🌸 🌱 Our spring sale is live! Shop now 🐶 🐱

Brought to you from our furry friends at at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://www.klooff.com/">Klooff</a>.<img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_dog_internet_trends_2014_4c0548b8f7.jpeg" alt="A map of trending pets in 2014" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_dog_internet_trends_2014_4c0548b8f7.jpeg 204w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Fit_Bark_dog_internet_trends_2014_4c0548b8f7.jpeg 500w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Fit_Bark_dog_internet_trends_2014_4c0548b8f7.jpeg 750w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Fit_Bark_dog_internet_trends_2014_4c0548b8f7.jpeg 1000w," sizes="100vw">

large_FitBark_dog_internet_trends_2014.jpeg

medium_FitBark_dog_internet_trends_2014.jpeg

small_FitBark_dog_internet_trends_2014.jpeg

thumbnail_FitBark_dog_internet_trends_2014.jpeg

FitBark_dog_internet_trends_2014.jpeg

Research

Who's The Top Dog In Your Country?

blog-articles

When you think of relaxing music, what's the first thing that comes to mind? Is it classical? We've been told time and time again, that classical music is relaxing. But do our dogs find it relaxing, too?&nbsp;It turns out that classic music is only the third most relaxing genre of those tested by Betway using the FitBark. Out of the genres that were tested, Bestway found that Folk and and Jazz were the most relaxing tunes for our pooches, with heavy metal being the worst for relaxation.Bestway didn't just test out music though, they also tested to see which tv programs allow our pooches to Netflix and chill. It turns out our pups just can't keep their chill when The Witcher is on, but Friends and Bridgerton help keep them in place.&nbsp;Check out the full results here: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://blog.betway.com/casino/the-dog-relaxation-experiment/">https://blog.betway.com/casino/the-dog-relaxation-experiment/</a>

FItBark_dog_coves_blanket_hiding.jpg

What Tunes Relax Your Pup the Most?

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>

FitBark_dog_lab_coat_stethoscope.jpg

How Different are Fido and Rover's Learning abilities?

Do you have a puzzle feeder or another reward based feeding system for your dog and have wondered if your cat may like the same set up? Well, think again. According to research done by the University of California School of Veterinary Medicine, your cat does not want to have sing for their supper.<img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_cat_eating_grey_35cf8d34e2.jpg" alt="A grey cat eating out of a bowl" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_cat_eating_grey_35cf8d34e2.jpg 104w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Fit_Bark_cat_eating_grey_35cf8d34e2.jpg 332w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Fit_Bark_cat_eating_grey_35cf8d34e2.jpg 498w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Fit_Bark_cat_eating_grey_35cf8d34e2.jpg 664w," sizes="100vw">The researchers studied seventeen indoor cats and their eating habits to test their hypothesis that cats in a domestic environment would be more likely to contrafreeload (contrafreeloading is the willingness of animals to work for food when equivalent food is freely available) and that more active cats would also be more likely to contrafreeload.<img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_cat_eating_licking_970d6e738e.jpg" alt="A cat eating and licking its lips" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_cat_eating_licking_970d6e738e.jpg 208w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Fit_Bark_cat_eating_licking_970d6e738e.jpg 500w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Fit_Bark_cat_eating_licking_970d6e738e.jpg 750w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Fit_Bark_cat_eating_licking_970d6e738e.jpg 1000w," sizes="100vw">For the study, the cats wore a FitBark to monitor their activity throughout the day and to measure their activity in relation to their willingness to contrafreeload. Through their research, they found that “There was no relationship between activity and contrafreeloading, and there was no effect of sex, age, or previous food puzzle experience on contrafreeloading”. This interesting data however only explains one portion of the puzzle and more research is needed to determine exactly&nbsp;why&nbsp;cats are not like their animal counterparts in terms of wanting to work for their food.If you'd like to read more about this study, the original paper is available to read at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10071-021-01530-3">Springer Link.</a>

