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I thought I should share my dog's story with you. Oakley is a 4 year old English Pointer rescue from Pointing Dog Rescue Canada. He's been a medical mystery for almost a year now, but we were able to identify his disorder with the help of the FitBark. Oakley has REM Sleep Behavior Disorder, meaning he is unable to go into a deep sleep and frequently has aggressive outbursts. He is often restless/unable to sleep for 40 mins of every hour overnight.<img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_Hourly_Chart_i_Phone_Black_350x574_72cea2eaac.png" alt="Hourly chart view of the FitBark app" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_Hourly_Chart_i_Phone_Black_350x574_72cea2eaac.png 95w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Fit_Bark_Hourly_Chart_i_Phone_Black_350x574_72cea2eaac.png 305w," sizes="100vw">The FitBark allowed us to monitor his sleep patterns to confirm our suspicions, and he is now being treated with the help of our team of behaviourists and veterinarians! THANK YOU for developing such an amazing product!<img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_Oakley_Dog_snow_88b7dd6735.jpeg" alt="Oakley the dog standing in the snow" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_Oakley_Dog_snow_88b7dd6735.jpeg 235w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Fit_Bark_Oakley_Dog_snow_88b7dd6735.jpeg 500w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Fit_Bark_Oakley_Dog_snow_88b7dd6735.jpeg 750w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Fit_Bark_Oakley_Dog_snow_88b7dd6735.jpeg 1000w," sizes="100vw">From our user, Lauren Barry

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User Stories

Oakley's Medical Mystery

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One of the best decisions I have ever made in my life was taking on the responsibility of owning a dog. Luna, my lovely and energetic Cockapoo has given me greater opportunities to get out and about than I've ever had at any other point in my life.By far, the activities I enjoy the most with Luna are hiking and walking and very recently, we were looking for something of a challenge. That is when I came up with the idea to take on the mighty Mount Snowdon – the biggest mountain in Wales and one of the highest in the UK.I have to admit as much as I loved the idea of the challenge, I was a little apprehensive and perhaps a little intimidated by the prospect. However, it was one of the best things I've ever done and definitely a high point in my life since taking Luna on.In this post I am going to talk about the hiking trip we took up mount Snowdon and some of the key things I learned along the way, from the planning to reach the summit.<h2>Get A Nice Early Start</h2>Hands up who likes getting up early in the morning, particularly at the weekend? Even if many of you put your hands up, I have certainly never been on the early riser club. However, I knew if Luna and I were going to be successful taking on Snowdon, I needed a change in attitude and that is why both Luna and I got up and left the house before 4 am. That is the very first time I've ever done that.I am glad that we did get up that early though, as it meant Luna slept for most of the journey to the mountain base and I just enjoyed the rolling scenery as it passed by. It was 6 am by the time we arrived and this is where the early rise really paid off – we had a chance to enjoy the beauty and tranquility of the most iconic landmark in Wales, with barely another soul in sight.<h2>Choose The Best Trail</h2>Ask any hiker and they will tell you, particularly if they have done it with their dog by their side, it is paramount to the success of your hike that you choose the trail that is best for you and your dog.It may be that you are as fit as a fiddle and fancy a real challenge. While that would be okay on your own, you need to remember that your dog will be your pacemaker and as such, the decision of the right trail has to be made for your dog.<img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_snowdon_cockapoo_2_900x1200_83a3d7bfea.jpeg" alt="Luna hiking up Snowdon" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_snowdon_cockapoo_2_900x1200_83a3d7bfea.jpeg 117w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Fit_Bark_snowdon_cockapoo_2_900x1200_83a3d7bfea.jpeg 375w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Fit_Bark_snowdon_cockapoo_2_900x1200_83a3d7bfea.jpeg 563w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Fit_Bark_snowdon_cockapoo_2_900x1200_83a3d7bfea.jpeg 750w," sizes="100vw">With Luna, I had narrowed my choice down to take the harder, but ultimately quicker route or a longer, but easier one. I am so glad I choose the gentle and longer path to the summit. Although it took longer than the quicker route would have, it had a more gradual ascent. This allowed us to really enjoy the sights, sounds and scents of our trip to the top. While it was definitely tiring, I didn't have to be concerned about Luna using all that energy she has to getting into trouble on steeper sections and the more dangerous spots.<h2>Taking The Correct Supplies And Correct Quantities</h2>By far the most difficult thing to plan for hiking trip with your dog is the right supplies and amounts of those supplies to take. No-one really wants to get stuck halfway up a hill deep in the Welsh countryside, without enough waterproofing when the sun decides to hide behind big productive rain clouds, do they? On the other hand though, no-one really wants to have too heavy a backpack to carry up the mountain either.<img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_snowdon_cockapoo_1_900x1200_2e2e23b84e.jpeg" alt="Luna getting ready for Snowdon" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_snowdon_cockapoo_1_900x1200_2e2e23b84e.jpeg 117w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Fit_Bark_snowdon_cockapoo_1_900x1200_2e2e23b84e.jpeg 375w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Fit_Bark_snowdon_cockapoo_1_900x1200_2e2e23b84e.jpeg 563w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Fit_Bark_snowdon_cockapoo_1_900x1200_2e2e23b84e.jpeg 750w," sizes="100vw">I invested in a nice protective winter coat for Luna for the trip and although we never used it, I'm glad we had it just in case. She did, however, appreciate the doggy snacks I packed, as well as the water and collapsible bowl I took along with me. In addition to these items, I also bought a brand new leash – that was a bit more robust and longer than the one I usually put on her when I take her out. While it did mean she pulled more than she normally does, it was a good and reliable purchase I'd never go up a mountain without again. I do maintain that the reason she may have been pulling was that she was excited anyway.<h2>Make Sure You Stop Plenty Of Times</h2>By taking the gentler, but slower and much longer path to the summit of Snowdon, I was reminded that this was more of a journey and not a race. Llanberis Path, the one I took in the end, includes many places to stop for breaks. I would recommend that you make a point of taking any opportunity you had to stop for a cool down, a drink and snack. Luna really enjoyed the breaks as she could rest her paws for a few moments. It also meant I could take lots of pictures of the truly amazing views.<h2>Dogs, Dogs, Hikers And Sheep – Lots of Sheep</h2>If you intend on following in mine and Luna's footsteps, you need to be aware that along with the many other hikers and dogs (more on them soon) you will come across on your path to the summit, you will also meet a lot of sheep. It is the Welsh countryside after all. This is why for this mountain you need to have your dog on their leash most of the time.Now, Mount Snowdon is one of the most popular places for hikers to visit in the country; so you need to keep in mind that although you love your dog more than life itself – not everyone loves dogs or animals as much as you. Some are just there to hike and don't actually like dogs. As hard as that is to imagine, it's very true. So be courteous of all other hikers.<img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_snowdon_cockapoo_3_900x1200_fc02123b59.jpeg" alt="Luna hiking up Snowdon" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_snowdon_cockapoo_3_900x1200_fc02123b59.jpeg 117w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Fit_Bark_snowdon_cockapoo_3_900x1200_fc02123b59.jpeg 375w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Fit_Bark_snowdon_cockapoo_3_900x1200_fc02123b59.jpeg 563w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Fit_Bark_snowdon_cockapoo_3_900x1200_fc02123b59.jpeg 750w," sizes="100vw">Although you will meet a few people who don't particularly like dogs, you will also meet a plethora that do and who have their own canine pals with them. Luna is incredibly sociable and was more than happy to say hello and sniff at the other dogs she met along the way. Funnily enough, we also ran into a number of Cockapoos and their owners.After all the fun of the journey upwards, we reached the top of Snowdon. We took some time to enjoy our moment of success and this gave me more opportunities to take snaps from the summit. We then headed down the mountain again and before leaving stopped at a pub, where I had a chance to grab a bite to eat and a drink and Luna was even treated to some water and dog biscuits by the landlord who was very friendly.<img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_snowdon_cockapoo_5_900x1200_d25eec4772.jpeg" alt="Luna hiking up Snowdon" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_snowdon_cockapoo_5_900x1200_d25eec4772.jpeg 117w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Fit_Bark_snowdon_cockapoo_5_900x1200_d25eec4772.jpeg 375w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Fit_Bark_snowdon_cockapoo_5_900x1200_d25eec4772.jpeg 563w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Fit_Bark_snowdon_cockapoo_5_900x1200_d25eec4772.jpeg 750w," sizes="100vw"><h2>Conclusion</h2>Although the lessons above are important, the most important thing the trip to the top of Snowdon with Luna taught me was to savor every moment you spend doing something like this with your furry friend. I would recommend this kind of day out to anyone who is still sitting on the fence. Take a trip to the top with your dog.

