Did you know that the founders of&nbsp;FitBark&nbsp;are&nbsp;first generation Italians? Today we were honored to host HE <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://twitter.com/CBisogniero">Claudio Bisogniero</a>, the Ambassador of Italy in the US, at our headquarters in Kansas City. This is the first visit of an Italian Ambassador to KC in over 50 years, and we're proud to have had the opportunity to meet with him and his team, share experiences and compare notes.We chatted about the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://www.sprintaccelerator.com/">Sprint Accelerator</a>&nbsp;and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://www.techstars.com/">Techstars</a>, why it made sense for FitBark to move to KC (hint <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://www.kcanimalhealth.com/">here</a>), and what the states of Kansas and Missouri are doing to support such a vibrant startup community. It feels great&nbsp;to know that the motherland is tracking our furry adventures! Big thanks to&nbsp;the Vice Consul of Italy <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://www.bryancave.com/ginoserra/">Gino Serra</a> for orchestrating&nbsp;this memorable moment.

Davide and Sara Rossi with Claudio Bisogniero

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A Furry Visit From The Ambassador of Italy HE Claudio Bisogniero

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The study investigated cognitive differences between different dog breeds, including learning ability, memory, problem-solving, social cognition, and inhibitory control. The researchers tested 13 different breeds of dogs, including Golden Retrievers, Labradors, and German Shepherds, and found significant differences in their cognitive abilities.The study found that breeds differed in their ability to understand human gestures, solve spatial problems, and show inhibitory control in a cylinder test. Some breeds also showed more persistence and directed behavior towards humans in an unsolvable task. Additionally, breeds differed in their behavior towards unfamiliar people, activity level, and exploration of a new environment. However, no significant differences were found in memory or logical reasoning ability.Overall, the results suggest that breed differences mainly emerge in tasks measuring social cognition, problem-solving, and inhibitory control, and these traits may have come under diversifying artificial selection in different breeds. In other words, different breeds of dogs have been bred to have different traits, and these differences are reflected in their cognitive abilities.The study highlights the importance of considering individual dog breeds rather than grouping them together based on function or genetic relatedness when studying cognitive abilities. The findings could help us better understand how dogs think and behave, and may also have implications for understanding the heritability of cognitive traits in other animals, including humans.You can check out the full study <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-26991-5#Abs1">here</a>

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How Different are Fido and Rover's Learning abilities?

We heard you! When a pet goes missing, coverage can make all the difference. If you're looking for the best possible coverage nationwide - beyond that of a Bluetooth tag, or a single-carrier GPS pet tracker - we've got you covered. Today, we're excited to introduce FitBark GPS 2nd Generation.SUPPORTS ALL 3 U.S. MAJOR CARRIERS. Our newest tracker automatically (and seamlessly) switches between Verizon, AT&amp;T and T-Mobile 4G LTE-M networks to ensure the best possible coverage at all times. Note that the embedded sim is independent of your smartphone's wireless provider.MULTIPLE SATELLITE CONSTELLATIONS. Supports GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, SBAS and QZSS for state-of-the-art, real-time tracking of your pet both in urban canyons and rural areas.3x ANTENNA PERFORMANCE. We reimagined the design and the placement of the antennas for better location tracking and overall performance.MORE RELIABLE ESCAPE DETECTION. Our new platform is smarter in differentiating between an escape and a stroll around the perimeter of a safe place, so you can expect fewer false exit notifications.IMPROVED BATTERY LIFE. Most pups will typically recharge for two hours every 3-5 weeks.LIGHT, RUGGED &amp; WATERPROOF. At 16 grams, FitBark GPS 2nd Generation fits dogs of any size (Chihuahuas and Leonbergers welcome!), and loves the water as much as your dog does. Fits collars up to 1.5″ (38 mm) wide.<hr>As we introduce our most connected and resilient dog wearable yet, we'd like to thank our friendly and passionate beta testing community. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and recommendations. Thank you for helping us turn challenges into opportunities. Thank you for getting us closer to a world where no pets will have to find themselves alone, stranded and helpless.You and Your Pet, Safe &amp; Healthy Together.FitBark GPS (2nd Generation) is now available for purchase at fitbark.com

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Introducing FitBark GPS 2nd Generation

