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19 Must-Have Apps for Dog Owners in 2024

Chantelle Fowler

By Chantelle Fowler

Training an active dog at home with a smartphone application

In this always-connected day and age, we use our smartphones for everything. So, if you have yet to download apps on your phone to help you as a dog owner, what are you waiting for? Today, we will look at 19 must-have apps that all dog owners should download to help them with various aspects of dog ownership, including pet care, tracking, training, and monitoring.

Read on to find our reviews of these 19 apps so you can decide which you’ll get the most out of.

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How Are Apps for Dog Owners Classified?

There are several categories of apps that we’ll be looking at today.

Training. Training apps are designed to help busy dog owners get the right training for their pets. They’re created by professional dog trainers, so you know the advice you’re receiving virtually will be just as valuable as what you’d get from in-person sessions. These apps are often subscription-based, so while they are free to download, a subscription will be necessary to get the most from the app.

Pet care. These apps are designed to help you provide the best health care for your pets. They’ll either give you access to pet care professionals, help you keep track of your dog’s health care, or provide advice on how to care for your beloved pooch.

Walking. These apps are designed to connect dog owners with professional dog walkers in their area. They often boast features such as in-app messaging and GPS connectivity, so you’ll always know where your walker took your dog on their adventures.

Tracking. These apps allow you to keep tabs on your dogs no matter where they are. These apps will require you to purchase a tracker of some kind but are invaluable as they can provide insight into your pet’s whereabouts if they go missing.

Travel. Pet-centric travel apps are designed to connect dog owners with pet-friendly accommodations, restaurants, parks, and more. They’re very helpful for people on the road with their dogs and take much of the guesswork out of where you can and can’t go with your pet.

Community. These apps are designed to connect dog lovers with other dog lovers in their area. Think of them as social media apps for pet owners. Through these apps, you can meet other like-minded people and maybe even forge new, beautiful friendships built on a mutual love of animals.

Monitoring. Dog monitoring apps allow you to keep tabs on your housebound dog while at work or away on vacation. They will require you to purchase a second device, such as a camera, through which you can access a live feed of your dog.

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Top 19 Apps for Dog Owners

1. GoodPup: Dog Training at Home

GoodPup Dog Training at Home

Get the iOS App Here
Type: Training
Availability: iOS and Android
Cost: $29/monthly

GoodPup is a great app that provides access to professional dog training with much more flexibility and less hassle than in-person sessions. Your personalized and private video call sessions with your trainer can be booked any day of the week. The app has over 35,000 customized training plans for dogs of all ages and breeds. Though it is pricier, it’s far less expensive than in-person training sessions and much more convenient for dog owners with extremely busy lifestyles. Additionally, you’ll have 24/7 access to dog behavior and veterinary experts to help you get the most from your training.


2. Puppr

Puppr

Type: Training
Availability: iOS and Android
Cost: $12.99+

Puppr is another great training app for dog owners looking for less formal training resources. The app provides access to over 100 lessons taught by a celebrity dog trainer. It includes easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions with videos so you can focus on what really matters. As with GoodPup, Puppr provides users 24/7 access to a team of professional trainers that can answer any of your training-related questions.


3. iTrainer Dog Whistle & Clicker

iTrainer Dog Whistle & Clicker

Type: Training
Availability: iOS
Cost: Free

The iTrainer Dog Whistle & Clicker app is a useful tool that provides users access to a high-frequency whistle to get their dog’s attention during their training sessions. It also acts as a clicker, which trainers often use alongside whistles as cues to reinforce good behaviors or to call dogs away from any distractions during their training sessions. The app also has various squeaky toy sound effects to get your dog’s attention. It is free to use, though you can unlock premium features for just $1.99.


4. Dogo – Dog Training & Clicker

Dogo Dog Training & Clicker

Type: Training
Availability: iOS and Android
Cost: Starting at $9.99

Dogo is a training app that offers over 100 different tricks and training courses with helpful video instructions. Like other training apps, it has a built-in clicker and whistle to make your sessions a bit more convenient. Each session is professionally curated by real trainers and veterinarians. One unique feature of this app is that you can send video exams to the Dogo trainers to get feedback on your pup’s performance. The app is free to download and offers a free 7-day trial. After your trial period is over, you’ll need to pay $9.99 per month or $99.99 for a year’s subscription.


5. Pet First Aid

Pet First Aid

Type: Pet care
Availability: iOS and Android
Cost: Free

The American Red Cross developed the Pet First Aid app, and it is a must-have tool for any pet owner. It provides step-by-step instructions for what you need to do in an emergency, like if your dog gets into a fight with another animal or ingested something toxic. It has sections such as Learn, Prepare, and Emergency, allowing pet owners to learn about various health topics, prepare and protect their pet’s health, and how to react in emergencies.


