I love tech. I love my dog. I really love things that allow me to use tech in relation to other things in my life, like my dog, Jack. Tom Bihn, a premier bag maker in Seattle, has a great specialty bag called the Citizen Canine which can help you keep all your “dog stuff” in one place. I was sent the black version with the Steel grid interior to test.

Top pouch can hold treats, toys, or both!

Over all, the bag is a sort of pouch, open at the top, but protected by a drawstring sleeve that closes against the weather and snuffling noses pretty nicely. There are two types of straps for the bag: an optional waist strap (which fits my 42″ girth with several inches to spare!), and an included over-the-shoulder strap. Either or both of these webbing straps (or neither, but then it’s going to be awkward to carry!) can be attached or detached at will, and both are adjustable. The bag’s material is all first-rate: U.S. 1050 denier Ballistic nylon and lined with Japanese nylon/Dyneema ripstop; zippers are #3.5  YKK coil with non-scratching plastic sliders. The straps are 1″ webbing with unique snap-on clips that allow you to customize the bag precisely. Build quality, a Tom Bihn hallmark, is also impeccable: bar-tacking and over-stiching at stress points, full lining and seams, etc. This bag is going to put up with years of use and abuse.

Strap connector open for removal.

In design, the bag is built on two levels: an upper pocket with a drawstring top, and a lower compartment with a plastic grommet for dispensing poop bags. Inside the lower section is a metal roller for dispensing standard bags on rolls. It’s fairly adjustable for the size of roll, but these bags are pretty much standardized within the pet industry, from what I’ve seen at various pet stores.

The bags are dispensed through a grommet on the back of the bag.

The bag hanger is heavy-duty, yet easy to open for adding new bags.

Included with the bag are clips that attach to the straps and can be used for a thick lead, ball toss stick, or other cylindrical item. They sent along their recycled leash to test, and having a place to attach it at the park is a major plus. The leash, from Krebs Recycling, is made from climbing rope, which is a kernmantle type construction. This means there is a woven sheath over an inner core of load-bearing nylon. Climbing ropes are taken out of use far before they are worn or aged, so Krebs creates these unique leases with them. They sew them with heavy, overlapped fabric at the joining points and use hot sealant to perfectly finish the ends. For $15, you’ll not find a better deal at your local pet super store. (I used a kernmantle leash for one of my pups, and it lasted all of his 14 years. We buried it with him, although it was still quite usable.)

Heavy duty cord, stitching, hardware, and end wrapping make this leash a solid addition to your dog park kit.

The leash clips can hold a rope leash, or a ball slinger.

So, how does it perform? I guess it depends on your dog interactions. My current pup is still under a year, so training happens at home and in our yard, more than in a public place like a dog park. Having treats handy, though, does make things more interesting. The other dogs find the smell very tempting, so I was glad for the drawstring. Jack is learning that just because he can smell a treat doesn’t mean he’s going to get one, which is a good lesson for everyone! That makes the treats more effective when they are given. While the pouch is easy to access, the drawstring can make it a two-handed affair. The waist belt allows me to center it during training, so I can handle any two-handed manouvers, or grab a treat with either hand, which is also nice.

I wasn’t a fan of the shoulder strap for the pouch, which actually surprised me. I usually carry a bag of some sort, usually a shoulder bag, but having this light one on my shoulder while bending down, running around, and fishing out treats for a dog was not easy. Even with it over the opposite shoulder, it was better on the waist for security and ease of use. I much preferred the waist band. I think it would be nice if it was an either/or thing, rather than having to get the shoulder strap plus pay extra for the waistband.

The size of the various pockets was good, with the possible exception of the front pocket. My iPhone 4s fits in it, but to zip it closed, I have to fiddle with getting the last little bit under the zipper. If you’ve got a larger phone, forget it. IDs, money, keys, and the like slipped in without a problem, but if phones continue to grow, a redesign may be in order.

The convenience of having everything in one bag is huge. I’m forever grabbing the leash for a walk, then having to figure out what to do when he stops for a nature break. I think my neighbors like seeing the bag, if no one else does!

