First there were wild dogs. Then dogs used for hunting and protection. Then domesticated pooches for companionship. And three dog nights for warmth. And cheap costumes at Target for humanizing dogs. And now, this latest round of evolution (?): Dog 2.0.
That’s right, welcome to doggie social networking.
There’s a new radio frequency identification tag that dog owners can place on their four legged best friends for both monitoring and friend-making purposes. Each SNIF tag gives off a unique signal. If your dog is wearing one and comes upon another dog also wearing one, each dog’s tag captures and stores information from the other dog’s tag. Later, the owners can upload the info and find out about each other to decide if they’d like to get in touch.
The tag also allows humans to keep track of their homebound pets while they (the humans that is) are away at work, checking to see if the pup is active, if the dog walker came by, and even sizing up how their dog’s life compares to other SNIF-wearing dogs in the vicinity.
The starter kit sets owners back about $300 and another $90 per year to continue services. Now if we could just get a version of the iPhone that was dewclaw friendly…
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12 responses so far ↓
1 juliegomoll (Julie Gomoll) // Dec 1, 2008 at 6:46 pm
Are you ready for Dog 2.0? http://is.gd/9KUq
2 juliegomoll (Julie Gomoll) // Dec 1, 2008 at 6:46 pm
Are you ready for Dog 2.0? http://is.gd/9KUq
3 marcelbotha (Marcel Botha) // Dec 2, 2008 at 8:37 pm
http://tinyurl.com/55unrd
4 LuLu and LoLLy // Dec 3, 2008 at 12:38 am
We are 2 Maltese dogs and we just read this article and it blew our doggy minds. We are really going to have to lie down a long time to think about it, but our first thought is that the old-fashioned dog sniffing routine that us canines use is really pretty good in and of itself. Your thoughtful PaLs, LuLu and LoLLy. http://www.luluandlolly.com
5 Sadie, Kody, and Tip // Dec 3, 2008 at 10:56 am
We were a bit surprised to learn that our human, Julie, posted this article. We’re not too worried that we’ll have to wear yet another collar, though. Judging by the look of dismay on her face every time we visit the vet or the pet store, I doubt she’ll be springing $900 + $270 to track our activities.
Besides, does she really need details of our activities while she’s out? Isn’t the ink-stained couch evidence enough? Don’t the chewed shoes, shredded magazines, and gnawed chairs make it obvious?
We agree with you, LuLu and LoLLy — good old-fashioned butt sniffing has made us plenty of friends, and we don’t need any help finding them again.
6 Ruby, Skeeter, Britches, Trucker and Ringo // Dec 3, 2008 at 12:37 pm
We are a long time pack of rescued dogs and we stick together. We have unanimously decided that this is not necessary. When we were young and homeless this probably would have helped us not become so – but now at 10 – 12 years old this would just be annoying.
Besides sniffing butts is one of the greatest things we do (besides eating cat barf in the middle of the night). We are happy the way things are. Smell ya later.
7 Jilli Dog // Dec 3, 2008 at 2:22 pm
Well, I am hardly home alone! I go everywhere with my human, as a matter of fact, I get invited everywhere, and ‘HE’ only comes along because I need a driver, or escort on the airlines! I know he would have liked to have one of these devices, when I got lost in Sweden! You should have seen that NY boy, running around barefoot on the street, asking people “DID YOU SEE A 5-LB YORKIE???” Well they didn’t speak English, so he took to saying “WOOF WOOF!” and doing the pantomine for “I’m looking for it!” Haha! What a hoot, as I watched from under the bushes!
Well, I can the value in this system, if someones pup slips away sometimes, but not for ME!!! I would lose my one source of human entertainment!-) and I couldn’t get away to play poker with my friends! Sincerely, Jilli Dog
8 Princess Bubbles // Dec 3, 2008 at 2:40 pm
I am far too busy sniffing my own butt and napping on the couch (while the other three in the pack have to play outside– bwahaha) to want to interact with other dogs in this fashion. I’d much prefer if my human spent that money on Apple products and liverwurst (<– for me).
9 Rebound // Dec 3, 2008 at 2:41 pm
Bubbles,
you bitch. i saw what you wrote and i will be back inside soon enough. and then, never mind butt sniffing, i’m going to teach you a thing or two about butt kicking.
watch out,
Rebound (the cute one)
10 juliegomoll (Julie Gomoll) // Dec 3, 2008 at 5:52 pm
The pooches are chiming in on the “Are you ready for Dog 2.0?” post – What does your dog have to say? http://is.gd/9KUq
11 juliegomoll (Julie Gomoll) // Dec 3, 2008 at 5:52 pm
The pooches are chiming in on the “Are you ready for Dog 2.0?” post – What does your dog have to say? http://is.gd/9KUq
12 Josh Nichols // Dec 8, 2008 at 10:32 pm
FYI, the price recently dropped down to $149 for the starter kit, and no longer includes a service charge.
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