FitBark_cat_eating_tongue.jpg

Researchers Have Discovered Exactly How Your Cat Likes To Be Fed

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>

FitBark_black_dog_leash.jpg

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

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

FitBark_Elanco_GPT_GO_PLAY.jpeg

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

FitBark_tech_4_animals.jpeg

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">

FitBark_Composition_Fitbit_Versa.png

FitBark and Fitbit team up to get dogs and their humans healthy together

Researchers at the University of Cambridge completed a One Healthy study that has the potential to improve outcomes in treatment of a wide range of orthopedic diseases in humans and animals, including osteoarthritis.The researchers explain that several potential treatments fail at the animal to human translational stage; one of the primary causes being a lack of technology available to measure changes in behavior and pain in free living conditions.This study validates use of the FitBark activity monitor for tracking movement and activity of experimental sheep before and after surgery, through a correlation between FitBark data and radiography, macroscopic and histological scoring (well recognized outcome measurements). In other words, the FitBark allows for the measurement of behavioral outcomes in animals in a way that more closely replicates the increasing emphasis on "patient reported outcome measurements" in humans.<img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_sheep_a8eeb872fb.jpeg" alt="A sheep walking" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_sheep_a8eeb872fb.jpeg 245w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Fit_Bark_sheep_a8eeb872fb.jpeg 500w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Fit_Bark_sheep_a8eeb872fb.jpeg 750w," sizes="100vw">In the article, the researchers highlight the benefits of FitBark's cost and ease of use and conclude suggesting that telemetry (wireless monitoring) should be considered for inclusion in outcome measures in preclinical orthopedic research.Congratulations to <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://sciences.musculoskeletal.group.cam.ac.uk/members/karin-newell/">Karin Newell</a>,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://www.smartbell.io/">Dr. Jose Chitty</a>&nbsp;and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://www.orthopaedics.cam.ac.uk/people/dr-frances-henson/">Dr. Frances Henson</a> for completing this groundbreaking work that has the potential to improve not only animal health but also human health as it relates to osteoarthritis and other&nbsp;orthopedic diseases.Head over to PubMed to review the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29087600">abstract</a>, and read the full article <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jor.23790/epdf">here</a>.

FitBark_vet_surgery.jpeg

University of Cambridge pioneers telemetry in orthopedic research with FitBark's activity monitor

Great news for those who can’t bear to be apart from their pooches: allowing Fido to sleep in your room can actually give you a better night’s sleep!<div class="raw-html-embed"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_JM-rMXnX2M" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>“Most people assume having pets in the bedroom is a disruption,” says Lois Krahn, M.D., a sleep medicine specialist at the Center for Sleep Medicine on Mayo Clinic’s Arizona campus and an author of the study. But is this actually true?&nbsp;The Mayo Clinic published the findings of their sleep study, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196(17)30486-X/fulltext">The Effect of Dogs on Human Sleep in the Home Sleep Environment</a>, which used the FitBark to measure sleep efficiency, in early September 2017. While it is commonly thought that having a dog in the bedroom disrupts sleep, the study reveals that having your pup sleep in your room is generally not a disruptive habit. Not only that, our dogs also seem to achieve desirable sleep scores from being allowed to stay near us in the night.The study ran over the course five months and focused on 40 adults, who did not have any sleep disorders, and their dogs. Both the humans and the dogs had activity trackers, with the canine participants using FitBarks, which were worn for 7 consecutive nights. The study shows that the overwhelming majority of participants maintained their sleep efficiency while having their dog in the room. However, it’s important to note that while having your pup sleep in your room can provide great comfort and have no ill effect on your sleep, allowing Fido to crawl into bed may slightly decrease your sleep efficiency.<img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_Mayo_Clinic_Study_Dogs_Bedroom_900x527_649441b9f7.jpeg" alt="A dog sleeping next to a bed with people in it" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_Mayo_Clinic_Study_Dogs_Bedroom_900x527_649441b9f7.jpeg 245w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Fit_Bark_Mayo_Clinic_Study_Dogs_Bedroom_900x527_649441b9f7.jpeg 500w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Fit_Bark_Mayo_Clinic_Study_Dogs_Bedroom_900x527_649441b9f7.jpeg 750w," sizes="100vw">As Dr. Krahn says, “The relationship between people and their pets has changed over time, which is likely why many people in fact do sleep with their pets in the bedroom. Today, many pet owners are away from their pets for much of the day, so they want to maximize their time with them when they are home. Having them in the bedroom at night is an easy way to do that. And, now, pet owners can find comfort knowing it won’t negatively impact their sleep.”Head over to the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196(17)30486-X/fulltext">Mayo Clinic's Proceedings</a>&nbsp;to download the entire study, and view coverage on <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://abcnews.go.com/Lifestyle/dog-sleeping-bedroom-hurt-quality-sleep/story?id=49787352">Good Morning America</a> and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/news/20170912/its-time-to-kick-fido-out----of-bed-that-is#1">WebMD</a>.