Accelerometers track changes in physical activity which can indicate health and welfare concerns in dogs. The FitBark 2 (FitBark) is an accelerometer for use with dogs; however, no studies have externally validated this tool. The objective of this study was to evaluate FitBark criterion validity by correlating FitBark activity data to dog step count. Dogs (n = 26) were fitted with a collar-mounted FitBark and individually recorded for 30 min using a three-phase approach: (1) off-leash room explore; (2) human-dog interaction; and (3) on-leash walk. Video analysis was used to count the number of times the front right paw touched the ground (step count). Dog step count and FitBark activity were moderately correlated across all phases (r = 0.65, p &lt; 0.001). High correlations between step count and FitBark activity were observed during phases 1 (r = 0.795, p &lt; 0.001) and 2 (r = 0.758, p &lt; 0.001), and a low correlation was observed during phase 3 (r = 0.498, p &lt; 0.001). In conclusion, the FitBark is a valid tool for tracking physical activity in off-leash dogs; however, more work should be done to identify the best method of tracking on-leash activity.See the whole study at: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7999242/">https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7999242/</a>

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Evaluation of the FitBark Activity Monitor for Measuring Physical Activity in Dogs

We are proud to announce our newest integration: the FitBark app for Apple Watch. It shows you your pup’s health statistics and location*, as well as our leaderboard, right on your wrist. It will be available for download on the App Store in Q4 2020.<img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_Apple_Watch_App_Composition_1800705734.jpeg" alt="FitBark on Apple Watch" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_Apple_Watch_App_Composition_1800705734.jpeg 245w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Fit_Bark_Apple_Watch_App_Composition_1800705734.jpeg 500w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Fit_Bark_Apple_Watch_App_Composition_1800705734.jpeg 750w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Fit_Bark_Apple_Watch_App_Composition_1800705734.jpeg 1000w," sizes="100vw">A few years ago we noticed that, often enough, we would feel compelled to take our dog on a walk even on those days when we felt like being inactive. In other words, we would care to give our pup what he needed, and knew would make him happy - no matter what the weather looked like.As we looked around, we noticed that we weren’t alone. Many other pet owners were displaying a new form of social support that was focused on getting their pets more active. This, we thought, promised to get both pets and humans healthier. So this was our goal: we wanted to bring transparency to dog health in order to get people moving with their pets. This is what prompted us to start FitBark.From the outset, our technology has been designed around a "Healthy Together" vision. Native integrations with Fitbit, Apple, and Google's human health platforms have been transforming our commitment to the health of our pets into a fun visual journey of accountability that reinforces the human-animal bond.Your dog, any dog, is an ideal workout partner. Committing to your dog means committing to your own health. At FitBark, we believe in a world where fitness happens on both ends of the leash. Join us on our mission to get dogs and humans healthy together.*Location is only available for FitBark GPS.

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Introducing the FitBark App for Apple Watch

Big news, pet parents. Your favorite dog health monitor just got an upgrade! Since the introduction of FitBark 2, we have been working tirelessly not only with devoted pet parents from 140+ countries, but also with veterinarians and research institutions everywhere to combine their wisdom with our technology. Today we're launching FitBark GPS in the U.S. market.GET WI-FI SAFE ZONE ALERTS. Create multiple safe zones around familiar Wi-Fi networks (e.g. home, daycare, friend’s house) and get alerted when your pup leaves or enters one of these safe areas.PINPOINT GPS LOCATION IN MINUTES. In case of emergency, quickly track your pup anywhere in the U.S. via the embedded Verizon cellular service. Receive 1-minute location updates until you happily reunite with your doggo.BATTERY LASTS WEEKS. Most pups typically recharge for two hours every 10-20 days. The rest is playtime!MONITOR ACTIVITY &amp; SLEEP 24/7. Track minute-by-minute activity, sleep quality, distance traveled, calories burned, and overall health and behavior. Rank your dog vs. breed, age and weight peers.FITBIT WATCH FACE. Glance at your Fitbit Versa 2, Versa or Ionic to get updated on your pup's health and whereabouts!KEEP AN EYE ON MEDICAL ISSUES.&nbsp;Monitor mobility, anxiety and skin diseases through changes in behavior and sleep habits.LIGHT, RUGGED &amp; WATERPROOF. At 17 grams, FitBark GPS fits dogs of any size (Chihuahuas and Leonbergers welcome!), and loves the water as much as your dog does. Fits collars up to 1.5″ (38 mm) wide.As we introduce our most precise and connected dog wearable yet, we'd like to send a heartfelt thank you to the doggie and human beta testers who helped us bring this product to market. The opportunity to interact with you, learning from your habits and behaviors, has not only shaped our mission, but also the design and - we hope! - the reliability of our products.Healthy Together.Priced at $99.95, FitBark GPS is now available for purchase at fitbark.com

