The Link AKC Smart Dog Collar won the 2017 CES Innovation Award for best wearable electronic device. The Consumer Electronics Show recognized the Link AKC not only for its technical sophistication but for how the GPS dog collar enables greater interaction between man and man's best friend. Let's see what this gadget does....
Location Tracking: First, many devices of this kind are either pet activity trackers or pet locators. The Link AKC achieves both purposes by using Bluetooth and cellular technology to track your dog while he is within the range of the Bluetooth tracker, and GPS data to locate your dog if he is beyond that area. If you look into the gray circle on the left of the screen image below, that's where the GPS has kicked in and it shows where Fido is. Like most GPS devices, the Link does take a a minute or two after your pup has left the safe area to hear from your device, but once you do hear it, you will find his exact spot.
Wellness Information: Once you download the LInk AKC app onto your Android or IOS phone you can set up Fido's wellness profile. Enter your pup's name, age, breed, weight and other basic information about him on the app's profile page. The device will not only track Fido's activity levels, but let you know how he compares to similar dogs, and it will even design an appropriate fitness program for him.
And the Link AKC app also has a section to keep your dog's vet and vaccination records!
Temperature Alerts: Now this is new and it's about time the feature has been added to tracking. You need to know if your dog is too hot or too cold. So you set an acceptable external temperature range for your pup and you will be alerted on your phone when the temperature is below, say 30 degrees, or above, say 80 degrees. This is great to notify you when you need to move your pup to a cooler spot. (Even though this app may warn you about a hot car, do not leave your dog in the car... PLEASE!)
Remote Night Light: Do you bring a flashlight with you when you take your dog out at night? Well, that's handy, but wouldn't a night-light on your dog be even more helpful in finding her? Link AKC adds this unique feature to your dog's collar. Press a button on your phone and light up your dog so you know where she is in the dark. Works indoors too, of course.
Take/Share Photos and Videos of Your Adventures: Link AKC calls it a virtual scrapbook. Save those great moments you share with your dog on your walks, hikes, and training exercises with stills, video, and maps of your journeys.
Reinforce behaviors: Speaking of training exercises, the Link AKC enables you to give positive sound reinforcement to your dog through her collar when she performs. Sound, as in used in clicker training, has proved to be an effective positive reward system in the last several years.
To review...
Link AKC comes with a stunning Latigo leather collar, a Bluetooth tracking unit, a tracking unit fitting for the collar, a Bluetooth charging unit (base station), and cord. A neat feature of the charging unit is that is also has a USB port to charge your phone.
Although you can fit the Link AKC Bluetooth tracking unit and its fitting on most dog collars, the Link AKC collar does looks rather fetching on your dog...
(The Link AKC is not available for cats at this time nor for dogs less that 15 pounds in weight.)
Link AKC is one of our 5+ Best Pet Tracking Systems. Visit that blog here.
That's the buzz for today!
Lady Bee