FitBark_sleeping_dog_puppy.jpeg

Mayo Clinic uses FitBark's activity monitors to show that dogs are good sleep companions

A recent study completed by five Italian researchers confirms that a diet with a high nutraceutical value, developed and marketed by <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://www.forza10usa.com/">Forza10</a>, may greatly reduce a number of issues from which many dogs suffer. The researchers were interested in evaluating how the diet can help dogs that suffer from a variety of issues including separation and general anxiety, diffidence, and clinical issues such as skin, fur, and gastrointestinal issues. As pet owners, we know how much these issues may impact not only our pups’ physical health, but also their mental health.On the first day of the study, with the help of FitBark activity monitors, the team mapped the dogs’ behaviors, clinical conditions as well as activity/resting times. For the following ten days, the researchers provided half of the dogs with a Forza10 diet, and monitored all of the dogs via the FitBarks and Wi-Fi Base Stations.<img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_Forza10_Bowls_c34eb91af7.png" alt="Researcher filling dog bowls with food" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_Forza10_Bowls_c34eb91af7.png 220w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Fit_Bark_Forza10_Bowls_c34eb91af7.png 500w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Fit_Bark_Forza10_Bowls_c34eb91af7.png 750w," sizes="100vw">The results were staggering! The FitBark data showed that dogs on the Forza10 diet had meaningful reductions in anxious activity and increases in rest. The dogs also displayed great reductions in diffidence, reactivity, irritability, and many more categories. The clinical results are also outstanding, showing that dogs fed Forza10 over a standard diet had large changes in dandruff, itch, seborrhea, and flush; gastrointestinal issues were also greatly reduced. Perhaps the greatest behavioral improvement was the reduction in barking, which every dog owner (and their neighbors) can appreciate!<img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_Forza10_Before_After_982e0792ac.png" alt="Video screenshot from study" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_Forza10_Before_After_982e0792ac.png 215w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Fit_Bark_Forza10_Before_After_982e0792ac.png 500w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Fit_Bark_Forza10_Before_After_982e0792ac.png 750w," sizes="100vw">You can review the details of the entire study on <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.jove.com/video/54878/behavioral-disturbances-an-innovative-approach-to-monitor-modulatory">Jove</a>, and you can purchase Forza10's diets on <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chewy.com/s?query=forza10&amp;nav-submit-button=">chewy.com</a>

FitBark_Angry_Dog.jpeg

University of Sassari taps FitBark to validate a nutraceutical diet that improves dog behavior

