If your home has WiFi and you have a tablet or smartphone to spare, you can buy an innovative product called the iCPooch.
The unit allows you to video chat with your dog and to deliver a treat through remote control. The product is being marketed with the message ‘no more lonely days for your dog.’ Simply dial up, talk to your dog through the tablet or smartphone that you will mount on the front of the unit (the tablet/phone are not included in the purchase price of $149.99) and hit the switch on the app to have the unit deliver a treat.
I wonder if this product will really take off – most dogs and owners I know want to spend time together and I doubt dogs get the oxytocin boost of interacting with this unit they way the would when interacting with their owner. The same goes for the owner…
Here’s a short video about how the iCPooch works:
The product is only available (and wired for) the United States at present. I think this start-up will need to see how their market develops before taking the product to a wider audience.
DoggyMom.com 