Overall, I give it 4.5 stars. It’s quite well made, designed with a lot of great features, and shows attention to details that any dog-loving gadgeteer would love!

Filed in categories: Outdoor Gear, Pet Gadgets, Reviews

Tagged: Bags and cases, Pet

Tom Bihn Citizen Canine Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 1, 2012 at 11:00 am.

For most people, the four legged furry beings that live with them are not just pets, but are part of the family. That means we worry about them just like we do our children. With kids and other loved ones, we can call them on the phone when we want to check up on them. But how do you keep an eye on your pets when you’re not with them? A video surveillance system is an option, but that only works when the pet is in the house or your yard. Once they are out of the camera’s view, you’re stuck. Tagg the Pet Tracker is a clever solution that uses GPS technology to help you locate your pet at any given moment and alerts you when they stray out of a predefined zone.

Note: Click the images in this review to see a larger view.

Package Contents

Tagg Tracker
Tagg Docking Station
AC adapter / USB cable
Collar Clips and straps
Quick Start Guide

The Tagg Pet Tracker system is marketed more towards dogs, but it can work with cats too… as long as the cat (or dog) weighs more than 10 lbs.

For this review, my 15 lb cat Max, graciously volunteered his services. Max can be a little stinker and will sometimes stay out all night. Jeanne and I often wonder where the heck he goes at night and thought the Tagg Pet Tracker would be a fun way to find out.

The Tagg system is made up of 2 main parts. The dock (shown above) charges the Tagg Pet Tracker. It also has a page button that will send you an email notification of your pet’s location within 10-15 minutes after you press it.

The other part of the system is the Tagg Pet Tracker. This is the module that clips to your pet’s collar. It has a status LED (large circle on top) that blinks Blue while the tracker is charging. The smaller button is the Trip button, which can be pressed to disable the Tagg zone while walking your pet or running errands outside the predetermined zone that you’ve created.

The Tagg Pet Tracker has an internal battery that can last up to 30 days per charge.

Charging is as easy as snapping the module to the top of the dock. It takes about 2hrs to fully charge the tracker.

To attach the Tagg Pet Tracker to your pet’s existing collar, you use the included clips. Max doesn’t normally wear a collar, so I had to buy one at Walmart. Cat collars are very narrow, so I bought him the smallest dog collar that I could find. Even it is more narrow than I would like.

Here is the Tagg Pet Tracker attached to the collar. I think the attachment method could have been designed better. I’m not sure why the grey rubber wings are needed.

Here you see the Tagg module on Max. As you can tell, it’s too big for him. He was constantly trying to pull it off by putting his paws under the grey rubber wings.

To begin using the Tagg system, you have to register it online and setup the Tagg Zone.

The Tagg zone is a customizable radius around your home (the Tagg dock) of 75 to 1,000 yards. The Tagg system will locate and track your pet anywhere in the United States where there is Verizon Wireless network coverage.

The web interface allows you to enter information about your pet and also shows the battery status of the Tagg module.

The map will show the location of your pet and any current alerts. The Tagg system is great when it comes to notifications. In addition to telling you when your pet is outside the Tagg zone, it will let you know when the battery is charged, and when there is a software update. To update, you just place the tagg on the dock and the update will begin automatically. You’ll receive another email once the update is finished.

When your pet goes outside their designated zone, you’ll receive an email that shows a small thumbnail map of their location and links to pages on the Tagg website that will initiate a Locate or Tracking of your pet. When you turn on the tracking feature, you’ll receive an email with your pet’s location every 3 minutes for 30 minutes. Some of the emails also have a link to the Tagg website that shows a trail of where your pet has been. The trail is basically what you see in the image above. There’s a button to play the trail, which just shows you various points where your pet has been. It does not show an exact route or show your pet moving in real time… which I would really love to see.

To be honest, I’m not all that impressed with the web portal for the Tagg system. It is little slow and seems pretty basic as far as features go. Luckily, there’s a 2nd way to keep tabs on your pets that’s a little more interactive.