The background is a series of popular sleep studiesA&nbsp;while back <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://www.mayo.edu/research/faculty/krahn-lois-e-m-d/bio-00077915">Dr. Lois Krahn</a>, a sleep medicine specialist at the Mayo Clinic Center for Sleep Medicine, set out to explore the impact of pets on human health - in particular on the quality of nocturnal sleep. One of her most popular <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196(15)00674-6/abstract">studies</a>, released in late 2015, was conducted by means of a questionnaire where 150 respondents were asked whether they believed their pets influenced the quality of their own sleep. While the general consensus in the medical community was that allowing dogs and cats in the bedroom is always a risk - especially for folks with sleep disorders - the study pointed out that 41% of respondents believed that having a pet in the bedroom leads to better sleep, whereas&nbsp;20% of the respondents reported sleep disturbances because of pets. In other words, certain categories of people feel more cozy and secure when they sleep with their pet.Looking for quantitative data to validate these&nbsp;findingsAt FitBark, we couldn't be any more flattered&nbsp;when Dr. Krahn and her project team (led by Dr. Salma Patel of the&nbsp;Department of Internal Medicine) reached out to describe how they wanted to&nbsp;put in place a rigorous system to monitor the quality of sleep of pairs of dogs and humans. While using a clinical-grade human accelerometer on dogs was an option, they were pleased with FitBark's availability of 1-minute raw data, compact size, Bluetooth connectivity (as opposed to a cable connection for data transfer) and the availability of an iOS and Android app. At the other end of the leash, pet owners wore a&nbsp;Respironics Actiwatch© for 7 nights. Humans with sleep disorders, as well as puppies and multiple pets were excluded.<img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_Mayo_Clinic_Dogs_Humans_Study_900x656_79335a12a1.jpeg" alt="Mayo Clinic study text" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_Mayo_Clinic_Dogs_Humans_Study_900x656_79335a12a1.jpeg 214w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Fit_Bark_Mayo_Clinic_Dogs_Humans_Study_900x656_79335a12a1.jpeg 500w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Fit_Bark_Mayo_Clinic_Dogs_Humans_Study_900x656_79335a12a1.jpeg 750w," sizes="100vw">The study, entitled "The significance of the home sleep environment: the effect of dogs on human sleep", is the first of its kind to objectively evaluate the effects of dogs on human sleep. The results confirm the outcome of the previous studies, in that humans with dogs in the bedroom were typically&nbsp;able to maintain good sleep efficiency (&gt;80%). In other words, a dog's presence in the human bedroom may not be as disruptive to human sleep as previously suspected. This is great news for dog lovers!&nbsp;But do all dogs sleep equally well, asked the team at Mayo?Harnessing the power of the FitBark database&nbsp;to analyze dog sleepThe goal for a second study, entitled "Sleep of common dogs within the United States by breed, age and weight and its implications on human sleep" was to provide health care providers as well as dog owners with objective data on how certain types of dogs are expected to sleep at night. Why? Because humans may be able to sleep better if they select dog companions who also sleep well at night!&nbsp;The team at Mayo accessed anonymized data from the FitBark database for 900&nbsp;dogs belonging to 18 common dog breeds listed by the American Kennel Club. They only considered US dogs over 1 year of age, on days when the FitBark was worn for at least 20 hours.<img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_Mayo_Clinic_Dogs_Only_Study_4f1411db77.jpeg" alt="Mayo Clinic study text" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_Mayo_Clinic_Dogs_Only_Study_4f1411db77.jpeg 245w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Fit_Bark_Mayo_Clinic_Dogs_Only_Study_4f1411db77.jpeg 500w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Fit_Bark_Mayo_Clinic_Dogs_Only_Study_4f1411db77.jpeg 750w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Fit_Bark_Mayo_Clinic_Dogs_Only_Study_4f1411db77.jpeg 1000w," sizes="100vw">The study identified dog breeds that might be best to enhance sleep such as Siberian Husky, Boxer, Golden Retriever and Labrador Retriever. Sleep efficiency was also better for dogs of larger size&nbsp;in both the adult and senior populations. The median sleep efficiency in this&nbsp;study was around 86%, which is strikingly similar to&nbsp;the typical sleep efficiency in humans.Why we&nbsp;love interacting with researchers and what this means to usFitBark's data is currently powering 30+ research institutions worldwide in an effort not only to enhance&nbsp;our understanding of&nbsp;our pets, but also our mutual relationship. With users in 110+ countries, we are able to run studies and validate certain hypotheses based on information that already resides in our database. No dogs or humans were harmed, or even bothered, in this second study. The data is there - thanks to many FitBark users who contribute to citizen science! - and it's available for vet schools and research institutions to analyze.What's even better, our deep interactions with the medical community enable us to develop new metrics that have the potential of helping all dog owners better care for their pets. For example, all FitBark users can now visualize their dog's sleep efficiency (we call it "sleep score" for simplicity) in the FitBark mobile app. A low sleep score may be correlated with certain behavioral and medical issues&nbsp;(read more <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.fitbark.com/insights/sleep/">here</a>).We're proud to be of service not only to dogs, but also to humans. We're all about enhancing our relationship and our bond. We're all about getting healthy together. We're all about <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.onehealthcommission.org">One Health</a>.<hr>Abstracts and scientific highlights from the Journal of Sleep and Sleep Disorders Research are available <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://www.sleepmeeting.org/docs/default-source/default-document-library/sleep-39-as_final.pdf">here</a>&nbsp;(search for studies 0527 and 0528).

FitBark_Mayo_Clinic_Dogs_Only_Study.jpeg

Mayo Clinic studies powered by FitBark data reveal the effect of dogs on human sleep