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When Luna And I Took On Mount Snowdon!

Our flyball team, the Ruff Riders, was lucky enough to test out some FitBarks to show how our dogs could benefit from the data gathered in the FitBark app. This, in turn, could help us better manage our training and conditioning programs. &nbsp;Our flyball season runs from May through September, but we train year round to ensure our canine athletes are always in tip top shape.<img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_Flyball_gryff_900x600_70fd926f03.jpeg" alt="Gryff running on a flyball course" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_Flyball_gryff_900x600_70fd926f03.jpeg 234w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Fit_Bark_Flyball_gryff_900x600_70fd926f03.jpeg 500w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Fit_Bark_Flyball_gryff_900x600_70fd926f03.jpeg 750w," sizes="100vw">We are located in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada and were the first team to bring Flyball into our province. &nbsp;We celebrated 25 years as a team in 2016 a. nd look forward to the next 25 years! &nbsp;Flyball is a face paced relay race consisting of a team of 6 dogs (4 running dogs and 2 spares) to race against another team. There are 4 jumps to a flyball box to trigger a ball and then bring the ball back over those jumps before we send the next dog to complete a 4 dog race against the other team for best time.<img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_flyball_gryff2_003919de88.jpeg" alt="Gryff running on a flyball course" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_flyball_gryff2_003919de88.jpeg 234w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Fit_Bark_flyball_gryff2_003919de88.jpeg 500w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Fit_Bark_flyball_gryff2_003919de88.jpeg 750w," sizes="100vw">Gryffindor was lucky enough to test one of these FitBarks to see how the data would help him improve as an athlete this season.<img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_gryff_screenshot_daf800d96a.png" alt="A screenshot of the app" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_gryff_screenshot_daf800d96a.png 88w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Fit_Bark_gryff_screenshot_daf800d96a.png 281w," sizes="100vw">Gryffindor is a 3 year old Boston Terrier. &nbsp;He started his flyball training at 8 weeks old, and started running in March 2015. &nbsp;He enjoys playing flyball, barn hunt and scent detection sports. &nbsp;We use his FitBark to monitor his sleep patterns, if he is restless, I know that he may be sore or stiff. &nbsp;We also use the BarkPoints to help us stay active in reaching our goals. &nbsp;Going for a walk, down to the dog club to run or even just some brain games at home when we know we aren’t going to make our goal for the day. &nbsp;Keeping them physically active as well as mentally stimulated is important pieces in the training.<hr>Written by Gryffindor's human mom, Candace.

