Smart dog collar tracks your pooch's diet and location

There are a lot of devices out there that you can use to keep track of your pets, but the Buddy collar is akin to several types rolled into one. The LED collar makes sure Fido's visible in the dark, but it's also a temperature sensor, an activity tracker, and location monitor. This waterproof device was created by Australian startup Squeaker, which is now trying to raise AU$385,000 (US$285,000) via Kickstarter to begin production. It connects via Bluetooth to an accompanying iOS (Apple Watch version included) or Android app where you can draw geofences on maps. And yes, it alerts you if ever your pet steps out of the zone you designated.

The app also gives you an overview of your dog's activity levels, food intake and vet appointments. Plus, it lets you change the collar's LED colors and light display. The Buddy collar itself has a small OLED screen that shows the dog's temperature, calorie intake and exercise duration for the day. In addition, you can link it to your Nest thermostat and Philips Hue bulbs if you have them: Nest can adjust the AC or heater based on your pet's body temp, so you won't have to worry about heat stroke during summers. Philips Hue bulbs, on the other hand, can flicker as a signal if your dog strays out of your geofence.

While those features sound great, it's worth noting that you'll have to pledge more to get them all, and the collar isn't exactly cheap. There's an early bird promo that will get you a Buddy collar with all the features we mentioned for $180. After the slots for that run out, you'll have to pledge the same amount for the basic version that doesn't have either GPS or activity tracker and doesn't even come with the WiFi charging dock. The one with a fitness tracker costs $240 (thankfully, with the charging dock), while you'll have to pledge $300 for the one with both the GPS and activity sensors. Oh, and the largest version is only around 25 inches in length, which means owners of St. Bernards and other medium to large breeds will have to sit this one out.

Edit: Added that the collar is waterproof and changed prices from AUD to USD.