The FitBark team recently got a chance to chat with Dr. Rebecca Johnson. Dr. Johnson is a founder and director of the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://rechai.missouri.edu/">Research Center for Human-Animal Interaction</a>&nbsp;based at the MU College of Veterinary Medicine. &nbsp;Many of her research studies have provided insight into the physical and psychological benefits humans gain from having an animal companion.We have always known dog was “man’s best friend” and now we can start to understand why.Read Rebecca’s full bio <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://www.nursing.missouri.edu/faculty/faculty-profiles/johnsonra/index.php">here</a>.Q: How would you describe your work?A: My work is a mission rather than work. &nbsp;The mission is to enhance interaction between people and companion animals for the benefit of both ends of the leash. &nbsp;This includes both physical health and emotional well-being.Q: What are some of the biggest benefits in studying the relationship with animals, dogs in particular, and humans?A: It never ceases to amaze me that the human-animal bond forms very quickly and become very deep. &nbsp;And beyond even the one-to-one benefits of this bond are the social benefits. &nbsp;Dogs are truly a social lubricant (this is born out in research by the way), and often people create social networks around walking their dogs and training them.Q: What sort of trends have you seen so far?A: Older adults who walked shelter dogs in one of our studies had a significant improvement in their normal walking speed more so than those who walked with a person or did not walk.Public housing residents lost an average of 14 pounds by walking with dogs that we provided them.Veterans training shelter dogs formed a bond with other veterans in the training class and serve as a support network for each other.PTSD service dogs we have trained in our program for veterans have greatly enhanced the independence, feelings of security, and well-being of their veterans.Q: Many studies come to the conclusion that dogs release oxytocin in humans, making us feel happier and more trusting. What do you think is the biggest factor attributed to this - <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://ih2.redbubble.net/image.12662043.0742/flat,800x800,070,f.u1.jpg">puppy dog eyes</a>, wagging tails, or something much more scientific?&nbsp;A: The interesting thing about human-dog interaction is that four of the five senses are stimulated—sight, sound, hearing, and touch. &nbsp;There aren’t many situations in which all of these senses are stimulated at once. &nbsp;That makes the interaction very powerful and the response in the brain pretty immediate. &nbsp;But we can’t overlook the idea of neotony—that is that dogs with big eyes have a resemblance to babies. &nbsp;And certainly when a dog acts receptive—joyous—it is contagious!Q: Do you have a dog? Tell us about them!A: Yes—MacKenzie, my 9-yr old <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.akc.org/breeds/gordon_setter/index.cfm">Gordon Setter</a> girl. &nbsp;“Kenzie” is a sweetheart. &nbsp;She let me know fairly early on that she did not want to be a therapy dog so there would not be regular nursing home visits in our future together. &nbsp;But that’s ok. &nbsp;She is a joyful soul who loves her tennis ball and treads water like a champ when there is a frog swimming near her. &nbsp;She’s my little, 71-pound shadow!Q: Do you ever notice findings in your study overlapping with the connection you have with your dog?A: I have been a daily dog-walker for over 30 years but during the dog walking studies, on my own walks with Kenzie I have become even more aware of how fun it is to see the world as she is experiencing it, and to be tuned in to her interactions with nature. &nbsp;For example, it is especially meaningful to me to watch the way she becomes statuesque when she sees a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://i473.photobucket.com/albums/rr91/Mjr162006/Squirrels/squirrel-up-dog-gif.gif">squirrel</a> (that I probably haven’t noticed), her curiosity at watching a little salamander run across the sidewalk, the way she raises her muzzle and sniffs the breeze.I also notice that research I read impacts my interaction with Kenzie. &nbsp;For example, I just read a study that human touch of the dog made a much more profound neurochemical response than human voice. &nbsp;So while I still talk to her a great deal, I have added even more touch. &nbsp;It also makes me feel good!Q: Why is it so important to track your dog’s health and your own simultaneously?A: Because we can help each other to be healthier. &nbsp;Our dogs depend on us to keep them healthy, be in tune to notice when they are not, and to intervene. &nbsp;But our health is related to theirs. &nbsp;The notion of One Health is a simple one—that there is no dividing line between human and animal health.If we aren’t getting enough exercise or rest, our dog may not be either. &nbsp;With the fast-paced lives that we live now, we need to be connected with our dogs to take us away for a while from the obsessive work and other demands. &nbsp;Tracking can help us not only escape to a different place—the inner world of our dog—but it can also help us feel more in touch with our dog.Q: What else do you think we can learn from tracking our dog’s health, rest, and activity?A: We can be more aware of how we are meeting their needs. &nbsp;If our dog is overweight, for example and we see it’s activity level trackings, we can then monitor this and see how much activity makes a difference in the dog’s weight loss. &nbsp;Most dog owners want to be in tune with their dog. &nbsp;Tracking these parameters helps us to be closer in tune with our dog. &nbsp;That can only improve the human-animal bond! &nbsp;And that is healthy for both ends of the leash.

Who's The Top Dog In Your Country?

Recommended for you