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Gryffindor and the Ruff Riders

<img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_freya_946032f551.jpeg" alt="Freya and Jango in tall grass" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_freya_946032f551.jpeg 117w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Fit_Bark_freya_946032f551.jpeg 375w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Fit_Bark_freya_946032f551.jpeg 563w," sizes="100vw">I’ve never written a blog before, but here goes! My name is Jane Kennedy and I live with my 2 girls and my 2 dogs. I have Jango, an 11 year old pug/boston mix, who is currently upset my laptop, and not him, is taking up my lap. &nbsp;My other dog is Freyja she is a border collie/whippet mix. She is also the lucky dog who got to try out the fit bark!Freyja is a very active dog and we try and stay an active family. &nbsp;I wear a step tracker and my 9 year old daughter does as well. I find it useful to monitor my activity, I also like to ensure my daughter is active enough; so why not the dogs?!? &nbsp;Both of my dogs play Flyball, Freyja also competes in disc. I really like to see how many points she gets at practice vs a regular night out in the yard. I also like to see how she stacks up against the other dogs on her team.I have discovered a few things, flyball practice is great for sprints, but her overall points are not that great. &nbsp;She is more active than the average dog. &nbsp;She is, in fact, as lazy as I thought she was when she is home alone. &nbsp;Maybe the most surprising thing I have learned is just how much of a work out she gets when my mom is dog sitting for her!Freyja’s fitness is very important. I want her to be healthy and have the stamina for a full day of disk, flyball or just running in a field with her friends.The fitbark is great, she doesn’t need motivation to get moving, but I do. It’s a good reminder when her points are low that I have to do some work with her. &nbsp;It’s a fun way to keep us on track.I want to keep Freyja happy and healthy for a long time. Fitbark is a great tool to achieve this. I watch her steps, her health index and her sleep index to make sure we are on track.<img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_freya2_1cc37e0af1.jpeg" alt="Freya running in a field" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_freya2_1cc37e0af1.jpeg 117w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Fit_Bark_freya2_1cc37e0af1.jpeg 375w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Fit_Bark_freya2_1cc37e0af1.jpeg 563w," sizes="100vw">

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Freyja, the Flyball Collie

I am kind of a workout class junkie. I joined Classpass about 3 years ago, and was automatically hooked, I mean I do it all, boxing to spin class, to bootcamps and barre. Every time they raise the prices, I get pissed and put my account on hold, with all intentions of just cancelling it because there is NO way I am going pay the amount of money they are now asking from me. And then of course I go about a month without it, I get moody and bitchy and think that I have gained 383lbs and cave and reboot my membership…this is happening about every 6 months. I also have a Fitbit, you know so I can see how many calories I just burned in my Drake themed spin class, or how many steps I took in my Barry’s Bootcamp class with that really hot trainer. I LOVE my fitbit, it tells me everything. I have recently found out that they have them for DOGS!!! You already know, I was all over that!!!Pharrell and Rosie both now have FitBarks! They are amazing!! Having two Border Collies in New York City, means that we are out and about A LOT! It’s not like I have a field with a herd of sheep for them to get their steps in every day. So for the past two years I have been trying my hardest to do everything I can to get my pups the exercises they need in the Big Apple. Before having FitBark it was just me going off of what I thought they needed and if they have had enough or now. BUT, oh how times have changed!!! FitBark tells me everything that I would ever need to know about Pharrell and Rosie, I am kind of obsessed with it….like I check it way more than I have ever checked my Fitbit.<img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_Pharrell_Rosie_Gals_Best_Friend_Profile_763a605744.jpeg" alt="Pharrell profile picture" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_Pharrell_Rosie_Gals_Best_Friend_Profile_763a605744.jpeg 156w," sizes="100vw">FitBark&nbsp;is a research grade dog activity and sleep monitor. It collects physical activity and rest levels all day, every day! Providing you with unprecedented insights into the health&nbsp;and behavior of your fur-baby! The FitBark is made in the shape of a tine, stylish dog-bone, it fits dogs of any size by just attaching to the collar.The FitBark is designed to stand ruff playtime and submerged up to 1 meter for up to 30 mins! Also the battery life will last up 2 weeks, and only takes about 90 mins to fully charge again.It comes in 6 great colors, to match with any dog collar! The prices range from $59.95-$69.95 depending if you get a brand new FitBark or a refurbished one!<img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_Pharrell_Rosie_Gals_Best_Friend_Bark_Points_9cfb869b97.jpeg" alt="Pharrell BarkPoints" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_Pharrell_Rosie_Gals_Best_Friend_Bark_Points_9cfb869b97.jpeg 156w," sizes="100vw">One of my favorite things about FitBark is that it tells me their sleeping pattern. It tells me when they are dead asleep and when they get up and move around in the middle of the night, along with giving me their sleep score how well they slept that night.It also tells me, how many hours they played and how many they were active. So I know if we need to go to the park for longer or if it’s time to go home. Another amazing feature is that it compares your pups achieve to other dogs of the same breed, so you know if you are above or below the curve what your dog really needs.I highly recommend getting one of these for your pups! They are totally amazing! Everything thing about them is great! I am sure that Pharrell and Rosie would agree with me as well, since we stay at the park longer now that I can see what they really need rather than when I am ready to go home!

