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Fitbit for Dogs

whistle.com

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Re: Fitbit for Dogs

#121

Post by bargl »

dfc wrote: post #117
bargl wrote: post #114

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are two schools of thought out there. And I think it boils down to your specific dog. My dog used to get enough of a workout that I could leave her with a free feeding bowl. She was at a GREAT weight. Then she had a knee injury and she started gaining weight. Since then I've switched to timed feedings. Also from their site... http://www.whistle.com/support/ "Whistle is supported by veterinary research around ac…

I have never heard a vet, breeder or trainer recommend free feeding a dog. Also from their site? That is not an "also" that is what I was referring to. You read that paragraph and concluded there must be research supporting this? When I read that paragraph the first thing that I was "where are the citations?"

Serious question, would you read the citations? I'd be curious to read them too, and it is concerning that they don't have citations.

Re: Fitbit for Dogs

#122

Post by ruswick »

gummadi wrote: post #53
slipperyp wrote: post #34

I look at this and think "finally, someone's found a way to capitalize on the disposable income of people whose homes are already full of exercise bikes being used as coat hangers and whose wrists are nearly ready to collapse under the weight of their fitbits, pedometers, and GPSes." Here's the secret to health and exercise: you have to want to do it. Another $100 device to tell you "you're still not doing the thing…

" I know people who ask "how can I run more?" and I ask "well, do you enjoy running?" and usually they say they don't. I don't tell them they need to buy different shoes or gadgets to try to coerce them into doing it, I suggest they look at other kinds of activities that will fulfill them and try to incorporate that into their life. " Interesting! But isn't our natural tendency to be lazy, why would anyone prefer to…

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslows_hierarchy_of_needs

The human condition also necessitates expression, realization, aspiration, etc. In many cases, sitting on a couch will bring the most instantaneous pleasure, but it is ultimately empty and ephemeral. Things that are difficult, though instantaneously distressing, are more likely to be fulfilling in the long term.

Re: Fitbit for Dogs

#123

Post by ruswick »

sksksk wrote: post #83

This is a great untapped market, people go crazy for pets and spend a hell of a lot of money on them. I think the pitch should be "turn your terrier into a tamagotchi"

Indeed. People often succumb to irrationality when dealing with their pets, and are certainly inclined towards purchasing superfluous things for them. This is an excellent market from which these guys can probably extract a lot of profit.

Re: Fitbit for Dogs

#124

Post by ruswick »

mckilljoy wrote: post #56

This looks like the kind of product that will do well in San Francisco -- SF is where the venn diagram of "dog owners" and "gadget owners" overlap.

Also, most of the cohort of SF residents fit into the most important category, "people with more money that they know what to do with."

Re: Fitbit for Dogs

#125

Post by alanchavez »

dfc wrote: post #120
alanchavez wrote: post #119

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Dogs as humans have selective hearing. Do you wake up when there's an ambulance passing by while you're sleeping? What if you change your statements to: 1) Detecting an abrupt change in sleep patterns in mammals is useful. 2) Dogs are mammals. Therefore, detecting an abrupt change in sleep patterns in dogs is useful.

Do you wake up when there's an ambulance passing by while you're sleeping? No I do not. This is why dogs have been used as sentries for thousands of years.

Do you own a dog? If you do, have you watched your dog while it is asleep?

Just as humans, dogs go through sleep phases and even though humans have longer sleep phases; dogs have a REM phase. Once dogs get to the REM phase they're in a deep stage of sleep and the sound of an ambulance or foot traffic will not wake them up as easily as you think.

I've seen it hundreds of times throughout different breeds of dogs. I used to work part time for a vet when I was a teenager.

Re: Fitbit for Dogs

#126

Post by dfc »

bargl wrote: post #121
dfc wrote: post #117

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have never heard a vet, breeder or trainer recommend free feeding a dog. Also from their site? That is not an "also" that is what I was referring to. You read that paragraph and concluded there must be research supporting this? When I read that paragraph the first thing that I was "where are the citations?"

Serious question, would you read the citations? I'd be curious to read them too, and it is concerning that they don't have citations.

I would probably skim the citations to see if there was anything interesting in them and or any insight into optimal use of the data. But mainly the big thing with the citations is that the citations would back up the claim that the product was supported by research. Right now its just ad copy...

Re: Fitbit for Dogs

#128

Post by dfc »

alanchavez wrote: post #125
dfc wrote: post #120

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you wake up when there's an ambulance passing by while you're sleeping? No I do not. This is why dogs have been used as sentries for thousands of years.

Do you own a dog? If you do, have you watched your dog while it is asleep? Just as humans, dogs go through sleep phases and even though humans have longer sleep phases; dogs have a REM phase. Once dogs get to the REM phase they're in a deep stage of sleep and the sound of an ambulance or foot traffic will not wake them up as easily as you think. I've seen it hundreds of times throughout different breeds of dogs. I us…

I have a GSD and a rottweiller. I am not saying that dogs don't have REM sleep. I'm saying that they sleep lighter than I do and they have for thousands of years. Cavemen let dogs eat eat their trash and in return the dogs acted as sentries.

Re: Fitbit for Dogs

#129

Post by pdeuchler »

bradleyland wrote: post #116
pdeuchler wrote: post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I completely agree with you, but you assume that this device has capabilities that it doesn't. I wish I could edit my previous post, as I feel like it would be helpful to address at the top, but this will have to do. Whistle Tracks: Type of Activity Duration of Activity Whether or not the user holding the iPhone w/ Whistle app is near their dog wearing the Whistle (I'm assuming that's how it tracks who the dog is wit…

Shame you were downvoted for rational discourse. I always hate that :\ I get what you're saying, but I think we disagree on just how much utility even that limited data provides. The market will decide, but I think pet owners are just crazy enough to care about this simplistic data.

Fair enough. I know better than to bet against pet owners with disposable income.

Re: Fitbit for Dogs

#130

Post by bargl »

dfc wrote: post #126
bargl wrote: post #121

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Serious question, would you read the citations? I'd be curious to read them too, and it is concerning that they don't have citations.

I would probably skim the citations to see if there was anything interesting in them and or any insight into optimal use of the data. But mainly the big thing with the citations is that the citations would back up the claim that the product was supported by research. Right now its just ad copy...

Yeah citations would make this more reputable, and as it stands it's just a claim. But I prefer to trust that they have done some studies on this topic. I'll verify it later, but trust for now. Also, I can't imagine a vet saying that this kind of data on a dog would be "bad" in any way. And it's usefulness will be found through time and trials. Just as most studies are backed after peer review and being open to the test of time.
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