If you have an iPhone or Android phone, you can download the free Tagg app. Once logged into your account, You can see what I thought was a live view of your pet’s location as it moves around in a Google Earth view. A little Blue orb will move around on the display in real time. I was really excited to have this feature and spent several minutes watching the orb move around on my phone’s screen. My excitement disappeared when I got up from the couch to look out the back window to try to see Max in the woods. It’s then that I noticed that he was sitting perfectly still on the back patio, while the Blue orb wandered happily around the screen. I have no idea what the Blue dot is for or why it moves all by itself…

When your pet is out of the Tagg zone, you can use the mobile app to locate and get directions to your pet.

While I’ve been testing the Tagg Pet Tracker, I’ve noticed that the out of zone emails, and locate features in the app and web can be pretty laggy. For example, this morning I gave the collar to Jeanne to take with her to work since Max has not cooperated by going out of zone. I had the Tagg Zone set to the smallest area around our house (~75 yds). Jeanne left for work at 7:30am and I didn’t receive an email notification telling me that Max was out of zone until 8:19am, almost 40 minutes later. Using the locate button takes a few minutes too. I really wish there way to see your pet moving around in real time…

For what it has been designed to do, the Tagg Pet Tracker is a cool gadget. I don’t love it, but I like it and I can see how it could be a very important tool in helping to find a lost pet.  Since you are required to pay $7.95/month (+ $0.95/month for any additional tracker modules) for their service, I feel it should have some more features like a mapping feature that would show a real trail of where your pet has been during a specific time, instead of just starting and ending points while they are out of the zone. And in a perfect world, I wish it would show a real-time view of your pet’s location. But I guess those are all features for the future version of this device.

Do any of you use this device or similar devices to keep track of your pets? If so, let us know your thoughts.

Filed in categories: GPS, Pet Gadgets, Reviews

Tagged: GPS, Pet

Tagg the Pet Tracker Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 29, 2011 at 11:00 am.

Those travel-savvy folks at Tom Bihn are at it again, having not long ago introduced their new Cadet minimalist laptop bag and now three more new travel items.  The Travel Tray is a container to keep track of your loose pocket-sized items during your journey.  It collapses flat and closes with a drawstring.  One size, four different colors, $22 each.  The Travel Money Belt is made of nylon webbing with plastic buckle and can hold some cash, IDs or other small items in a concealed inside compartment accessible via plastic zipper opening on the belt’s inside.  Black only, five different sizes, $20 each.  The Citizen Canine is a small bag designed to help organize the stuff you tote on a walk with your furry friend.  Topside: treat/ball holder with drawstring top; bottom: poop bag dispenser (with side zipper access to replace the roll of bags); front: zipper phone/key/ID/etc accessory pouch.  Shoulder strap and loads more features.  One size, seven color combinations, $55 each.  Check ‘em out and let us know what you think.

Filed in categories: News, Pet Gadgets, Travel Gear

Tagged: belt, Pet, Travel

Tom Bihn’s New Travel Tray, Travel Money Belt & Citizen Canine originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 28, 2011 at 3:00 pm.

If you’re a dog owner like me, you always want to give your dog the best. Whether it is the food they eat or the bedding they sleep in or the treats they receive for being good. But let’s face it, deep down inside, some dog owners get the good stuff not just for their dogs but because they like cool things too. Even if its just the dog that gets to have it.

The Supercollar looks like some kind of tactical gear for a special forces operator with its is rugged look, reflective accents, its metal chrome and black polypropylene webbing material.

This super collar is equipped with two housing units. Each unit has a  36″ waterproof coated cable that retracts into its dirt and debris cleaning technology. Each cable is stated to have a break strength of over 1oo lbs.

Attached to the cables is a molded rubberized handle that sits against the collar. A quick-release safety turn-lock  keeps the handle secure when not in use.

A strip of 3M Scotchlite reflective tape is attached to the housing for added safety for those nighttime walks and the collar comes equipped with a traditional D ring for your own leash.