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Why We Are Obsessed with FitBark

We are Team Ineka, a 40-dog mushing kennel located in Willow, Alaska. FitBark has been so kind as to sponsor our team for the upcoming race season as we prepare to qualify for the biggest dog sled event in the world, the Iditarod!Currently our A-team of 12 dogs is using the FitBark trackers for not only the miles we travel on the trails through the wilds of Alaska but also to give us great data on sleep cycles, activity levels in comparison between one dog and another but also we have found that by seeing the activity levels in the middle of the night we know when their might be a moose in the yard or the team is just singing a song under the moon!<img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_teamineka_snow_sled_dogs_1619c31517.jpeg" alt="Team Ineka on the trail" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_teamineka_snow_sled_dogs_1619c31517.jpeg 221w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Fit_Bark_teamineka_snow_sled_dogs_1619c31517.jpeg 500w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Fit_Bark_teamineka_snow_sled_dogs_1619c31517.jpeg 750w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Fit_Bark_teamineka_snow_sled_dogs_1619c31517.jpeg 1000w," sizes="100vw">It is a challenge to keep track of 12 FitBarks! We have come up with a system to use different colors of duct tape that we found at the local big box store. Did you know they have duct tape in paw print, leopard print, and even tye-dye? We also use these little pouches from a company that makes a product called Quiet Spot. They are intended to be hung off of your dog’s collar and you place the dog tags inside so they don’t jingle in the night. The FitBarks fit perfectly.<img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_teamineka_tape_Fit_Barks_978d21cb37.jpeg" alt="Team Ineka FitBarks" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_teamineka_tape_Fit_Barks_978d21cb37.jpeg 208w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Fit_Bark_teamineka_tape_Fit_Barks_978d21cb37.jpeg 500w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Fit_Bark_teamineka_tape_Fit_Barks_978d21cb37.jpeg 750w," sizes="100vw">Did you know that you can set up your FitBark with your human fitness trackers like a Fitbit or even your iPhone? We did this and quickly found out that the dog team is getting much more exercise than the human’s on the team, the mushers.Over the next few months we will spend hours and hours on the trail as we train our dogs for well over a thousand miles to prepare for our races. Did you know that a mile is 1508 points on FitBark? At least that’s how many it is for our dogs.We are setting up something cool for our <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://www.gofundme.com/teamineka">Sponsor a Dog Program</a>. This program allows individuals to become a part of the team and they can not only get some cool perks from Team Ineka like a signed picture and a dog bootie but also they will be given access to their sponsored dog’s FitBark profile so they can follow along and even compete with their housedog against ours. How cool is that? In the coming days we will be adding stories and introductions to all of the dogs on the journal page of each dog’s profile.We post lots of pictures over on our <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://www.facebook.com/teamineka">Facebook page</a> and we are on <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.instagram.com/teamineka/">Instagram</a> and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://www.twitter.com/teamineka">Twitter</a> too. We would love for you to follow along and become a part of the team, it is going to be a grand adventure this year and we are happy to have FitBark along for the ride! We look forward to posting blog articles here to share our journey along the way.<h2>Meet the team!</h2><img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_teamineka_Aussie_husky_2f3ab0f4f8.png" alt="Team Ineka app screenshot" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_teamineka_Aussie_husky_2f3ab0f4f8.png 88w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Fit_Bark_teamineka_Aussie_husky_2f3ab0f4f8.png 281w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Fit_Bark_teamineka_Aussie_husky_2f3ab0f4f8.png 422w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Fit_Bark_teamineka_Aussie_husky_2f3ab0f4f8.png 562w," sizes="100vw"><img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_teamineka_Valdez_husky_54bf29299f.png" alt="Team Ineka app screenshot" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_teamineka_Valdez_husky_54bf29299f.png 88w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Fit_Bark_teamineka_Valdez_husky_54bf29299f.png 281w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Fit_Bark_teamineka_Valdez_husky_54bf29299f.png 422w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Fit_Bark_teamineka_Valdez_husky_54bf29299f.png 562w," sizes="100vw"><img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_teamineka_Trapper_husky_0fa0ad5a55.png" alt="Team Ineka app screenshot" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_teamineka_Trapper_husky_0fa0ad5a55.png 88w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Fit_Bark_teamineka_Trapper_husky_0fa0ad5a55.png 281w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Fit_Bark_teamineka_Trapper_husky_0fa0ad5a55.png 422w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Fit_Bark_teamineka_Trapper_husky_0fa0ad5a55.png 562w," sizes="100vw"><img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_teamineka_Shock_husky_30cab7aa99.png" alt="Team Ineka app screenshot" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_teamineka_Shock_husky_30cab7aa99.png 88w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Fit_Bark_teamineka_Shock_husky_30cab7aa99.png 281w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Fit_Bark_teamineka_Shock_husky_30cab7aa99.png 422w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Fit_Bark_teamineka_Shock_husky_30cab7aa99.png 562w," sizes="100vw"><img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_teamineka_Raegan_husky_b54fbc7761.png" alt="Team Ineka app screenshot" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_teamineka_Raegan_husky_b54fbc7761.png 88w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Fit_Bark_teamineka_Raegan_husky_b54fbc7761.png 281w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Fit_Bark_teamineka_Raegan_husky_b54fbc7761.png 422w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Fit_Bark_teamineka_Raegan_husky_b54fbc7761.png 562w," sizes="100vw"><img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_teamineka_Mila_husky_747545b0df.png" alt="Team Ineka app screenshot" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_teamineka_Mila_husky_747545b0df.png 88w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Fit_Bark_teamineka_Mila_husky_747545b0df.png 281w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Fit_Bark_teamineka_Mila_husky_747545b0df.png 422w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Fit_Bark_teamineka_Mila_husky_747545b0df.png 562w," sizes="100vw"><img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_teamineka_Lock_husky_0aaa52864a.png" alt="Team Ineka app screenshot" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_teamineka_Lock_husky_0aaa52864a.png 88w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Fit_Bark_teamineka_Lock_husky_0aaa52864a.png 281w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Fit_Bark_teamineka_Lock_husky_0aaa52864a.png 422w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Fit_Bark_teamineka_Lock_husky_0aaa52864a.png 562w," sizes="100vw"><img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_teamineka_Gabby_husky_1bbacedbd5.png" alt="Team Ineka app screenshot" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_teamineka_Gabby_husky_1bbacedbd5.png 88w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Fit_Bark_teamineka_Gabby_husky_1bbacedbd5.png 281w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Fit_Bark_teamineka_Gabby_husky_1bbacedbd5.png 422w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Fit_Bark_teamineka_Gabby_husky_1bbacedbd5.png 562w," sizes="100vw"><img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_teamineka_Frosty_husky_339fca95d2.png" alt="Team Ineka app screenshot" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_teamineka_Frosty_husky_339fca95d2.png 88w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Fit_Bark_teamineka_Frosty_husky_339fca95d2.png 281w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Fit_Bark_teamineka_Frosty_husky_339fca95d2.png 422w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Fit_Bark_teamineka_Frosty_husky_339fca95d2.png 562w," sizes="100vw"><img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_teamineka_Bodhi_husky_25aeedef05.png" alt="Team Ineka app screenshot" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_teamineka_Bodhi_husky_25aeedef05.png 88w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Fit_Bark_teamineka_Bodhi_husky_25aeedef05.png 281w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Fit_Bark_teamineka_Bodhi_husky_25aeedef05.png 422w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Fit_Bark_teamineka_Bodhi_husky_25aeedef05.png 562w," sizes="100vw"><img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_teamineka_Barrel_husky_b3630425b6.png" alt="Team Ineka app screenshot" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_teamineka_Barrel_husky_b3630425b6.png 88w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Fit_Bark_teamineka_Barrel_husky_b3630425b6.png 281w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Fit_Bark_teamineka_Barrel_husky_b3630425b6.png 422w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Fit_Bark_teamineka_Barrel_husky_b3630425b6.png 562w," sizes="100vw">

