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It’s incredible how quickly a bond forms between a dog and his human. Our&nbsp;dog needs us to be active and healthy, and we need him&nbsp;to&nbsp;be&nbsp;active and healthy ourselves. With our busy lives, if he’s&nbsp;not getting enough rest or exercise, we may not be&nbsp;either.Exercise is not one bit less important for humans&nbsp;than it is for dogs! The right amount of exercise helps keep us both in great shape, and&nbsp;illness and disease away.&nbsp;Loving your pet means staying healthy together.By linking a Fitbit or another human fitness tracker to the FitBark mobile app…<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_Add_Fitbit_Black_2f487deace.png" alt="FitBark_Add_Fitbit_Black.png" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_Add_Fitbit_Black_2f487deace.png 95w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Fit_Bark_Add_Fitbit_Black_2f487deace.png 305w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Fit_Bark_Add_Fitbit_Black_2f487deace.png 458w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Fit_Bark_Add_Fitbit_Black_2f487deace.png 610w," sizes="100vw"></figure>…you can start monitoring your own fitness next to that of your dog!<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_Dogvs_Human_i_Phone_Black_7bba3359b9.png" alt="FitBark_DogvsHuman_iPhone_Black.png" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_Dogvs_Human_i_Phone_Black_7bba3359b9.png 95w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Fit_Bark_Dogvs_Human_i_Phone_Black_7bba3359b9.png 305w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Fit_Bark_Dogvs_Human_i_Phone_Black_7bba3359b9.png 458w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Fit_Bark_Dogvs_Human_i_Phone_Black_7bba3359b9.png 610w," sizes="100vw"></figure>This is a great way to get to know your dog better, deepen&nbsp;your bond and get healthier yourself. It’s time to get active with your pet&nbsp;and make better choices throughout the day!<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:42.57%;"><img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_New_Top_Dog_Leaderboard_i_Phone_Gold_cb50bf2f87.png" alt="FitBark_New_Top_Dog_Leaderboard_iPhone_Gold.png" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_New_Top_Dog_Leaderboard_i_Phone_Gold_cb50bf2f87.png 79w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Fit_Bark_New_Top_Dog_Leaderboard_i_Phone_Gold_cb50bf2f87.png 254w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Fit_Bark_New_Top_Dog_Leaderboard_i_Phone_Gold_cb50bf2f87.png 381w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Fit_Bark_New_Top_Dog_Leaderboard_i_Phone_Gold_cb50bf2f87.png 507w," sizes="100vw"></figure>You&nbsp;dog is an ideal workout&nbsp;partner. Committing&nbsp;to your dog means&nbsp;committing to your&nbsp;own health.&nbsp;At FitBark, we believe in a world where fitness happens on both ends of the leash.&nbsp;We are on a mission to get dogs and humans healthy together.

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We need each other to be healthy. Exercise is not one bit less important for humans than it is for pets! Loving your pet means staying healthy together.

What does my dog's health have to do with my own?

