take care of the feline side of the routine.

Neakasa M1 Plus Self-Cleaning Litter Box

Neakasa M1 Plus self-cleaning cat litter box with an open-top design

The chore nobody misses. The Neakasa M1 Plus sifts and seals waste automatically, and the brand rates it for up to 14 days between emptying for a single cat. Its open-top design feels less confined than hooded models, and it runs quietly. Keep it somewhere your dog cannot reach, since many dogs find litter boxes far too interesting.

Best for:

dog and cat households.

Subscription:

none.

Wonder Creature Water Fountain

Wonder Creature pet water fountain with filtered, circulating water

Flowing, filtered water tempts picky drinkers, and the quiet pump keeps timid pets from being startled. Although it is marketed for cats, a fountain suits small dogs too, and it is an easy way to encourage better hydration across the household.

Best for:

cats and small dogs who ignore still bowls.

Subscription:

none, just replacement filters.

Pet Tech Worth Buying vs Smart Gadgets That Are Mostly Hype

Not every smart pet product earns its place. This is how the main categories tend to play out in real homes.

Usually worth it	Nice to have, or niche
GPS tracker for escape-prone or active dogs	Robot companion toys that many dogs ignore
Pet camera with two-way audio	Novelty gadgets with short-lived appeal
Automatic feeder for long workdays	Smart treat safes with limited uses
Water fountain for reluctant drinkers	Smart pet doors, unless your dog uses the yard all day
Health sensor for seniors and dogs with conditions	Experimental AI companions that are not yet proven

Pet Tech Subscriptions and Hidden Costs

Many smart pet products look affordable up front, then rely on a monthly or annual plan for their core features. Check the terms before you buy.

Device	Subscription?	What you lose without it
GPS tracker	Yes, essential	Live tracking altogether
Smart GPS collar	Yes	GPS tracking and most health data
Health sensor	Yes	Trends and alerts
Pet camera	Optional	Smart alerts and video history
Automatic feeder	Usually no	Nothing; scheduling is included
Water fountain	No	Nothing; filters are the only ongoing cost

Annual plans are usually cheaper than paying monthly, so if you are sure a tracker will stay on your dog's collar, the longer commitment tends to pay off.

Pet Technology Trends to Watch

The biggest shift in dog technology is from location to wellbeing. Smart collars and cameras increasingly use AI to learn each dog's normal patterns and flag changes in sleep, scratching or breathing before they are obvious. Pet tech is also plugging into Apple Home, Amazon Alexa and Google Home, so feeders, doors and cameras can run on one routine. And as subscription fatigue grows, more brands are offering one-time-purchase trackers and devices built for multi-dog homes. If you travel with your dog, pair that tech with these tips for traveling with a dog.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What is the best pet tech for dogs?

The best pet tech depends on the problem you want to solve. For safety, a GPS tracker like Tractive has the biggest impact. For peace of mind at work, a pet camera with two-way audio like the Furbo 360° gets the most daily use. An automatic feeder keeps routines steady, and a health sensor like Maven gives you useful data to share with your vet.

Are smart dog collars worth it?

For dogs that escape or roam, a GPS smart collar is genuinely worth it. Collars that also track activity, sleep and scratching can reveal changes worth raising with your vet. The main consideration is the ongoing subscription, so factor the plan into your budget and check mobile coverage where you walk before buying.

Do GPS dog collars require subscriptions?

Yes, almost all cellular GPS dog collars need a monthly or annual plan for live tracking, since the plan covers the mobile data the device uses. Without it, the GPS function stops working. Annual plans are usually better value. Bluetooth tags such as AirTags need no subscription but only work near other phones.

What pet tech do dog owners actually use every day?

Automatic feeders and pet cameras are the smart pet products most owners use daily, because they fit straight into the routine of a workday. GPS trackers matter most for active or escape-prone dogs, while water fountains and health sensors are popular long-term with owners of senior dogs and pets managing health conditions.

Are pet cameras worth buying?

For most dog owners, yes. Live video, two-way audio and treat tossing ease the worry of leaving your dog alone and let you check in during the day. Bark alerts are especially useful in apartments and shared buildings. A camera will not fix separation anxiety on its own, but it helps you see what is happening while you are out.

What is the newest trend in pet technology?

AI-powered health monitoring is the biggest trend. Smart collars and cameras now build a baseline for your individual dog and alert you when patterns change, such as more scratching, restless sleep or faster breathing at rest. Smart-home integration and subscription-free trackers are also gaining ground as owners look for simpler, more connected setups.

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