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Meet Dog Sled Team Ineka

The FitBark endeavor began with a search at BestBuy for FitBits, which led to the discovery of curious items referred to as FitBarks, which led to the hunting down of the website https://www.fitbark.com, which led to the arrival of a small white box, and in this small white box, was another box.&nbsp; In this box, was a red, plastic bone, with little black rubber bands, and a reference to a website.&nbsp; It’s amazing how one small item can be the start of great activity, but I’m ahead of myself.First off, let’s meet the crew.&nbsp; In the photo above on the right, we have Cilantro (AKA Cilanchi Bibbanchi or Mr. C).&nbsp; He is four years old and an Australian Cattledog/Pit Bull/Pointer/Lab who relays all orders regarding food service and walk time to the human companions. &nbsp;In the center of everything, not just in the photo, is Scout (AKA Scooter Marrooter or Moot Babboot) who is a six year old, Australian Cattledog mix.&nbsp; What she lacks in size in comparison to the other two, she makes up for in speed and energy.&nbsp; She is the driving force and commander of the team.&nbsp;&nbsp; Last but not least, especially not in size, is Caraway (AKA Runty the&nbsp;Rooter or Roo) who is Cilantro’s litter mate.&nbsp; She was the runt of the litter, and despite joint setbacks (a bone splinter in her elbow and a torn CCL which has undergone lazer treatment), holds her own on the playing field.For support staff, they have two human companions.&nbsp; Front and center is me, Eli which is pronounced like a man’s name but is short for Elizabeth.&nbsp;&nbsp; I have a long history of serving Australian Cattledog mix puppies.&nbsp; In order to support the crew in the manner to which they have become accustomed, I am an environmental writer (retired archaeologist) on contract to the Department of Defense.&nbsp; While this sounds very ominous, in reality I take unwieldy technical jargon and write up documents normal humans can understand.&nbsp; Along with my many duties as travel companion and top hug giver to the crew, I maintain an old mining cottage in a small town in a remote part of Colorado where the crew prefers taking in the sights and smells, rather than sleeping.&nbsp; Second in support, is Kenny, a wildlife biologist and photographer, who also serves as a hiking and camping companion and prime ball thrower for the crew, but more importantly is the chef (preparing fresh meals for the crew to go with commercially produced dry food) and preferred chauffer.&nbsp; He has a home in southern New Mexico, where the crew enjoys hikes in the desert and desert mountains.Last week, we wound up venturing down the aforementioned path which led to Caraway taking the FitBark plunge with the Passionate Lover Red Monitor.&nbsp; While she likes to play and hike, the injuries create problems for her.&nbsp; We, her human support staff, hoped the FitBark would help us understand her current activity levels and assist us with gradually increasing the range of her activities.&nbsp; It was also assumed this would increase the activeness of everyone in the household including those who are recent owners of&nbsp;FitBits.When the FitBark arrived, I didn’t have any problems attaching it to her collar or downloading the app from GooglePlay to my Smart Phone.&nbsp; It was a bit odd at first, but I suspect part of that was because the firmware needed to be updated on the monitor (an amazingly easy fix automatically taken care of when the phone synced to the monitor) and because, while I have a Smart Phone, it is not a genius phone.&nbsp; I actually bought it to make phone calls and send texts, so it is not the latest greatest.&nbsp; I figure with any new puppy there is a learning curve and patience is required (usually more on my part than on the puppy’s part, I think…), so I applied the same approach to the monitor and app.&nbsp; We learned to get along quite quickly, and the latest update to the monitor via my phone seems to have smoothed out the rough edges.&nbsp; Soon we were able to see when Caraway was most active during the day and night, how much sleep she was getting, and how much exercise she was getting whether or not we were on hand to witness it.In the first week of having the FitBark attached to her collar, Caraway, was thrilled with the extra attention and fussing with her collar and the monitor.&nbsp; (The monitor didn’t require lots of fussing, but fussing seems to be natural for some humans when something new is introduced to the household.)&nbsp; She frequently heard us, as we synced her monitor to the associated app, discuss what was indicated of her daily and nightly activities with many comments which included “Caraway,” “play,” and “more.”&nbsp; She somehow put it all together, and on Day Five (instead of sleeping in as she usually does), she was up early, all bright eyed and bushy tailed, ready to play before breakfast for the first time in years. It might have simply been because we’d already increased her play time, but dogs do tend to have a better grasp of English than we give them credit for.&nbsp; I have since synced my FitBit with her FitBark in the app, and she is kicking my tail around the neighborhood.After a week of noting Caraway’s behaviors, especially while we were at work, we decided to purchase FitBarks for the rest of the team.&nbsp; Scout, of course, is sporting the Life of the Party Blue monitor, and Cilantro, who is the most vocal of the group, has the appropriate Rockstar Grey monitor.&nbsp; Let the adventures begin!