Walking or exercising with your dog&nbsp;is the ultimate bonding experience.&nbsp;Not only does he need it, but also you need it.&nbsp;If you sometimes wonder if it’s worth taking your dog out for an&nbsp;extra&nbsp;walk when you don’t have time, or when the weather is so-so, the answer is always YES! Here are a few things&nbsp;that will help with motivation for you and your dog.1. Playtime is&nbsp;the greatest gift you can give himLook at him! Your dog was designed to be active. Walking your dog helps him to be healthy,&nbsp;reduces vet bills and increases life expectancy. According to recent studies, dogs who don’t overeat and get plenty of exercise live up to 2.5 years longer.2. Exercise helps improve behaviorProper physical activity helps&nbsp;eliminate hyperactive, destructive, unruly and attention seeking behaviors. A tired dog is a happy dog!3. Invest in doggie workout gearToys, balls, treadmills, jump bars, rain jackets, vests, shoes, and any other gear reinforces your identity and that of your dog as an exerciser. And when working out&nbsp;is an integral part of your identity, it isn’t optional anymore. It’s just part of who you are as a team. Plus, that workout gear is only gonna make him more adorable.<img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_Ruby_Gear_f6e59c9a05.jpg" alt="FitBark_Ruby_Gear.jpg" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_Ruby_Gear_f6e59c9a05.jpg 234w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Fit_Bark_Ruby_Gear_f6e59c9a05.jpg 500w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Fit_Bark_Ruby_Gear_f6e59c9a05.jpg 750w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Fit_Bark_Ruby_Gear_f6e59c9a05.jpg 1000w," sizes="100vw">4. Log your walks and workoutsThis is easy. The FitBark mobile app turns your dog’s daily activity and sleep into BarkPoints, so you can track progress on a weekly, daily or hourly basis – or even minute by minute.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_Daily_View_i_Phone_Black_f9b3061299.png" alt="FitBark_Daily_View_iPhone_Black.png" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_Daily_View_i_Phone_Black_f9b3061299.png 95w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Fit_Bark_Daily_View_i_Phone_Black_f9b3061299.png 305w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Fit_Bark_Daily_View_i_Phone_Black_f9b3061299.png 458w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Fit_Bark_Daily_View_i_Phone_Black_f9b3061299.png 610w," sizes="100vw"></figure>5. Find doggie workout partnersIf you know other dogs will be waiting to check on your pup you will be less likely to skip. Your dog buddies are&nbsp;counting on you! Apps such as FitBark make it easy to find dogs of&nbsp;similar age and weight, breed, lifestyle or location…<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_Discover_Friends_i_Phone_Black_c3c3fcb860.png" alt="FitBark_Discover_Friends_iPhone_Black.png" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_Discover_Friends_i_Phone_Black_c3c3fcb860.png 95w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Fit_Bark_Discover_Friends_i_Phone_Black_c3c3fcb860.png 305w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Fit_Bark_Discover_Friends_i_Phone_Black_c3c3fcb860.png 458w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Fit_Bark_Discover_Friends_i_Phone_Black_c3c3fcb860.png 610w," sizes="100vw"></figure>…so you can motivate and check in on each other. You’ll do&nbsp;so much more than you would if you were&nbsp;on your&nbsp;own.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_Top_Dog_Leaderboard_i_Phone_Black_e84c5aeb75.png" alt="FitBark_TopDogLeaderboard_iPhone_Black.png" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_Top_Dog_Leaderboard_i_Phone_Black_e84c5aeb75.png 95w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Fit_Bark_Top_Dog_Leaderboard_i_Phone_Black_e84c5aeb75.png 305w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Fit_Bark_Top_Dog_Leaderboard_i_Phone_Black_e84c5aeb75.png 458w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Fit_Bark_Top_Dog_Leaderboard_i_Phone_Black_e84c5aeb75.png 610w," sizes="100vw"></figure>6. Tell everybody you’re working out with your pupDo it! Let all your friends, co-workers and family know that you love your pup and love taking him for long walks and runs. Plus, who doesn’t like a picture of a happy, healthy pup out there on&nbsp;the internet?7. Give yourself short-term challengesMaybe this week you can help your pup make his goal 7 days out of 7, or rack up&nbsp;at least 20,000 points on&nbsp;weekends?8. Give yourself&nbsp;long-term challengesHow about shooting for a 60 or 90-day goal streak? Or increasing his daily goal to the&nbsp;75th percentile vs. dogs of the same age and weight, or breed?<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_Goals_Streak_i_Phone_Black_4b7bb792a6.jpg" alt="FitBark_Goals_Streak_iPhone_Black.jpg" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_Goals_Streak_i_Phone_Black_4b7bb792a6.jpg 95w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Fit_Bark_Goals_Streak_i_Phone_Black_4b7bb792a6.jpg 305w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Fit_Bark_Goals_Streak_i_Phone_Black_4b7bb792a6.jpg 458w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Fit_Bark_Goals_Streak_i_Phone_Black_4b7bb792a6.jpg 610w," sizes="100vw"></figure>9. Involve your causesWalking for a cause is always a win-win. Get in touch with your local shelter and see if they would enjoy helping you market&nbsp;a fundraising event where the more you walk your dog, the more you&nbsp;raise!10. Remember that it’s also about your health!Your dog is an ideal workout partner. To commit to your&nbsp;dog means to commit to our own health. They need us, and we need them to be #healthytogether!<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_Dogvs_Human_i_Phone_Black_7bba3359b9.png" alt="FitBark_DogvsHuman_iPhone_Black.png" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_Dogvs_Human_i_Phone_Black_7bba3359b9.png 95w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Fit_Bark_Dogvs_Human_i_Phone_Black_7bba3359b9.png 305w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Fit_Bark_Dogvs_Human_i_Phone_Black_7bba3359b9.png 458w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Fit_Bark_Dogvs_Human_i_Phone_Black_7bba3359b9.png 610w," sizes="100vw"></figure>

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Walking and exercising with your dog is the ultimate bonding experience. Not only does he need it, but you also need it. 10 tips to be healthy together!

Where do I find some extra motivation to exercise my dog?

The benefits of sports trainingThere’s a sport for every type of dog. Here are a few options:&nbsp;agility, disc dog, flyball, freestyle, canicross, dock diving, herding, mushing, tracking, trailing, rally obedience, weight pulling, nose work, rally-o, earthdog, lure coursing etc.&nbsp;The list goes on! All these sports are fantastic exercises that challenge the mind and the body. For starters, they help your dog stay healthy, get rid of excess energy (a tired dog is a good dog!), strengthen muscles and increase coordination. They’ll also get you in better shape, increase confidence in each other, and strengthen the bond between you and your dog.How a dog&nbsp;health&nbsp;monitor&nbsp;can helpIf you’re serious about your dog’s sports training, platforms such as FitBark help you to be better informed and motivated so you can:<ul><li>Precisely quantify physical activity</li><li>Help your&nbsp;dog achieve his&nbsp;ideal weight</li><li>Avoid overtraining ahead of a competition</li><li>Create an exercise plan with future activity targets</li><li>Monitor&nbsp;compliance with an exercise or training plan that you or your trainer&nbsp;designed</li><li>In team sports, share activity data, analytics and best practices with other team members</li></ul><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_Weekly_View_i_Phone_Black_dd2b18e8c7.png" alt="FitBark_Weekly_View_iPhone_Black.png" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_Weekly_View_i_Phone_Black_dd2b18e8c7.png 95w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Fit_Bark_Weekly_View_i_Phone_Black_dd2b18e8c7.png 305w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Fit_Bark_Weekly_View_i_Phone_Black_dd2b18e8c7.png 458w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Fit_Bark_Weekly_View_i_Phone_Black_dd2b18e8c7.png 610w," sizes="100vw"></figure>Our proprietary metric: BarkPointsThe primary metric FitBark tracks is a proxy for how active your dog is over time – from your dog’s point of view. If we chose&nbsp;distance as our primary metric, a 1 mile walk would be counted the same way regardless of whether your dog is running or walking. If we chose&nbsp;steps, your dog would get credit for fewer steps as he runs (rather than walks) to cover the same distance. This is why we developed a proprietary metric in line with best veterinarian practices, which also is the foundation for accurately&nbsp;estimating&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.fitbark.com/insights/nutrition/">calorie expenditure</a>.

