A new FitBit-like activity tracker for dogs launched today , as well as give them an early warning about potential health problems. Whistle, which retails for $100, consists of a small, metallic disc that clips onto a dog’s collar and uses an accelerometer to determine whether a dog is active or resting.
Owners monitor their pets’ activity level using a smartphone app. The information is also collected and uploaded anonymously to databases used by university researchers.
Whistle CEO Ben Jacobs says that he hopes the new device will improve pets’ standard of living. “We would love to be able to help these dogs live longer lives,” he told . “The No. 1 indicator of a dog’s health is its own activity compared to its base line.” More than half of dogs and cats in the U.S. are overweight or obese.