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Three Dog Nights: The FitBark Adventure Begins

Sara Carson spent the last year touring the United States with her dogs. It sounds like an enviable vacation, but it was actually a lot of work.Sara is a trainer and her dogs are trick dogs -- "The Super Collies." Her tour of the states consisted of multiple public performances.In 2012, Sara and Hero appeared on Late Night with David Letterman. They've been a sensation since.Hero, a border collie and golden retriever mix, is four years old now, but he's been a genius since birth."By the time he was three and a half, four months old, he knew more than 60 tricks," Sara said.They decided to go for the Champion Trick Dog title...and succeeded.Sara and Hero didn't stop there. With positive reinforcement training, Hero learned so many tricks Sara lost count.The pair became a trio around Christmastime. Marvel, the 8-month-old border collie, was added to the family.At the same time, Sara saw an article listing the top dog products of 2015. FitBark was on the list and caught her eye. After some research, she bought two."It's helped me learn how to train two dogs," she said. "I've only had one at a time in the past."After days of lots of work, FitBark lets Sara know the dogs can be allowed a day off."I have their goals set for Olympian. We usually don't meet it, but I like to set it that high as motivation."It's also helped her notice the major difference between puppy Marvel and adult Hero."Hero doesn't need to do anything," she said. "But Marvel is just wired."How does FitBark help be a better dog parent?"It gets people more active with their dogs," Sara said. "People get out and go hiking...set goals for themselves. It builds up that relationship."Hero and Marvel recently were hired onto a team of other trick dogs. Their near-future days will be full of treats and new friends...and probably a lot of BarkPoints.You can follow Sara, Hero and Marvel on <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.facebook.com/HeroTheSuperCollie/?fref=ts">Facebook</a>, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.instagram.com/thesupercollies/">Instagram</a>, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://twitter.com/thesupercollies">Twitter</a> or on <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://www.herothesupercollie.com">their website</a>.

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FitBark is going Super!

I originally found out about FitBark through a BarkPost that was sent to my email.The idea of a pet activity tracker was very appealing to me. I placed an order for my dog right away. He's got quite a lot of energy and so I knew that as a dog parent, I needed to fulfill his needs by draining his energy daily. Although we took multiple walks a day, it was hard to tell whether or not he was getting sufficient exercise. Sometimes I'd even forget how many walks we've already taken in a day.Owning a FitBark has really gotten me to live a healthier lifestyle. Because he has a goal to reach, this device has also motivated me more than ever to get my lazy butt off the couch. Throughout the few months that I've been using the FitBark, I've been able to set a daily goal appropriate for his need of physical activity. I am so grateful that I am able to monitor his activity level on a daily basis and know whether or not he needs more exercise. With that being said, when I got my second puppy, I ordered a FitBark for him as well.Thank you FitBark for this invention. It truly is a great device for any dog parent.<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.instagram.com/thebirdiepups/">https://www.instagram.com/thebirdiepups/</a>

Two dogs sitting on a kitchen floor looking up

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Healthier Together

My name is Susan, owner of a miniature pinscher. I am not only a proud fur baby parent, but also a proud and devout BlackBerry and Fitbit devotee. I began with the Flex, the Charge, and now the Surge. My current BlackBerry is the BlackBerry Z30. My Fitbit is instrumental in my fitness and health care management with my physician. The Fitbit app I use is an Android version which works perfectly on BlackBerry 10.My dog, Batty, will be two years old in July. As a full time worker, I leave Batty with my daughter and two grand kids during the day. Recently, Batty has put on a few extra pounds and was declared obese by our vet, who prescribed an extra-long daily walk. Following this, I began considering a Fitbit-like device for Batty. In researching activity monitors for dogs, I came across FitBark. Not only are the color choices great (I chose green), but there is no weight restriction. Additionally, I was able to download the FitBark app to my Blackberry and I now use the app via an Android emulator for my device.The FitBark was delivered with easy-to-follow instructions, the FitBark, a USB cord, and a collar band for attaching FitBark to Batty’s collar. After charging the FitBark, I began the setup process which was incredibly easy. The app is fun to personalize (I added a picture of Batty in the background on the home screen of the app). The app requests the pet’s name, age, date of birth, health conditions, etc. From this point, I’m able to track Batty’s activity from my Blackberry and add journal posts with pictures and other info about my dog, all from the FitBark app. My grandson wanted to help Batty too so we downloaded and installed the iOS&nbsp;version on his iPad mini. The app on iOS&nbsp;is fully functional and has additional features. I felt my grandson taking charge would lead to better management while I'm at work.I love how easy it is to set up the FitBark. The dog bone-shaped activity monitor is tiny - one charge lasts two weeks. On the app side, I now have visible data about Batty, which has very much enhanced how we keep active. I also love how fun it is to personalize the app and add information.&nbsp;I hope to see the Fitbit integration on the Android app soon (I know it’s already implemented in the iOS app). Also, adding fur friends similar to adding human friends on Fitbit to add challenges and cheer each other on would be nice. I also looking forward to seeing how Batty compares to similar pups.&nbsp;Finally, I love that the Android app works great on my BlackBerry. A few days ago I was alerted to a firmware update and was able to install it through the FitBark mobile app on my device.FitBark has made me more accountable and motivated and is making our fitness fun - I can't wait to show Batty’s vet.&nbsp;If you have a furbaby, and use a Fitbit, this is an awesome way to include him or her into your routine. I know my Batty has loved it as well as the extra attention. It's been great for both of us.