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If you’re serious about your dog’s sports training, FitBark helps you quantify precisely physical activity, create exercise plans and avoid overtraining.

How can I train my pup more effectively for dog sports?

Now that you’ve interviewed plenty of professionals and facilities and have selected your favorite&nbsp;boarding provider, doggie daycare or dog walker, you are probably asking yourself how Fido is doing when you’re busy at work or when you travel.We all love using&nbsp;webcams to make sure our pets are doing OK. But what if we wanted to confirm&nbsp;that they got&nbsp;plenty of activity today or check if something was a little off?How FitBark can helpJust open up the FitBark mobile app, sync the unit via Bluetooth when your dog gets home (or even remotely if your daycare has a FitBark Wi-Fi Base Station) and find out in seconds.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:84.04%;"><a href="https://twitter.com/FitBark/status/606873942184226817?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E606873942184226817%7Ctwgr%5Eb1788c1850b821056e069b171c2daa98e8c3a1b0%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fitbark.com%2Finsights%2Fboarding%2F" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Best_Buy_Canada_Tweet_Home_Vs_Daycare_21d8a06a73.jpeg" alt="BestBuyCanadaTweetHomeVsDaycare.jpeg" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Best_Buy_Canada_Tweet_Home_Vs_Daycare_21d8a06a73.jpeg 173w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Best_Buy_Canada_Tweet_Home_Vs_Daycare_21d8a06a73.jpeg 500w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Best_Buy_Canada_Tweet_Home_Vs_Daycare_21d8a06a73.jpeg 750w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Best_Buy_Canada_Tweet_Home_Vs_Daycare_21d8a06a73.jpeg 1000w," sizes="100vw"></a></figure>FitBark brings transparency to your relationship with your dog’s caretakers, enabling them to show you they’re doing a great job. You can even invite your dog walker to sync the FitBark from their smartphone, share pictures and exchange notes.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_Journal_Post_Comments_i_Phone_Black_f7cd2c6639.png" alt="FitBark_Journal_Post_Comments_iPhone_Black.png" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_Journal_Post_Comments_i_Phone_Black_f7cd2c6639.png 95w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Fit_Bark_Journal_Post_Comments_i_Phone_Black_f7cd2c6639.png 305w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Fit_Bark_Journal_Post_Comments_i_Phone_Black_f7cd2c6639.png 458w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Fit_Bark_Journal_Post_Comments_i_Phone_Black_f7cd2c6639.png 610w," sizes="100vw"></figure>

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FitBark brings transparency to your relationship with your dog walker, daycare or boarding providers, enabling them to show you they're doing a great job.

How's my dog being cared for by the dog walker or at daycare?

Have you noticed your dog constantly licking, scratching and biting himself? You’re&nbsp;not alone.&nbsp;Skin problems are extremely&nbsp;common in dogs. Not only do they have striking similarities with skin problems in humans, but they are also an indicator of the general health of a dog.&nbsp;Dog skin disorders&nbsp;are generally grouped by the underlying cause. Here’s a general categorization:<ol><li>Immune-mediated skin disorders (atopic dermatitis, autoimmune skin disease)</li><li>Physical and environmental skin problems (hot spots, acral lick granulomas)</li><li>Infectious&nbsp;dermatitis</li><li>Flea and tick allergy dermatitis</li><li>Hereditary and developmental skin problems</li><li>Cutaneous manifestations of internal diseases</li></ol>Regardless of the cause, a typical sign that your dog has a skin disorder is itchiness. In medical jargon, itchiness is called “pruritus”. It’s a&nbsp;word that describes the sensation that provokes your dog’s desire to lick, rub, scratch or chew its hair and skin. Pruritus is an important clinical sign and measure of quality of life.How&nbsp;to tell if things are improvingSeveral studies have shown that night-time activity&nbsp;of dogs who have been diagnosed with dermatitis is a strong, objective and practical way to assess&nbsp;pruritus and treatment outcome.&nbsp;If your dog has been diagnosed with dermatitis and you’re working with your veterinarian&nbsp;on a new treatment, FitBark makes it easy to visualize your dog’s progress. Go to the daily view or historical views and look for your dog’s sleep score. If that number increases day after day, you’ll know you’re on the right track.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_Daily_View_i_Phone_Black_f9b3061299.png" alt="FitBark_Daily_View_iPhone_Black.png" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_Daily_View_i_Phone_Black_f9b3061299.png 95w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Fit_Bark_Daily_View_i_Phone_Black_f9b3061299.png 305w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Fit_Bark_Daily_View_i_Phone_Black_f9b3061299.png 458w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Fit_Bark_Daily_View_i_Phone_Black_f9b3061299.png 610w," sizes="100vw"></figure><figure class="image"><img src="https://www.fitbark.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/FitBark_Sleep_Quality_iPhone_Black-350x574.png" alt=""></figure><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_Sleep_Quality_i_Phone_Black_30d58f9cc4.png" alt="FitBark_Sleep_Quality_iPhone_Black.png" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_Sleep_Quality_i_Phone_Black_30d58f9cc4.png 95w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Fit_Bark_Sleep_Quality_i_Phone_Black_30d58f9cc4.png 305w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Fit_Bark_Sleep_Quality_i_Phone_Black_30d58f9cc4.png 458w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Fit_Bark_Sleep_Quality_i_Phone_Black_30d58f9cc4.png 610w," sizes="100vw"></figure>If you’re curious to learn when your dog did most of his scratching at night, you can use the hourly view to drill down to&nbsp;the individual&nbsp;hours:<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_Hourly_Chart_i_Phone_Black_8575768fa6.png" alt="FitBark_Hourly_Chart_iPhone_Black.png" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_Hourly_Chart_i_Phone_Black_8575768fa6.png 95w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Fit_Bark_Hourly_Chart_i_Phone_Black_8575768fa6.png 305w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Fit_Bark_Hourly_Chart_i_Phone_Black_8575768fa6.png 458w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Fit_Bark_Hourly_Chart_i_Phone_Black_8575768fa6.png 610w," sizes="100vw"></figure>Lower nocturnal activity means&nbsp;higher quality of rest&nbsp;and less pruritus. With a bit of technology, it’s simple to see if your pup is making any progress with a new medication or dietary modification.

