Fun stuff for furbabies

Toy giant Mattel Inc. recently unveiled a high tech toy that will allow dogs to publicize their everyday activities. In its first-ever toy created for the canine community, Mattel introduced a product called "Puppy Tweets" that meshes the popular Twitter with people's love of pets. Puppy Tweets consists of a plastic tag that sends a WiFi signal to your computer, via a USB receiver, every time your pet moves. This in turn sends you a text via Twitter. You simply set up a Twitter page for your pet and once the tag is on the dog's collar, it starts generating tweets. The device is pre-loaded with 500 phrases that are designed to put an amusing spin on a mundane activity. Mattel stresses that "Puppy Tweets" is a toy meant for human enjoyment, not a monitor or tracking device for pet safety. It simply sends out random messages triggered by movement or sound, so even if the dog's device may be tweeting about catching something in the back yard, he could actually be scratching himself. It can be set at timed intervals, so Twitter followers don't become overwhelmed. "It's a new frontier for Mattel, and the beginning of a new wave of products for people to interact with their pets," says Mattel President Neil Friedman. "It's definitely unique from anything we've done before."

Toy analysts such as Sean McGowan are skeptical. "It is great to incorporate the internet into toys, but today's tech-minded consumers will probably expect more. Pet lovers will quickly be disappointed because the tweets are packaged responses and not really generated by their pet's activities. It reminds me of other gimmicky novelty items that seem great at first, but get old quickly."

Puppy Tweets will be available this fall for about $30. Another new "fun stuff" item is the Mood Collar. According to the folks at Moody Pet, dogs are "keenly attuned to our moods, and with the help of the Mood Collar, we can be just as tuned in to their moods. For example, if the collar turns red-brown, your dog is nervous, forlorn and tense. He needs attention. If the collar turns black, he is cranky and smart-alecky. The moodypet.com website gives very little info, other than the price of $15, but I visited with a Mood Collar rep by phone, and she said, "If you bought into the mood ring fad of the '70's, you will appreciate the Mood Collar." For forty bucks, you can get a "Yuppy Puppy Treat Machine," a working gumball machine that uses treats, not gumballs, and is specially designed so dogs can operate it. Avid sports fans can now buy officially licensed helmet shaped dog houses/pet beds. Helmutt House claims that their helmet- house would be a great addition to any yard or room, and make a FAN-tastic statement. They come in two sizes and sell for between four and five hundred dollars. It is amazing the hundreds (probably thousands) of gadgets available for pet lovers....but most of them are marketed to entertain humans, not dogs. Dogs would probably be happy with few stuffed Kongs or Buster Cubes, a warm cozy bed, and plenty of food and love, but if you want fun stuff for your furbabies, there are many things available!

* Pauline Larsen can be contacted at Box 373, Newell, Iowa 50568 or email at plarsen@rconnect.com.