The cable leash was fairly easy to pull out and also felt sturdy  as its own leash. However, you must remember not to let go of  the handle or else it will snap back pretty hard because of the retracting device. It feels like a pretty solid device so the retractors  inside the units have some strength in them.  It did have a slight weight to it coming from the retractable units but didn’t feel significant enough to be overbearing and heavy. It just felt like a beefy collar.

I did notice that the holes for the buckle seemed a little weak. The holes look like they were made with a hot hole punch to melt the edges to keep from fraying. It seems like over time the holes on the collar seem like they could get stretched out. It would have been nice to have seen metal grommets around the holes to prevent stretching.

This Supercollar is really an ingenious tool for dogs and dog owners. It is very handy when you don’t have time to find your regular leash or when you are out at the dog park and your dog is running free but suddenly you need to take control of your dog. There is no need to fumble to get a leash on anymore. You can just take hold of the built-in leash and voila! Instant leash.

With this collar you can really get a handle on your pet… Pun intended.

As of this review,  the Supercollar only comes in one color which is black and two sizes: Medium (neck size 13″-17″)  and Large (neck size 16″-22″). According to their website, the Supercollar is for dogs weighing between 20lbs and 90lbs.

The Supercollar has a MSRP of $39.95

Filed in categories: Pet Gadgets, Reviews

Tagged: dog, Pet

Supercollar Dog Collar Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 15, 2010 at 11:45 am.

09/09/06 Update: See comments at bottom of review in Red.

I’m a cat person, who turned into a dog person, and who is now a dog person trapped inside a cat person’s body. I know that was kinda hard to follow, so let me try to explain… When I was a kid, I was 100% a cat person. This is probably because we never had a dog the whole time I was growing up. We had a big Black and Grey tiger striped cat named Pepper. He was an outdoor cat that only came inside to eat and hang out. At night, he went right back outside; we didn’t have a litter box for him in the house.

Later when I moved out into my own house, I got a Pembroke Welsh Corgi puppy and I promptly turned into a dog person. Kasey lived inside and only went outside for potty breaks, walks and play time. Fifteen year old Kasey had to be put down last August. ( Although I’m still not over it, my cat Max has turned into the surrogate dog. Normally he sleeps in the garage at night, and comes into the house to just hang out for awhile. Well, that changed this past winter when it got really cold out and my roomie moved him in, litter box and all, while I was away on a business trip.

It was nice to have a pet back in the house, but it wasn’t so nice to have the chore of cleaning the litter box every night when I came home from work. It was equally less fun to tromp out into the woods to dump the clumps. So, it was natural for me to start wondering about automatic litter boxes. That wonder turned into a request, when the folks at PetGadgets.com contacted me to add their site to one of our links pages. I said sure and then asked if they might be interested in me writing a review of their ScoopFree Automatic Litter Box that they were selling on their site. I was intrigued by the sales blurb that hyped the fact that this litter box would require no human intervention for up to 30 days! Wow! They agreed to allowing me to write the review and now here’s the rest of the story…

One day the product arrived in a big box, containing everything needed to get started.

Package Contents

ScoopFree Automatic litter box
Fresh Step litter cartridge with 3lbs of Fresh Step crystals
AC adapter
Instruction sheet

My first surprise was the fact that the ScoopFree litter box wasn’t a litter box at all, but an open frame made of heavy plastic. This frame sits on top of a cardboard litter cartridge (tray). This was my 2nd surprise. I wasn’t convinced that a cardboard tray would be able to hold up to 30 days of my cat doing number 1 in it.

The tray is a 14.5 x 22 inch rectangle that is 2.5 inches deep. One end of the tray has a 5 inch wide lid that is attached to it. This is the area where all the solid waste is kept. Eeeeeew ;o) The top of this lid has two magnets affixed to the top. A cover that fits over the entire tray is also included. You place this cover under the tray and spread the included litter inside the tray.

The ScoopFree cartridges use Fresh Step crystal litter. Nope, you can not use other types such as clay, or clumping litter with this box. You MUST use the Fresh Step crystals. The crystals are made of silica gel, a porous substance that quickly traps liquid and then allows it to evaporate.