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 Introducing FitBark GPS All-in-One Dog Health & Location Tracker

We are thrilled to announce our collaboration with Elanco, a global leader focused on developing and marketing innovative solutions that enhance companion animal health. Our collaboration brings together FitBark and Galliprant (grapiprant tablets) within select veterinary clinics across the U.S.<img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_Elanco_Logo_350x176_171e058195.png" alt="Elanco logo" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_Elanco_Logo_350x176_171e058195.png 245w," sizes="100vw">Since 1954, Elanco has been working to empower veterinarians, food producers, and all those concerned with animal health with the tools needed to help animals live healthy lives. Elanco makes an ideal partner for FitBark to foster healthier pets, healthier humans and a healthier environment.In the words of Kayci Spandau, Marketing Associate at Elanco:<img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_Elanco_Kayci_Spandau_350x263_061aa98a8b.jpeg" alt="Kayci Spandau" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_Elanco_Kayci_Spandau_350x263_061aa98a8b.jpeg 208w," sizes="100vw">“Pet owners know their dog better than anyone, but it is often difficult to notice subtle changes in pet’s behavior and movement that could be a sign of a physical condition like osteoarthritis, which afflicts one in five dogs1. Elanco’s commitment to helping pets, their owners and veterinarians fits in perfectly with FitBark’s mission of allowing pet owners to not only be active with their dog, but to also monitor behavior throughout the day. With the help of your veterinarian, you may be able to notice critical patterns that you may otherwise miss. To learn more about canine osteoarthritis and Galliprant, please visit <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.galliprantfordogs.com/">Galliprantfordogs.com</a>”We are proud to share our One Health vision with Elanco. Look for FitBark at thousands of veterinary clinics nationwide!<hr>About ElancoElanco Animal Health provides innovation and veterinary support to help pets live longer, healthier, higher-quality lives. Please visit <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://www.elanco.us/">www.elanco.us</a>&nbsp;to learn more.INDICATION Galliprant is an NSAID that controls pain and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis in dogs.IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION Not for use in humans. Keep out of reach of children and pets. Monitoring is recommended if used long term. Should not be used in dogs who are allergic to grapiprant or with other anti-inflammatory drugs. The safe use of Galliprant has not been studied in dogs younger than 9 months of age and less than 8 pounds, breeding, pregnant or lactating dogs, or dogs with heart disease. The most common adverse reactions were vomiting, diarrhea, decreased appetite and tiredness. View <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.elancolabels.com/us/galliprant-with-tear-off">full product label</a> for complete safety information or contact your veterinarian.REFERENCES 1Johnston, SA. Osteoarthritis: joint anatomy, physiology, and pathobiology. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice. 1997; 27:699-723.© 2019 Elanco. Elanco and the diagonal bar logo are trademarks of Elanco or its affiliates. Galliprant is a registered trademark of Aratana Therapeutics, Inc.PM-US-19-1628

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FitBark and Elanco team up to promote pet health and well-being

