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Free iPhone Apps your dog wants you to download
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Lately, the number of travelers who are accompanied by their canines has increased so dog friendly information has become a hot commodity. In the past there were informative but not necessarily mobile user friendly Dog Lovers Companion guide books, the Dog Friendly website and Bay area’s Dining with Sophie website. More recently, lucky iPhone mobile users have found imperative dog friendly information in the palm of their hands thanks to two canine related iPhone apps…
First up is the off leash dog park locator. Currently, the iPhone apps page offers a free app called “OFF LEASH” from Eukanuba. This app allows users to locate their closest off leash dog areas via the iPhone’s built in GPS or by zip code. The database is a work in progress and is relying on users to help keep it current. Users can “Suggest a Park” via the application or by emailing petcare.im@pg.com and adam.majewski@thecasualgamenetwork.com with the name, address and phone number of the dog park. Note that the database is only updated every 2 to 3 weeks (we hope it’s so that Eukanuba can verify the legality of the off leash area) so you may want to check it every once in a while even if you are in a familiar area. The app also has a Eukanuba TV section that contains videos and other dog related information such as training tips.
Savvy iPhone app fans may have downloaded a similar app called the Off Leash Dog Park Locator by "The Casual Game Network". This app has been removed (and no longer being maintained) as the developers are working with Eukanuba on the “Off Leash” app. I guess that’s how Eukanuba got away with saying OFF LEASH is the “first application that helps you find an off leash dog park”… talk about creative marketing… we know we really have “The Casual Game Network” to thank and hope they continue to develop dog friendly apps!
So now you know where the off leash dog park is, how do you know if its worth the visit? Unfortunately Eukanuba’s app doesn’t give much more than directions however San Franciscans are lucky enough to also have access to the FidoFactor free app. This app also uses the iPhone’s built in GPS to provide listings that are sortable by name, distance, rating or reviews. The listings also contain much more comprehensive information (e.g. for dog parks the size, availability of poop bags, likelihood of fog etc and can even limit the list to what is currently open) and are not just limited to dog parks but include restaurants, bars, shopping and attractions. This app also relies on user feedback to help keep the database current (and helps homeless dogs via donations to the San Francisco SPCA as a way of giving back for the information provided). Unfortunately, not all listings have complete fido factors and to browse the information without using the GPS, you would have to go to their website.
If you were going to serach directly on the internet, you may as well go to Dining with Sophie’s website – this site was created by two of Wonder Dog Rescue’s volunteers, Mathew Jones and Anna Chan (Mat also created Wonder Dog’s website) and has dog friendly dining, shopping and adoption listings throughout the Bay area with some basic information (e.g. how many outdoor tables and if there are heat lamps) and links to Yelp reviews. Their listings are also searchable and sortable (including by heaters – yeah!). Now if we could just get the FidoFactor folks to join in with the Dining with Sophie folks….
Anyhow, with this much information at your finger tips, here’s hoping you have a fantastic dog-friendly holiday weekend. Please remember to keep your dog safe!
Happy 4th of July!!!!!