Susan with her dog Batty, a min pin, wearing a green FItBark

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Making Dog Fitness Fun On My Blackberry

Last week, my husband and I noticed that our six-and-a-half year old pup, Sunny, was acting a little sluggish.For the most part, Sunny gives us daily clues about his health and well-being. When he's happy and feeling great, he dances, runs, and sometimes, gets a little chatty; when he's sick or sad, he mopes and sleeps. It’s his own language that we've learned over time.In this case, he was sluggish, tired, gnawing on his paws and rubbing his eyes…a lot. We couldn't decipher what was wrong at first, but then we remembered that this happens every year; Sunny has seasonal allergies.We joke that Sunny's pretty vocal, but there's a reality that he'll never be able to tell us what's going on (in English). We rely on patterns in his behavior, what we each see when we're with him, and what our dog walker reports back via her daily sticky note.Truthfully, this system isn't perfect. It relies on our collective and distributed observations. It assumes that we won’t miss a beat, we’re accurately remembering all of Sunny’s behaviors over time, and we’re communicating them thoroughly to each other. We also can’t be with him all day, every day (although we wouldn't mind that at all!).These challenges in keeping track of Sunny are why I’m so excited about pet wearables. Having a reliable system in place to monitor his activity day-to-day means less guesswork and more understanding of how he’s actually doing, especially as he grows older.That’s why I joined FitBark as an advisor this past summer. I truly believe in their commitment to the future of responsible pet parenting. Not only will we be able to know more, but we can also worry less.In the meantime, we’ll keep using our sticky notes, and good news: Sunny’s feeling better. He’s back to his cheery, dancing, chatty self. We’re happy that we speak “Sunny” fluently. Now, if he could only tell me where the remote went…<img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_sunny_white_dog_nap_couch_25c163dea5.jpeg" alt="Sunny, the dog, taking a nap with his lampchop toy" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_sunny_white_dog_nap_couch_25c163dea5.jpeg 156w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Fit_Bark_sunny_white_dog_nap_couch_25c163dea5.jpeg 500w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Fit_Bark_sunny_white_dog_nap_couch_25c163dea5.jpeg 750w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Fit_Bark_sunny_white_dog_nap_couch_25c163dea5.jpeg 1000w," sizes="100vw">

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Bark If You Can Hear Me

The English "Woof" translated in over 14 languages...(thanks <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://chapmangamo.tumblr.com/">James Chapman</a> for an awesome drawing).<img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_worldwide_woofs_5d60edaa8a.jpeg" alt="An illustration with dogs saying woof in 14 different languages" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_worldwide_woofs_5d60edaa8a.jpeg 111w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Fit_Bark_worldwide_woofs_5d60edaa8a.jpeg 354w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Fit_Bark_worldwide_woofs_5d60edaa8a.jpeg 531w," sizes="100vw">

An illustration with dogs saying woof in 14 different languages

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Woof, Bau, Wong

Like most pet parents, my husband and I make sure we give our dog Jack everything he needs—and most of what he wants (that chocolate ice cream he’s begging for is still off limits). But at a recent vet visit, we learned that we might be giving him a little too much.Jack’s half-beagle, and a rescue dog, so he’s even more obsessed with food than most pups. And it’s hard to say no to those big brown eyes, that adorable tilted head and those floppy ears. So when our vet told us that Jack needed to lose 3 pounds (it may not sound like a lot, but that’s 10 percent of his total weight), we knew we had to do the right thing for our boy.We started by cutting back on treats and Jack’s nutritious but high-calorie dog food. After a few months, he had lost just 1 pound. We were a bit discouraged, but our vet explained that it’s actually really hard for even the most conscientious pet owner to help their dog lose weight through food portioning alone. This is because the dog’s metabolism quickly adjusts to their new intake and it can take a long time for them to lose even a fraction of a pound. Add to this the fact that you can only cut back so much on your dog’s food without risking the possibility of not meeting their daily caloric and nutritional needs, and you’ve got a frustrated pet owner and a dog who still needs to lose a few pounds.This is where simple, seamless technology comes in. Food is only one piece of the puzzle when it comes to Jack’s weight. What about his energy expenditure? I can guess, but I actually am not at all sure exactly how much time Jack spends being active each day, even though I am with him for much of that time. It would be so helpful if we could effectively measure exactly how much exercise Jack is getting, either when he’s with us or when he’s at doggie day care, so we can estimate how much more activity he might need to help him reach his ideal weight. How long is he playing every day? When he’s at day care, how many hours of activity is he truly getting? And what about our walks? I have a device that shows me how many steps I’ve taken and how long I’m active during the day, but I have no idea how to estimate Jack’s activity level without a little help.Our dog’s well-being is critically important to us, and as his pet parents, we want to do everything we possibly can to make sure he lives a long and happy life. Platforms such as FitBark make it easier for us to give Jack the gift of optimum health in return for everything he gives to us.