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If your pet has been diagnosed with a skin disorder and you’re working with your vet on a new treatment, FitBark makes it easy to visualize the response.

How can I monitor if my dog's dermatitis is improving?

Osteoarthritis (OA), the most common form of arthritis, is a chronic&nbsp;degenerative disease that may&nbsp;affect one or more joints (hip, elbow, knee, wrist,&nbsp;vertebrae). OA&nbsp;is associated with severe inflammation and erosion of joint surfaces. It generally comes with great deal of pain and reduced joint mobility, which affects quality of life tremendously.&nbsp;Typical symptoms include decreased activity,&nbsp;reduced mobility,&nbsp;increased rest, asymmetry, reluctance to climb, lameness, difficulty sitting or standing, and general&nbsp;stiffness.OA&nbsp;affects over 4 out of 10 dogs over the age of 7. Pain medication and&nbsp;anti-inflammatory drugs help reduce the effects of the disease, but there is currently no treatment that cures this&nbsp;disease.&nbsp;A major challenge for&nbsp;dogs with OA is that they have&nbsp;trouble getting the exercise they need which, in turn, may lead them to gain weight and worsen their condition.How can I tell if things are improving?With FitBark&nbsp;it’s pretty simple. Look for the typical signs of a dog in pain or discomfort, and see how your dog’s activity and energy increase when they are treated.1. Look for increased activityEstablish a baseline for at least one week before starting a new treatment, and watch how your dog’s daily activity as well as hourly peaks change over time. This is exactly how we’ve been helping research institutions validate the effectiveness of new treatments for OA. Please be mindful that certain treatments require months before you can see an improvement, whereas others require a few weeks to produce initial&nbsp;results.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_Monthly_Osteoarthritis_7a26ef281f.png" alt="FitBark_Monthly_Osteoarthritis.png" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_Monthly_Osteoarthritis_7a26ef281f.png 95w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Fit_Bark_Monthly_Osteoarthritis_7a26ef281f.png 305w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Fit_Bark_Monthly_Osteoarthritis_7a26ef281f.png 458w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Fit_Bark_Monthly_Osteoarthritis_7a26ef281f.png 610w," sizes="100vw"></figure>2. Look for increased quality of&nbsp;restLike humans, dogs in pain continue to change their&nbsp;position in search of relief. Increased quality of rest (fewer sleep disruptions and longer uninterrupted rest) is visualized by higher sleep scores.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_Daily_View_i_Phone_Black_f9b3061299.png" alt="FitBark_Daily_View_iPhone_Black.png" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_Daily_View_i_Phone_Black_f9b3061299.png 95w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Fit_Bark_Daily_View_i_Phone_Black_f9b3061299.png 305w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Fit_Bark_Daily_View_i_Phone_Black_f9b3061299.png 458w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Fit_Bark_Daily_View_i_Phone_Black_f9b3061299.png 610w," sizes="100vw"></figure><figure class="image"><img src="https://www.fitbark.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/FitBark_Sleep_Quality_iPhone_Black-350x574.png" alt=""></figure>

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An improvement in activity and quality of sleep tells you and your vet that a new treatment is effective. FitBark makes it easy to track these metrics.

How can I monitor if my dog's osteoarthritis is improving?

What is separation anxiety?The stress of being apart can be debilitating for dogs and traumatic for owners. Separation anxiety is a behavioral problem where your dog is panicking about you not being around. It may be associated with whining, barking, howling, high salivation, chewing, scratching or&nbsp;other disruptive or destructive behaviors. Typical causes include lack of exercise (not an excuse for&nbsp;FitBark users!), lack of mental stimulation, and changes in daily routines.How to tell if anxiety is&nbsp;improvingIf your dog has been diagnosed with separation anxiety, FitBark makes it easy to visualize his&nbsp;anxiety levels after you leave home.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_Hourly_Chart_i_Phone_Black_8575768fa6.png" alt="FitBark_Hourly_Chart_iPhone_Black.png" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_Hourly_Chart_i_Phone_Black_8575768fa6.png 95w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Fit_Bark_Hourly_Chart_i_Phone_Black_8575768fa6.png 305w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Fit_Bark_Hourly_Chart_i_Phone_Black_8575768fa6.png 458w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Fit_Bark_Hourly_Chart_i_Phone_Black_8575768fa6.png 610w," sizes="100vw"></figure>Here’s how it works. Imagine you leave&nbsp;home around 8am. You shut the door and go&nbsp;to work. How did Fido do after you left?&nbsp;Open the FitBark mobile app, go to the daily view and tap on the 8-9am hourly view. Compare that with what’s&nbsp;typical for your dog when he’s home with you and resting (15-30 points per hour for example). The higher the&nbsp;number, the higher his anxiety level. Users often report that their dogs experience separation anxiety for up to 30-45 minutes, then go back to a more regular resting behavior – unless there are new external stimuli.

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If your dog was diagnosed with general or separation anxiety, FitBark makes it easy to visualize their anxiety levels when you're apart.

How can I monitor if my dog's separation anxiety is improving?