I’ve never used Fresh Step litter. I always have purchased generic clumping litter in big plastic buckets at SAM’S club. The Fresh Step crystals are bright aqua blue and look like they be more at home at the bottom of a fish tank, instead of at the bottom of a litter box. I was happy with the fact that this style of litter is virtually dust free. Not like the stuff I normally use, which sends up clouds of dust when you are trying to clean the box.

Once the litter is spread around the tray, you can then put the litter box frame on top of it. The purple angled part goes over the solid waste end of the tray. Then it’s just a matter of plugging in the AC adapter. You can then test the cleaning action by pressing the button on the back right corner of the unit. Doing so will start the metal comb moving from the back end of the tray, to the front end (solid waste end) and back. No, you will not need to manually press this button after every time your cat does his business. That’s the whole point, it’s automatic. The box has sensors that can tell when the cat is in the box. 20 minutes after the cat leaves, the comb will automatically clean the box. Easy! Then after about 30 days, you just lift up the frame, put the lid on the cartridge and toss it in the trash.

Sounds wonderful right? I thought so. I set up the box in the same area that the other box had been, removed the other box and thought life would be perfect from that moment forward. Yes, I’m a die hard optimist… I grabbed Max, stuck him in the box, made his paws rake the litter and thought that would be all that would be needed for me to do. Fast forward about 2 months later… Max has yet to use the box! Stubborn mule… I mean cat!

Trust me, I have tried everything to get him to use it. I followed the advice on the little leaflet manual that came with the box. The first tip was to leave the regular litter box in the same room, but don’t clean it. Eventually the cat will go find the ScoopFree box and use it instead. Well, I did that for about a week and then tried tip #2 don’t replenish the litter in the old box as you clean it. So when the box gets empty, the cat will use the new box. Nope, didn’t work. Tip #3, Put a few handfuls of regular litter on top of the Fresh Step crystals. That didn’t help either. All Max would do would be to go in the room, look at the box and then walk out. He refused to use it even once. I would put him in the box, and he’d hop back out and just go to the door to be let outside.

See it in action…

Click on image to play the QuickTime video (1:30sec,
3.2mb). The video is encoded in the H.264 codec. You will need the latest version of Quicktime to view it. VLC is another free viewer. .

Although my cat never did use the ScoopFree Automatic Litter Box, I can comment on the construction and value of this product. First of all, it is made well, the plastic is heavy duty and the metal comb appears to be equally rugged.

Value may be harder to speak about. First of all, the box with one litter cartridge will run you $139.95. Cartridge refills are approximately $50 for 3 and $90 for 6. So, for $230, you will have 7 months cat box cleaning freedom. Is it worth that much to you? Of course, if you have more than 1 cat, each cartridge will not last as long… That sure seems like a lot of cash to fork over for the convenience of not having to scoop clumps every day. I’m disappointed that I’ll never know if the convienence would have been worth it for me. Darn Max! It is comforting to know that had I purchased this litter box myself, that there is a 90 day money back guarantee for problems such as mine.

I’d love to hear from anyone out that there that have had a better experience with this product than I have. Or people that have the exact same experience. Please post your stories using the Discuss link below.

09/09/06 Update: We have success!!! As you read above, my cat refused to use this litter box during the review period, so I gave up and went back to his regular box and clumping litter. Well, that was months ago, and this past week we were on vacation in New York City, and Max as at the boarders. When we went to pick him up yesterday, I said that we should put the ScoopFree back in the house and see if he’d use it. Since he had to use a different box all last week while he was at the boarders, maybe he’d just try this one if he didn’t see a choice.

When we got him home, I put him in the box and he hopped right back out and proceeded to ignore us for the rest of the day and night. But then in the wee hours of the morning, I was awakened by a strange noise. It took me awhile to realize what it was and finally a big smile came over my face when I knew it was the litter box! Sure enough, when I checked under the lid later today, there was a ‘gift’ inside. Yay!!!

Filed in categories: Home Tech

Tagged: Pet

ScoopFree Automatic Cat Litter Box originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 17, 2006 at 2:16 pm.