SELECTIONS from DOGS & BABIES | APRIL 2008 | BACK TO CURRENT
Hi-Tech Hounds
Your pet's toys shouldn't just squeak and bounce
by Alysa Slay
I remember a time when glow-in-the dark collars, micro-chipping and poop-bag dispensers that dangled from the leash were considered the cool, hi-tech doggie gadgets. In less than a decade, however, the market for pet-related technology has evolved rapidly, offering gadgets that rival those found amongst humans.
Let's start with a universal yet simple notion: Your dog needs a pet ID tag in the event that he gets lost. Sounds easy enough; for years an engraved piece of metal did the trick. Not anymore. The "old school" tag limits you to about four lines of engraved text, but upgrade to the Dog-E-Tag (dog-e-tag.com, $39.95) and get an LCD screen with up to 40 lines of programmable text. It comes in a variety of colors, is water and shock resistant, offers five different languages and works in temperatures from 14 to 140 degrees.
For the mackdaddy of pet finding, check out the Global Pet Finder dog collar (globalpetfinder.com, $289.99). Now you can track your pal's whereabouts utilizing the latest in GPS and two-way wireless technology. This gadget allows you to monitor your dog's location, receive an alert when he wanders out of a designated safe area and instantly monitor outdoor temperatures, as well as battery level, from the command center.
"Petmaster": The name alone conjures images of a fancy remote control that can be used to make your dog sit, stay, come, rollover or stop barking on command. Well, technology has not come that far, but the Petmaster (petmaster.com) is an electronic handheld pet guide. With a push of a button, one can call up all of their dog's (or cat's) important information, upcoming vet appointments, nearby dog trainers, dog-friendly hotels or animal hospitals. Carrying around a paw-shaped PDA with a framed photo of Fluffy on the inside may not be as cool as an iPod Touch, but for $29.95, it might be worth the investment.
So now we have it; gone are the low-tech days of a plain old dog tag for keeping your dog nearby and Post-It note reminders for tracking vet appointments and your dog's medications. I guess for now we should just be thankful that our dogs don't have opposable thumbs, for I can only imagine the 40 lines of "essential text" they would be composing for their new dog tag.
Dave Eisendrath and Alysa Slay are co-owners and directors of Camp Dogwood in Ingelside, Ill. Long-time dog lovers, they have been making dogs and their owners happy with overnight camp experiences since 2000. Visit them at campdogwood.com
Toddler Tech
Introductory electronics for your computer-enhanced kid
by Mark Haggarty
I like to imagine that I'm a low-tech dad; wooden blocks remain my favorite toys. (Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go stoke the potbelly stove and kill dinner). But as I look around the house, there certainly are a few electronically driven gadgets and gizmos that have made me into a 21st century believer. We recently upgraded to a truly stunning hi-def television, for example, and not just because the cable company warned us that we had to if we want to watch Flight of the Conchords next summer. Bret.
One way we've utilized our new plasma for parenting purposes (is it still a boob tube if it's flat?) is with Tiny Love's MagIQ (which, while still available in the Chicago area, was recently discontinued -- so supplies are limited). These colorful and smartly animated DVD stories interact with a plush toy that not only sits with your child as she watches, but also sings along with the characters on the screen when prompted (by subtle aural cues). The first time the doll came to life our daughter nearly rolled off the couch in bewilderment, but eventually the symbiosis between doll, baby and DVD content made for a more engaging introduction to television. There are two age-appropriate versions (3-12 months and 12-36 months). And it's only creepy the first time.
When we were kids, we didn't sweat learning the alphabet until at least age 3. But in these modern times, when preschool interviews are scheduled prenatally, best to get a head start on reading with LeapFrog's Fridge Phonics system. All 26 letters come magnetized with easy grips for kid fingers, ready to be pressed into a music box that pronounces the letter's phonetic sounds before launching into a rousing rendition of the alphabet song. The only drawback is that your child can restart songs by continuously pressing the buttons, which sounds a little like Afrika Bambaataa remixing kindergarten sounds in your kitchen. A small price to pay for that preschool résumé, I suppose. So plug on in!
Both products are available at Right Start (2121 N. Clybourn, 773-296-4420)
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