Canine rehab is all about improving quality of life and decreasing pain by helping dogs enhance mobility of muscles and joints. Physical therapy&nbsp;may enhance recovery from injury, surgery, degenerative diseases, age-related diseases, obesity and other orthopedic or&nbsp;neurological conditions.In recent years, canine rehabilitation has started to extend its scope from&nbsp;curative to preventative care. For instance, improving&nbsp;mobility may drive a reduction in weight which, in turn, may help moderate&nbsp;the impact of age-related issues such as osteoarthritis. Certain other techniques may help maximize physical potential and improve athletic performance in canine sports.Here are some of the most modern techniques:<ul><li>Acupuncture</li><li>Balance exercises</li><li>Coordination exercises</li><li>Electrical stimulation</li><li>Hydrotherapy</li><li>Massage</li><li>Passive range of motion</li><li>Strengthening exercises</li><li>Thermo and cryotherapy</li></ul>Whether your dog is going through a rehabilitation program after ACL surgery or is taking advantage of new pain management techniques, here are a couple of ways to see&nbsp;how he’s doing.1. Monitor quality of rest as a proxy for painDogs in discomfort don’t get good rest. Like humans, dogs in pain often try to shift position to change angles and pressure points seeking relief. This is pretty&nbsp;easy to spot in&nbsp;the FitBark mobile app. As your dog heals or improves from a certain medical condition that gives him&nbsp;discomfort,&nbsp;you’ll typically notice a corresponding increase in his sleep score…<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:51.31%;"><img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_Sleep_Quality_i_Phone_Black_30d58f9cc4.png" alt="FitBark_Sleep_Quality_iPhone_Black.png" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_Sleep_Quality_i_Phone_Black_30d58f9cc4.png 95w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Fit_Bark_Sleep_Quality_i_Phone_Black_30d58f9cc4.png 305w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Fit_Bark_Sleep_Quality_i_Phone_Black_30d58f9cc4.png 458w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Fit_Bark_Sleep_Quality_i_Phone_Black_30d58f9cc4.png 610w," sizes="100vw"></figure><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_Daily_View_i_Phone_Black_f9b3061299.png" alt="FitBark_Daily_View_iPhone_Black.png" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_Daily_View_i_Phone_Black_f9b3061299.png 95w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Fit_Bark_Daily_View_i_Phone_Black_f9b3061299.png 305w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Fit_Bark_Daily_View_i_Phone_Black_f9b3061299.png 458w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Fit_Bark_Daily_View_i_Phone_Black_f9b3061299.png 610w," sizes="100vw"></figure><figure class="image"><img src="https://www.fitbark.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/FitBark_Sleep_Quality_iPhone_Black-350x574.png" alt=""></figure>…as well as a point decrease in his&nbsp;hourly activity at rest.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_Hourly_Chart_i_Phone_Black_8575768fa6.png" alt="FitBark_Hourly_Chart_iPhone_Black.png" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_Hourly_Chart_i_Phone_Black_8575768fa6.png 95w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Fit_Bark_Hourly_Chart_i_Phone_Black_8575768fa6.png 305w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Fit_Bark_Hourly_Chart_i_Phone_Black_8575768fa6.png 458w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Fit_Bark_Hourly_Chart_i_Phone_Black_8575768fa6.png 610w," sizes="100vw"></figure>2. Monitor daily activity before, during and after rehabilitationImagine a typical 13-week recovery from ACL surgery. Now you can work with your veterinarian to monitor how rehabilitation is progressing&nbsp;compared with two benchmarks. The first is your dog’s daily activity baseline before surgery, which you’ll be aware of if you have at least a week or two worth of FitBark data. The second is your dog’s ranking vs. dogs of similar age and weight, or similar breed, which we send you in your weekly report.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_Monthly_Osteoarthritis_7a26ef281f.png" alt="FitBark_Monthly_Osteoarthritis.png" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_Monthly_Osteoarthritis_7a26ef281f.png 95w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Fit_Bark_Monthly_Osteoarthritis_7a26ef281f.png 305w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Fit_Bark_Monthly_Osteoarthritis_7a26ef281f.png 458w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Fit_Bark_Monthly_Osteoarthritis_7a26ef281f.png 610w," sizes="100vw"></figure>

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FitBark makes it easy to monitor canine and feline rehabilitation. It helps you keep track of activity and quality of rest during a rehabilitation program.

How can I monitor my dog's rehabilitation?

