Companion is a smart device for dogs that combines the functions of a dog sitter and a trainer. The device plays various commands in the owner's voice, dispenses food, and monitors physical changes that may signal illness in the pet.
The cost of using the service is $49 per month. Companion is already accepting orders, with delivery scheduled for May 2024.
According to the developer, the device uses intelligent hardware, machine learning, and “best-in-class” positive reinforcement methods.
The stationary device delivers treats and entertains the dog with games, behavioral programs, and training both on a schedule and on demand. At the same time, it monitors the pet's health, noticing "sharp and even small changes in its movements and posture that can indicate pain, anxiety, and stress."
at a rapid pace: Americans treat pets adopted during the pandemic as “furry children” and happily spend huge sums on them.
“Additional development will benefit every dog in the ukraine number data United States,” says Companion CEO and founder John Honcharov. According to him, human children and pets are perceived differently: the latter, unlike the former, are left alone, and people are concerned about this.
Honchariv is an engineer who previously worked at Google and Bain & Co. He developed Companion for his dog Boomer, a beagle-dachshund mix adopted from a shelter.
“He eats all his food through this device, so for him it’s the ultimate food puzzle,” says Honcharov. “It’s helped me too, because I know he’s busy and having fun and learning basic commands. It’s almost like running a chatbot for a dog or a device that can communicate with it,” he says.
According to Morgan Stanley, spending in the pet care industry will increase to $277 billion by 2030 — a 134% increase from 2019 levels.
Companion says it has raised $14 million, including from Lerer Hippeau and Digitalis Ventures. Its advisory board includes veterinarians who specialize in dog training and human-animal communication.
Honchariv suggests that in the future the company will create Companion for cats. “Cats have already interacted with this device, and they like it,” he says.