<h2>Log My Dog: Perceived Impact of Dog Activity Tracking</h2>Abstract: The pet industry is catching up in the wearables market, and pet activity and location trackers are increasingly worn by our furry friends. We report on an empirical study investigating the user perceptions of a popular dog activity tracker. Results show that these trackers have a positive impact on owners' motivation to increase their physical activities with their dogs.Read the full article on&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/8812161">IEEE</a>. A previous version of this article is available on <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/330888131_Log_My_Dog_Perceived_Impact_of_Dog_Activity_Tracking">ResearchGate</a> (no subscription required).<hr>A recent study by the Tech4Animals lab, published in IEEE Computer (<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/8812161">https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/8812161</a>), a high-impact leading magazine on technological innovations, features the FitBark product, posing some fascinating questions on the dog-human bond through the lense of technology. By interviewing more than eighty FitBark users, the study showed that FitBark is perceived to have positive impact on owners' motivation to increase their mutual physical activities with their dogs. Moreover, the human-dog bond is perceived to be further reinforced, increasing human awareness to animals’ needs by giving them a “digital voice”, potentially improving the quality of human caregiving.<img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_Love_My_Dog_Chart_1be3199289.png" alt="A research chart" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_Love_My_Dog_Chart_1be3199289.png 245w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Fit_Bark_Love_My_Dog_Chart_1be3199289.png 500w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Fit_Bark_Love_My_Dog_Chart_1be3199289.png 750w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Fit_Bark_Love_My_Dog_Chart_1be3199289.png 1000w," sizes="100vw">The study shows that “healthier together” is more than just a slogan, as dog and human activity go hand in hand. Several participants particularly noted the effectiveness of synchronization of FitBark with their own FitBit on increasing their mutual daily activity with their dogs. Thus activity trackers such as FitBark may increase the depth of our understanding of what motivates people to increase their activity not only for their own good, but for that of their pets as well.A next step will be to see how product integration between FitBark and Fitbit can play into this joint increase of activity to stimulate more enduring benefits to activity and health than 'individual' devices tracking only human fitness have so far been shown to have.&nbsp;In general, the authors believe that smart collars and activity trackers are the “underdogs” of the IoT world, and that these devices will have a significant impact on society in more ways than we can imagine today. One aspect of this is that dogs and cats are beginning to generate huge amounts of wellbeing data, and that the insights scientists will eventually obtain through analyzing this data are about to transform the way we take care of our companion animals’ needs today.<img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_tech_4_animals_7920f2e114.jpeg" alt="A dog wearing a FitBark" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_tech_4_animals_7920f2e114.jpeg 208w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Fit_Bark_tech_4_animals_7920f2e114.jpeg 500w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Fit_Bark_tech_4_animals_7920f2e114.jpeg 750w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Fit_Bark_tech_4_animals_7920f2e114.jpeg 1000w," sizes="100vw"><img src="https://www.fitbark.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/FitBark_tech_4_animals-900x675.jpg" alt="">Becky, a founding member of the Tech4Animals Lab, proudly trying her new FitBark

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University of Haifa taps FitBark to show that dog health monitors motivate humans to be more active

We’re thrilled to announce our partnership with Fitbit. Together, we aim to inspire humans to be more active with their pets, generating better health outcomes for both.We’ve long believed that our pets not only are great life companions, but also get us moving - each and every day. Over and over, we hear from our users that since starting to use their FitBark, they have become more active themselves. Today, we are closing the loop in encouraging healthy habits for all family members.And we’re doing it in style, partnering with a global leader in health technology! As much as Fitbit has inspired our mission here at FitBark, we hope to inspire many Fitbit users to better care for their pets. Together, we have the potential not only to improve care giving, but also to enhance pet-owner interaction as well as the human-animal bond.<img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_Composition_Fitbit_Versa_59b4d6e52a.png" alt="FitBark on Fitbit" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_Composition_Fitbit_Versa_59b4d6e52a.png 245w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Fit_Bark_Composition_Fitbit_Versa_59b4d6e52a.png 500w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Fit_Bark_Composition_Fitbit_Versa_59b4d6e52a.png 750w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Fit_Bark_Composition_Fitbit_Versa_59b4d6e52a.png 1000w," sizes="100vw">Available in Q1 2019, the FitBark app and watch face for Fitbit Versa and Ionic shows your daily Fitbit stats such as activity, distance and calories burned alongside those of your furry companion - right on your wrist!And if you have a FitBark, you can already visualize your Fitbit steps in the FitBark mobile apps for iOS and Android, which also provide a unified leaderboard with the pets and the humans in your life.<img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_Composition_Leaderboad_Comparison_900x872_c566808ff4.png" alt="App screenshots" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_Composition_Leaderboad_Comparison_900x872_c566808ff4.png 161w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Fit_Bark_Composition_Leaderboad_Comparison_900x872_c566808ff4.png 500w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Fit_Bark_Composition_Leaderboad_Comparison_900x872_c566808ff4.png 750w," sizes="100vw">Ready to get healthy together? Head over to <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://investor.fitbit.com/press/press-releases/press-release-details/2018/Fitbit-Enhances-Health-and-Fitness-Smartwatch-Experience-Powered-by-Fitbit-OS-30-Update-New-Popular-Brand-Apps-and-Advanced-Developer-Tools/default.aspx">Fitbit's Website</a>&nbsp;and read the announcement!<img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_Fitbit_OS_3_350x518_d0a9fa9116.png" alt="A Fitbit" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_Fitbit_OS_3_350x518_d0a9fa9116.png 105w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Fit_Bark_Fitbit_OS_3_350x518_d0a9fa9116.png 338w," sizes="100vw">