Dogs who are sick or in pain present a variety of signs that may help owners and veterinarians understand what’s wrong. The list is extensive, from a reduction in activity to stiffness, lameness, diarrhea, loss&nbsp;of appetite, vomiting, breathing or elimination problems, itchiness, hair loss and so on. While some&nbsp;of these signs are easy to spot, others are frequently overlooked – especially if we lead busy lives. Even worse, certain signs of discomfort cannot be caught&nbsp;by your veterinarian during an examination because they present themselves only when your dog is in his natural environment. That’s why researchers&nbsp;try to run their clinical studies in&nbsp;“free living conditions” whenever possible.Here at FitBark, we focus on precisely measuring dog activity and sleep patterns. Since we launched our doggie activity monitor, hundreds of users have reached out to let us know how FitBark is helping them catch the early signs that their dog is sick. This feedback is beautifully complemented by numerous&nbsp;clinical trials&nbsp;that a variety of research institutions and vet schools are running on our platform. Here’s what we’ve learned so far.1. Dogs in discomfort&nbsp;don’t&nbsp;sleep wellThis is pretty easy to spot in&nbsp;the FitBark mobile app. Go to the&nbsp;daily view and look for your dog’s sleep score. If this number has been steadily decreasing in the past couple of days due to frequent sleep interruptions, something may be off.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_Daily_View_i_Phone_Black_f9b3061299.png" alt="FitBark_Daily_View_iPhone_Black.png" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_Daily_View_i_Phone_Black_f9b3061299.png 95w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Fit_Bark_Daily_View_i_Phone_Black_f9b3061299.png 305w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Fit_Bark_Daily_View_i_Phone_Black_f9b3061299.png 458w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Fit_Bark_Daily_View_i_Phone_Black_f9b3061299.png 610w," sizes="100vw"></figure>If you’d like to drill down, you can refer to the hourly view. For instance, your dog may typically get 15-30 points per hour at rest. If you notice he’s getting 50-100 consistently for a few&nbsp;hours, then something may be off. Like humans, dogs in pain often try to shift position to change angles and pressure points seeking relief.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_Hourly_View_i_Phone_Black_41aa6f1a45.png" alt="FitBark_Hourly_View_iPhone_Black.png" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_Hourly_View_i_Phone_Black_41aa6f1a45.png 95w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Fit_Bark_Hourly_View_i_Phone_Black_41aa6f1a45.png 305w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Fit_Bark_Hourly_View_i_Phone_Black_41aa6f1a45.png 458w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Fit_Bark_Hourly_View_i_Phone_Black_41aa6f1a45.png 610w," sizes="100vw"></figure><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_Hourly_Chart_i_Phone_Black_8575768fa6.png" alt="FitBark_Hourly_Chart_iPhone_Black.png" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_Hourly_Chart_i_Phone_Black_8575768fa6.png 95w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Fit_Bark_Hourly_Chart_i_Phone_Black_8575768fa6.png 305w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Fit_Bark_Hourly_Chart_i_Phone_Black_8575768fa6.png 458w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Fit_Bark_Hourly_Chart_i_Phone_Black_8575768fa6.png 610w," sizes="100vw"></figure><figure class="image"><img src="https://www.fitbark.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/FitBark_Hourly_Chart_iPhone_Black-350x574.png" alt=""></figure>2. Dogs in pain&nbsp;are less activeLethargy is a big indicator&nbsp;that something may be off.&nbsp;Lethargic dogs show little&nbsp;excitement&nbsp;for external stimuli and mostly&nbsp;just want to rest. A sudden increase in resting time vs. your dog’s baseline will trigger an alert in the FitBark mobile app. When you notice a meaningful change in your dog’s energy level, make sure to pay close attention as this might be something serious.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_Unusual_Rest_2bb6b94805.jpg" alt="FitBark_Unusual_Rest.jpg" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_Unusual_Rest_2bb6b94805.jpg 95w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Fit_Bark_Unusual_Rest_2bb6b94805.jpg 305w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Fit_Bark_Unusual_Rest_2bb6b94805.jpg 458w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Fit_Bark_Unusual_Rest_2bb6b94805.jpg 610w," sizes="100vw"></figure>If you’d like to quantify how activity has been decreasing, refer to the activity index in the daily view. This metric tells you how daily&nbsp;activity compares to average activity in recent weeks.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_Daily_View_i_Phone_Black_f9b3061299.png" alt="FitBark_Daily_View_iPhone_Black.png" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_Daily_View_i_Phone_Black_f9b3061299.png 95w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Fit_Bark_Daily_View_i_Phone_Black_f9b3061299.png 305w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Fit_Bark_Daily_View_i_Phone_Black_f9b3061299.png 458w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Fit_Bark_Daily_View_i_Phone_Black_f9b3061299.png 610w," sizes="100vw"></figure>Putting it all together with the FitBark Health IndexBased on what we’ve learned, we couldn’t resist creating a new, ambitious, proprietary index that tells you how healthy your dog is. The FitBark Health Index is the culmination of our conversations with hundreds of veterinarians and pet healthcare professionals over the past few years. We believe it’s the first scientifically sound metric that keeps you honest about the health of your dog and, most importantly, alerts you to symptoms before they&nbsp;become obvious. You can learn more <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.fitbark.com/articles/what-is-health-index/">here</a>.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_New_Home_View_i_Phone_Black_73836a7c3d.jpg" alt="FitBark_New_Home_View_iPhone_Black.jpg" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_New_Home_View_i_Phone_Black_73836a7c3d.jpg 77w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Fit_Bark_New_Home_View_i_Phone_Black_73836a7c3d.jpg 246w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Fit_Bark_New_Home_View_i_Phone_Black_73836a7c3d.jpg 369w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Fit_Bark_New_Home_View_i_Phone_Black_73836a7c3d.jpg 492w," sizes="100vw"></figure><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:60.37%;"><img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_Health_i_Phone_Black_28d93535d5.jpg" alt="FitBark_Health_iPhone_Black.jpg" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_Health_i_Phone_Black_28d93535d5.jpg 95w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Fit_Bark_Health_i_Phone_Black_28d93535d5.jpg 305w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Fit_Bark_Health_i_Phone_Black_28d93535d5.jpg 458w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Fit_Bark_Health_i_Phone_Black_28d93535d5.jpg 610w," sizes="100vw"></figure>Restless sleep and overall lethargy are two of the strongest indicators that something is off. FitBark helps you catch infections, mobility problems and other&nbsp;issues sooner rather than later.

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Pets in discomfort don’t get good sleep and are typically less active. FitBark makes it easy to catch the early signs that your pet is sick or in pain.

How do I catch early signs that my dog is sick or in pain?

