SNIF Tags go commercial, promise to monitor your dog's activity

They've been keeping tabs on dogs around MIT for a few years now, but it looks like the activity-monitoring SNIF Tags are now finally making their public, and commercial, debut. Unlike some other devices that track your dog's whereabouts with GPS, these make use of an accelerometer and some motion analysis software to determine exactly how active your dog is, all of which gets logged online via the included SNIF base station that connects to your router. Even more ambitiously, the tags also promise to let you and your dog engage in a bit of social networking, with the tags able to recognize when they're close to another tag and record the encounter online when you get back home which, of course, depends on plenty of other dogs having the tags as well. Their $200 introductory price (or $300 after November 24th) won't exactly help those chances, however, nor will the $10 a month fee for the premium membership (a year of service is included with the starter kit). If that's not a deterrent for you though, you can get your order in right now by hitting up the ready link below.

[kjb434 @ Nov 10th 2008 6:05PM]

Really?

Really?

What a waste.....If don't know what your dog does, you shouldn't have one.

[DBinSD @ Nov 10th 2008 6:09PM]

If you don't know how your keyboard works, you shouldn't have one.

[Gabe @ Nov 10th 2008 6:08PM]

I'll put these on my children.

[StalematE @ Nov 10th 2008 6:10PM]

I'll put one on my girlfriend.

[patriotsn1 @ Nov 10th 2008 6:14PM]

Great... now StalematE is gonna know where I live.

[Matthew Hilario @ Nov 10th 2008 6:16PM]

@ StalematE

For $10/month I can tell you how active me and your gf are.

[StalematE @ Nov 10th 2008 6:20PM]

I guess i set myself up for that.

[iEye @ Nov 10th 2008 6:11PM]

They should have made it work with the iPod some way... at least you would have a better chance of actually meeting that hot chick with the dog down the street before this product keels over and craoks...

[George @ Nov 10th 2008 6:17PM]

OMFG!!! I was totally about to buy one thinking it would help me find my dog or know where he was when he runs away(quite often) But alas it doesn't. It lets you know if your dog is laying down or walking, pretty much, am I getting this right? How F$%king stupid.

Now come up with something that will let you find your dog in the neighborhood or even a few miles away in real time and you've got a product, otherwise you guys will be out of business before you know it.

[Lowest Ranked @ Nov 10th 2008 6:23PM]

Uh, most dogs and cats already have microchips in them. Do you live under a rock?

[Dan Davis @ Nov 10th 2008 7:31PM]

@ Lowest Ranked

...but that chip is only worthwhile if the dog or cat gets picked up by an entity that has microchip readers. It's not like that thing can transmit more than a couple of inches.

[Lowest Ranked @ Nov 10th 2008 7:56PM]

I must say, if you have a chronic issue with your pets running away, you need to invest in a leash, or maybe, better hygiene.

[randy @ Nov 10th 2008 6:20PM]

As long as this device doesn't poll the dog's owner it will succeed. People are already polled to death nowadays by all these new devices and services. TMI is KILLING US! Case in point: the houseplant monitor that PINGS you when the plant is low on water. NO! STOP IT! Humans are becomes SLAVES to these devices! Jesus whatever happened to ubiquitous computing? SAY NO TO POLLING!

[jabber @ Nov 10th 2008 6:31PM]

Take a deep breath, Randy...

[Geoff @ Nov 10th 2008 6:31PM]

What do you think of Randy's comment? Click the symbols in the upper right hand side of his post to vote now!

[anebg @ Nov 10th 2008 6:25PM]

now gadget-frenzy addicts are going to start jumping dogs...

[gr689 @ Nov 10th 2008 11:57PM]

lowest ranked, You must be a complete idiot. Are you? Please I would love to hear your answer, because the microchips that are out are for vets or the dog catcher to scan your dog and IT WILL ONLY GIVE THEM THE DOG OWNERS ADDRESS!!!!!!!! I was suggesting something that would find your dog in REAL TIME, like a map online that can track your dog; like lowjack! but that is not what these chips are for.

So please tell me again where I live you IDIOT!! Smarten up before you talk to me

[Cunthor @ Nov 10th 2008 6:36PM]

In Putin Russia dog monitors... oh wait...

[gr689 @ Nov 10th 2008 6:39PM]

english please

[MarbleMind @ Nov 10th 2008 6:51PM]

Yeah, I put a "SNIF" tag on my dog, pick up my "LOKME" digital keys from my table, enter my KIA "PRO-cee'd", drive to town, get my "LeTTaZ" magazine and buy a "BRAITLIT" lightbulb and a "KOLDPAK" for my picnic box. Then I go home and turn off again the "ZEKURE-IT" alarm system I activated when I left.

...

*weary sigh*

Couldn't they just call DoggieTracker or something?

[Lowest Ranked @ Nov 10th 2008 7:58PM]

Because SNIF is only four letters.

[Kid Dynamite @ Nov 10th 2008 7:42PM]

@MarbleMind: SNIF stands for "Social Networking In Fur" - that explains the name - and I actually have one of these on my dog. What people don't understand at first is that the way you can go back and look at all the historical activity is really cool. A friend of mine bought the tag this weekend at a launch event, and he texted me today "where the fk is my dog walker! my dog has been in a low activity state all day!" turns out his dog walker was 90 minutes late, and he could figure that out by looking at the data from the SNIFtag.


@IEye - I agree completely that they should work up an IPOD tie in.

[edward @ Nov 10th 2008 9:23PM]

@Kid Dynamite: How much did they pay you for that shameless plug?

[Edward @ Nov 10th 2008 8:09PM]

@Kid Dynamite: How much did they pay you for that shameless plug?

[LC @ Nov 10th 2008 8:17PM]

I was actually able to get my paws (pun intended) on this device as soon as it hit the market as I was a beta tester. Watching what my dog is doing in real time (through the avatar) is cool but what is more important is the history like Kid Dynamite points out...see, my porker of a canine would prefer to lounge all day so having a device that monitors exactly how much exercise he is getting is extremely important to me. Not to mention, this helps me to remember the names of the people we pass by on our morning commute...not just their four legged counterparts!

[John @ Nov 10th 2008 9:30PM]

I just bought one for my dog - have been following the pre-launch press with interest including the article Wired wrote a few months back. I'll let you know how i find it. I am planning on using it to a) check on my dog walker and b) use the network to find a dog sitter (fingers crossed).

[Wwhat @ Nov 11th 2008 1:07AM]

Here's my question: does this thing and its software use encryption? There might be trouble if the law can proof the whereabouts of your dog now and in the past.
Fines for being unleashed, fines for pooping, fines for claims of scaring a doghater, fines for claimed destruction of property, fines for digging holes, fines galore.

[puggle @ Nov 15th 2008 11:52PM]

It doesn't track the whereabouts of your dog, or get that specific - digging, chewing, etc. I don't think there's any risk of law enforcement use. It has been really useful for me to see when my dog walker arrives, and how long she stays. It is also fun to see how much exercise my dogs are getting.