From adorable outfits to clever toys, there’s a ton of gear out there for pet parents to buy. We’ve all left the pet store with a few more items than we’d planned on! But we’re betting you may not have added these four essential tools to your list. From dog walking to on-the-go vet care, they’ll make your life easier—and your dog’s life better.
Easy-to-Find Quality Vet Care
A healthy dog is a happy dog, right? (BTW, here are the signs your dog is happy.) The first tool for pet parents has to be a 21st century vet service like Vetco, for the quick response and convenient services.
How it Works: These high-quality, drop-in vet clinics have great teams available seven days a week. Convenient locations and online services mean that you can get in when you need to, even on Sunday.
Why it’s Awesome: If you’re traveling or have a pressing need, you can always find a Vetco location. Your dog’s medical records can be accessed online, and best of all, it’s affordable. Micro-chipping and other services are as low as $15.
Loving, Local Dog Walking
A dog stays healthy with exercise and stimulation. Many of us can provide some, but not all, of what they need, so finding the right dog walker for your unique dog is vital.
How it Works: Search for a well-reviewed, local sitter online, and then schedule a meet-up or two to make sure it’s a great fit. Then just sit back and relax. With services like Rover, you can book walks right on your phone–in seconds. And you get adorable photo updates, too.
Why it’s Awesome: Rover lets you read reviews from other pet parents. You can filter not only by location, but days of the week, times per day, and even dog size. Looking for the perfect dog walker? Here are 7 signs you’ve found them.
Dog Activity Monitors
You’ve covered basic health care and fitness, but how might you monitor your dog’s progress and maintenance? A dog activity monitor, that’s how.
How it Works: These are a lot like the Fitbit, complete with GPS for tracking purposes. With a good monitor like Fitbark or Tagg, you can not only keep track of your dog’s baseline but compare it with typical stats for their breed, age, etc.
Why it’s Awesome: You can share the activity information with the vet. Fitbark features a WiFi base station that provides real-time updates, and Tagg has a temperature sensor to monitor if your furry friend is too hot or cold. The Canine Journal reviews Fitbark as the easiest to use, and Tagg as the most accurate.
Subscription Treat Boxes
They’re healthy, fit, and happy. What’s left? A treat, of course! Thanks to subscription services like BarkBox, Pawpack and Pet Treater, you can get plenty of unique, top-of-the-line toys and treats delivered straight to your door.
How it Works: These boxes arrive at your door each month with a new mix of treats, accessories, and toys.
Why it’s Awesome: You can indicate your dog’s size and customize the right plan for your home. Plus, you can try new flavors and accessories, and each time a box comes, it’s a little bit like Christmas.
These four basics should get you started on your way to earning that “pet parent of the year” award!