Why is it important to know?&nbsp;Because a change in sleep patterns may signal something else.&nbsp;Scientific research as well as&nbsp;feedback from our users point to a few&nbsp;typical&nbsp;reasons why a dog may be having problems sleeping.1. He’s sick or in painTypical&nbsp;medical problems that determine an increase in the number of points at rest include muscle aches, joint problems or arthritis, fleas or skin conditions, ear infections, bladder control, sleep apnea, or cancer. Like humans, dogs in pain continue to change their&nbsp;position in search of relief. Work with your veterinarian to seek&nbsp;a qualified diagnosis and use your FitBark to monitor quality of sleep as a proxy to monitor if&nbsp;your dog’s medical issue is&nbsp;getting resolved.2. He’s anxiousMaybe he feels he needs more attention and cuddles, or maybe he’s just young and not used to a routine yet. Consider working with your trainer to establish a routine, an ideal schedule and optimal environmental conditions. In certain cases, crate training has proved helpful.3. He has a sleep disorderLike humans, dogs are subject to insomnia, sleep apnea, narcolepsy, REM sleep behavior disorders and more. If you notice a consistently low quality of sleep, please seek help from your veterinarian.4. He did’t get enough exerciseThis is a&nbsp;common&nbsp;cause of restless sleep, but it’s also easy to address. Use an activity monitor&nbsp;to motivate and gradually incorporate more exercise into your dog’s&nbsp;daily activities so he can feel tired and get&nbsp;a good night’s sleep. And in case you’re still wondering: no! A fenced-in backyard is not enough.How to monitor quality of nocturnal sleepLook for your dog’s&nbsp;sleep score in the FitBark daily view or in the historical views.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_Daily_View_i_Phone_Black_f9b3061299.png" alt="FitBark_Daily_View_iPhone_Black.png" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_Daily_View_i_Phone_Black_f9b3061299.png 95w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Fit_Bark_Daily_View_i_Phone_Black_f9b3061299.png 305w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Fit_Bark_Daily_View_i_Phone_Black_f9b3061299.png 458w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Fit_Bark_Daily_View_i_Phone_Black_f9b3061299.png 610w," sizes="100vw"></figure><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_Sleep_Quality_i_Phone_Black_30d58f9cc4.png" alt="FitBark_Sleep_Quality_iPhone_Black.png" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_Sleep_Quality_i_Phone_Black_30d58f9cc4.png 95w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Fit_Bark_Sleep_Quality_i_Phone_Black_30d58f9cc4.png 305w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Fit_Bark_Sleep_Quality_i_Phone_Black_30d58f9cc4.png 458w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Fit_Bark_Sleep_Quality_i_Phone_Black_30d58f9cc4.png 610w," sizes="100vw"></figure><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://www.fitbark.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/FitBark_Sleep_Quality_iPhone_Black-350x574.png" alt=""></figure>This metric (also referred to as “sleep efficiency”) identifies how long&nbsp;your dog spends resting at night (between 1-5am by default – we’re working on customizing this range). For example, a dog whose sleep score&nbsp;is 75% is spending three hours resting and one hour changing position or moving around. Puppies and smaller sized dogs tend to get worse&nbsp;sleep at night.If you’d like to take a deeper look, go to&nbsp;the hourly view. For instance, your dog may typically&nbsp;get anywhere between 15-30 BarkPoints per hour during the night or at rest. If you notice the&nbsp;hourly number of points has been&nbsp;higher, something may be off. Either someone woke him up or he’s been in discomfort.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_Hourly_View_i_Phone_Black_41aa6f1a45.png" alt="FitBark_Hourly_View_iPhone_Black.png" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_Hourly_View_i_Phone_Black_41aa6f1a45.png 95w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Fit_Bark_Hourly_View_i_Phone_Black_41aa6f1a45.png 305w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Fit_Bark_Hourly_View_i_Phone_Black_41aa6f1a45.png 458w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Fit_Bark_Hourly_View_i_Phone_Black_41aa6f1a45.png 610w," sizes="100vw"></figure>

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Changes in sleep patterns shouldn't go unnoticed. Scientific research and user feedback point to four main reasons why a pet may have problems sleeping.

Did my dog get a good night's sleep?