Jack, a black and white dog, sits on a couch

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The Gift Of Health

Paris. The city of love. A year ago I was there for ten days for work and my husband went with me. Our two girls, Dutchess and Ellie, unfortunately could not go but were left in the care of our next-door neighbor who also has a small dog that plays with our dogs. She was supposed to stay at our place with her dog for the duration of our trip. Three days into the trip, at 2 AM Paris time, I get a call from our upstairs neighbor that our dogs have been barking nonstop since we left.Imagine my horror when I finally got in touch with the person taking care of our girls, who told me she had to go out of town and a friend of hers was coming by once a day to let our dogs out of the kennel to use the bathroom, eat and drink. I immediately got in touch with another very close friend of ours who went all the way out to our place, got the girls and carried them to his home. They had been locked up for three days with probably only a total of three hours out. If only there would have been some way that I could have seen their extremely low and unusual activity levels. This way I would have known that something was off.Two months later after this near-tragedy, I met the FitBark team in New York at a trade show and I have been pumped and excited about them since. I have been working in the connected health and wellness space for about three years now and I can safely say that there are more ways for humans to track their own health than ever before and it seems like everyday a different company is coming out with a new activity tracker. But what’s truly out there that can provide us the much-needed peace of mind that our furry-four-legged children are home, happy and healthy?...So what are my two reasons for believing in the power of FitBark?13 years ago, a one-pound, 6 week old Miniature Pinscher named Dutchess came into my life. When she was 8 months old, two Chows viciously attacked her and they almost killed her. The vet told us if she did make it, she would have multiple problems later in life with her joints and muscles and the best defense was to keep her as active as possible. She was recently diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and has been prescribed medications. They say MinPins never grow up, and she is a shining example of that with still so much energy that no one ever believes that she is as old as she is. She still smiles, like a puppy, for the camera.A year ago, we welcomed a new member to the family, a rescued 7-month-old French Bulldog named Ellie. She is silly, funny and loves to cuddle, when she isn’t chasing the notorious red dot laser or intensely watching TV. She has never met a squeaky toy she couldn’t kill (and destroy) within just a few hours.Considering the amount of joy they bring me plus living in the heart of Boston and having such busy lives with work and travel, I owe it to my girls to make sure they are as happy and healthy as they can be. It's not just about peace of mind knowing that my dog walker is walking them as much as he says he is, or that when I am out of town, they are getting the right amount of play time at the pet hotel. It's much bigger than that.&nbsp; When I am having a bad day, guess who is first to cuddle up beside me and who is the one acting silly trying to cheer me up? I want to be able to open my door and see my two happy girls acting like lunatics because they are so happy to see me, even though I just went to go check the mail, for as long as I can. I need them around for many more years. In order to do that, I feed them the best food I can and have them play with the best toys. They only get healthy treats, and they both cuddle up with me when I sleep. But at the end of the day, I am only guessing if they are getting what they need in terms of the right amount of exercise.&nbsp;If you are like me, you’d wish that they can talk. And that’s where FitBark comes in.FitBark gives my Ellie and Dutchess a voice. It helps me know what my pups can’t tell me. That, in itself, is priceless.

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Why I Believe In The Power Of FitBark

Having grown up on a horse farm in South Florida, I’ve always been surrounded by a menagerie of animals. We had the horses and ponies, the dogs we adopted, the barn cats that adopted us, and the slew of rodents that parents are pressured into buying for their children to give them a simple sense of responsibility. To say the least, my understanding and ability to relate to animals was born early on. Thus, my eagerness to adopt the first dog of my own as soon as I graduated from college was only natural. Cue Gromit, the “corgi/lab” mix (who possesses identifying features of neither breed) who I adopted from a shelter about an hour away from my urban college campus.The entire puppy–rearing process has been nothing like I have experienced before. My kitchen door no longer opens up onto a sprawling dog yard; instead, three flights of stairs down from my New York City walk–up greet me every time Gromit needs to learn that my bath mat isn’t the perfect place for her to pee. There aren’t squirrels and shadows for her to chase, just cigarette butts and newspaper shards for her to be scolded time–and–again for picking up off the sidewalk. There aren’t acres of pastures for her to run through or endless games of frisbee and romps around with other dogs, instead fetch is confined to the limits of my apartment hallway and doggie greetings are limited to short interactions on the streets. Needless to say, puppyhood isn’t as simple as I’d recalled.I now wake up early to make sure Gromit has enough time to sprint around the apartment before I leave for work. When she can go with me somewhere, she does — turns out Bed Bath &amp; Beyond has shopping carts specifically for your dog to ride in. Running up and down the stairs for walks and hour–long games of fetch (which she is impressively good at for a 4–month–old, even the ‘give’ part) compose the rigor of her exercise. It’s hardly the puppy experience that I’ve had before, but it’s one that thousands of pet owners deal with.It is hard not to feel guilty knowing the alternative puppyhoods she could be having, but she is the happiest little dog that has ever existed. Each stranger on the street is her new best friend and the day she got big enough to jump up on the couch was by far the best day of her little puppy–life. My responsibility as her mom (please don’t tell her she was adopted, she has no idea) now falls on keeping her fit and healthy despite all of the restrictions.This is where FitBark comes into play. Using a tiny bone–shaped device, I can monitor Gromit’s daily activity to scale with a personal goal for her age, weight and breed. Getting some confirmation that I am doing enough to keep her active and healthy, especially during her early development, has been crucial for my confidence as a pet–parent. Gromit’s toothy grin, wagging tail and endless energy seem to give constant positive reinforcement. But, knowing that all of the time I put into making her days exciting is actually sustaining her fitness has been integral to my survival of the city pet experience.

A white dog with a black face wearing a red collar

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