Here’s the&nbsp;most heartbreaking fact of modern pet parenting: as much as we all love our dogs as equal family members, more than&nbsp;half of us either feed them too much, or don’t exercise them enough.&nbsp;According to several studies, over 50%&nbsp;of US dogs (ruffly 40 million) are clinically overweight or obese. Overweight dogs live shorter lives and have a lower quality of life.Why do&nbsp;we allow this? We think it’s because they’re so damn cute. Unlike humans, dogs in bad physical condition still look perfectly adorable, and fill our hearts with joy…at the expense of their health.Overweight dogs are unhealthy dogsReady to hear this? Feeding our dogs too much&nbsp;puts them&nbsp;on track for a lower quality of life, a shorter life expectancy, and the potential to develop medical issues that end up costing us a lot of time and money.&nbsp;Here are a few examples:<ul><li>Musculoskeletal problems<ul><li>Osteoarthritis</li><li>Cruciate ligament ruptures</li><li>Intervertebral disk&nbsp;problems</li></ul></li><li>Congestive heart failure</li><li>Hypothyroidism</li><li>Diabetes</li><li>Pancreatitis</li><li>Oral diseases</li><li>Skin disorders</li><li>Cushing’s disease</li><li>Certain&nbsp;types of cancer</li></ul>So how much food is just right?Starting from the feeding guide on your dog’s food label is generally a good idea. But how wide is that range?! The recommendation&nbsp;for an active dog is often 2.0-2.5 times that for a less active dog.Here at FitBark we thought we could be a little more precise. As your dog moves and collects BarkPoints, his calorie expenditure increases. So why not use this information&nbsp;to estimate how much to feed him?<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_New_Home_View_i_Phone_Gold_4c6c0f12d0.jpg" alt="FitBark_New_Home_View_iPhone_Gold.jpg" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_New_Home_View_i_Phone_Gold_4c6c0f12d0.jpg 79w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Fit_Bark_New_Home_View_i_Phone_Gold_4c6c0f12d0.jpg 254w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Fit_Bark_New_Home_View_i_Phone_Gold_4c6c0f12d0.jpg 381w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Fit_Bark_New_Home_View_i_Phone_Gold_4c6c0f12d0.jpg 507w," sizes="100vw"></figure>Here are a few&nbsp;steps to&nbsp;help your dog achieve his ideal weight through diet:<ol><li>Ask your veterinarian to assess his&nbsp;Body Condition Score (BCS) and what his ideal weight should be</li><li>Monitor his calorie burn for a couple of weeks&nbsp;with the FitBark mobile app and average out what you find (we’re working on automating this for you!)</li><li>Feed below calorie burn if your dog needs to lose weight (or above if he needs to gain weight)</li></ol>Whether your goal is weight loss or sports training, FitBark makes you smarter about how your dog’s daily food intake and exercise play together. &nbsp;Of course, always&nbsp;use common sense. Your dog will love you even more if you work gradually on changing&nbsp;food intake, or exercise, or both.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:54.69%;"><img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_Historical_View_Monthly_View_Calories_and_Weight_i_Phone_White_bcff658010.jpg" alt="FitBark_Historical View_Monthly View Calories and Weight_iPhone_White.jpg" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_Historical_View_Monthly_View_Calories_and_Weight_i_Phone_White_bcff658010.jpg 95w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Fit_Bark_Historical_View_Monthly_View_Calories_and_Weight_i_Phone_White_bcff658010.jpg 305w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Fit_Bark_Historical_View_Monthly_View_Calories_and_Weight_i_Phone_White_bcff658010.jpg 458w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Fit_Bark_Historical_View_Monthly_View_Calories_and_Weight_i_Phone_White_bcff658010.jpg 610w," sizes="100vw"></figure><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:63.59%;"><img src="https://www.fitbark.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/FitBark_Historical_Views_Calories_Weight_1mo_iPhone_Gold-350x574.png" alt=""></figure>

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FitBark makes it easy to estimate calorie burn. Depending on their goal, feed them an amount of food (intake) lower or higher than their calorie burn.

How much should I really feed my dog?

There’s no better way to show him you careExercise is not one bit less important for dogs as it is for humans. The right amount of activity keeps your dog&nbsp;in great shape, and wards off illness and disease. It’s a fantastic&nbsp;way to help prevent&nbsp;diabetes, osteoarthritis, high blood pressure and various forms of cancer. It helps&nbsp;extend your dog’s life expectancy as well as drastically reduce vet bills.But there’s more. Not only are long walks good for the body, but also for the soul! Playtime helps avoid&nbsp;hyperactive, destructive, unruly and attention seeking behaviors, and leads to&nbsp;a strong, trusting relationship while you get more active as well. It’s a win-win!So how much activity is just right for your dog? An active lifestyle&nbsp;is great, but every pet is unique. What it means to be healthy is different for a Border Collie puppy and a St. Bernard. This is where we can help.&nbsp;With real time comparisons between&nbsp;dogs of similar age, weight and breeds across the world, FitBark gives you baselines that help you put activity, sleep, health and behavior&nbsp;in perspective. Even better, wearing his FitBark, your dog contributes to creating these baselines and advancing science for the greater good of all dogs.When you set up your FitBark, we ask you what lifestyle you would like for your dog. This can either be typical (50th percentile), active (75th percentile) or Olympian (90th percentile). If your dog has a medical problem that prevents him from being more active, try a lower percentile.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_Lifestyle_i_Phone_Black_e11c9b2808.png" alt="FitBark_Lifestyle_iPhone_Black.png" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_Lifestyle_i_Phone_Black_e11c9b2808.png 95w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Fit_Bark_Lifestyle_i_Phone_Black_e11c9b2808.png 305w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Fit_Bark_Lifestyle_i_Phone_Black_e11c9b2808.png 458w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Fit_Bark_Lifestyle_i_Phone_Black_e11c9b2808.png 610w," sizes="100vw"></figure>To monitor your dog’s progress while you help him reach his&nbsp;goals, just head over to the daily, weekly, monthly activity screens or the historical views.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:52.02%;"><img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_Daily_View_i_Phone_Black_f9b3061299.png" alt="FitBark_Daily_View_iPhone_Black.png" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_Daily_View_i_Phone_Black_f9b3061299.png 95w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Fit_Bark_Daily_View_i_Phone_Black_f9b3061299.png 305w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Fit_Bark_Daily_View_i_Phone_Black_f9b3061299.png 458w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Fit_Bark_Daily_View_i_Phone_Black_f9b3061299.png 610w," sizes="100vw"></figure><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img src="https://www.fitbark.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/FitBark_Activity_Percentiles_iPhone_Black-350x574.png" alt=""></figure><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:53.36%;"><img src="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/Fit_Bark_Activity_Percentiles_i_Phone_Black_58e00d70a3.png" alt="FitBark_Activity_Percentiles_iPhone_Black.png" srcset="https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Fit_Bark_Activity_Percentiles_i_Phone_Black_58e00d70a3.png 95w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Fit_Bark_Activity_Percentiles_i_Phone_Black_58e00d70a3.png 305w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Fit_Bark_Activity_Percentiles_i_Phone_Black_58e00d70a3.png 458w,https://fb-strapi.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Fit_Bark_Activity_Percentiles_i_Phone_Black_58e00d70a3.png 610w," sizes="100vw"></figure>

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With real time comparisons to pets of similar age, weight and breeds around the world, FitBark helps you put pet health and behavior in perspective.