6. 11pets: Pet Care

11pets Pet Care

Type: Pet care
Availability: iOS and Android
Cost: Free

11pets: Pet Care allows pet owners to stay organized and on top of their pets’ health by tracking their pets’ weight and nutrition, maintaining a vaccine and vet visit schedule, and storing medical history. Users can opt for the premium version of this app for €69, which is approximately USD 75. The premium subscription allows users access to 24-hour vet support, unlimited data storage, and the chance to connect with the 11pets community.


7. Airvet

Airvet

Type: Pet care
Availability: iOS and Android
Cost: $35/month or $75 for an on-demand phone call

Airvet is an award-winning pet care app that provides pet owners access to virtual veterinary care via live chat and video calls. This is a great healthcare app for dog owners who live in areas without convenient access to a veterinary clinic. You can chat with pet experts 24/7 and schedule unlimited virtual visits with real veterinarians.


8. PupTox

PupTox

Type: Pet care
Availability: iOS and Android
Cost: Free

PupTox is a must-have app for dog and cat owners as it provides a helpful list of over 250 items that are toxic for pets. Please note that this app does not detail first aid treatment for pets but instead will help you determine if the food or plant your pet has gotten into is potentially toxic.


9. PetDesk

PetDesk

Type: Pet care
Availability: iOS and Android
Cost: Free

PetDesk is an app that puts you in the center of your dog’s health needs by connecting you with the best pet care pros in your area. It allows you to book appointments with pet care providers in your area 24/7, set reminders and make to-do lists that sync to your calendar, and add and view all members of your dog’s pet care team (e.g., veterinary clinics, groomers, boarding facilities, etc.) in one convenient and easy-to-access place.


10. Rover

Rover

Type: Walking
Availability: iOS and Android
Cost: Free

The Rover app is great for both pet parents and people in the pet-sitting or dog-walking community. It provides access to loving local sitters and walkers, allowing dog owners to book and pay on the go. The professional you hire can send you updates on your pet’s adventure through in-app messages and photo updates. You can even keep tabs on where they went for walks via GPS mapping.


11. Wag!

Wag!

Type: Walking
Availability: iOS and Android
Cost: Free

The Wag! App provides dog owners with access to resources they need, such as dog walking, sitting, boarding, and training. Each caregiver that can offer their services through the app needs to go through an enhanced background check beforehand so you know that your dog will be safe with the people you find through the app.


12. Whistle: Smart Pet Tracker

Whistle Smart Pet Tracker

Type: Tracking
Availability: iOS and Android
Cost: $40/year+

Whistle: Smart Pet Tracker is a companion app for Whistle smart devices. These wearables for dogs are not unlike Fitbits. They cost between $69 and $149 to acquire but are worthwhile for dog owners who want to keep tabs on their pets at all times. Since your dogs can’t tell you where they are or what they’re feeling, these smart devices can bridge the gap so you can better understand your pet. They allow you to monitor their health, fitness, and GPA location.

While the app is free to download, you will need to activate a subscription to use your Whistle device. The current annual plan is $40 for the limited version with GPS or $99 for the full option with GPS.


13. Tractive GPS for Dogs and Cats

Tractive GPS for Dogs and Cats

Type: Tracking
Availability: iOS and Android
Cost: $7/month+

Tractive GPS for Dogs and Cats is a pet-tracking app that pairs with a Tractive GPS tracker. Like the Whistle wearables, Tractive trackers allow pet owners to keep tabs on the whereabouts of their pets. Through the app, you can access critical information such as your pet’s recent physical activity and sleep quality, as well as set boundaries with a Virtual Fence feature. The trackers start at $70 and attach to your pet’s collar.

While the Tractive app is free to download, you will need to activate a subscription to utilize your device. The basic plan begins at $7 per month, though it is billed at $168 every two years. The premium plan also begins at $7 a month, billed at $420 every five years.


14. BringFido

BringFido

Type: Travel
Availability: iOS and Android
Cost: Free

BringFido is a fantastic app for people who do a lot of traveling with their dogs. It allows pet owners to access various dog-friendly establishments, such as lodging, restaurants, and attractions, taking the guesswork out of places you can and can’t go on your travels. You can search by location and use the app’s built-in filters to search by price or pet size.


15. BarkHappy

BarkHappy

Type: Travel
Availability: iOS and Android
Cost: Free

Like BringFido, BarkHappy is a godsend app for people who enjoy traveling with their pets. What sets this location-based app apart from BringFido is that it acts as a social media of sorts specifically for dog people. While it can help you find dog-friendly restaurants, hotels, parks, and bars, users can also create profiles for their pets, allowing them to find other dogs nearby so you can connect for play dates. The app also has lost and found alerts, where users can report lost or found dogs with photos of the pet, details, and contact information.


16. Pawscout

Pawscout

Type: Community
Availability: iOS and Android
Cost: Free

Pawscout is an app that allows dog owners to build connections with other pet lovers in their community. Its most important feature is that it can help find lost pets. Its Bluetooth-enabled Tag can alert other users when a dog goes missing nearby. The app can also help owners build a network of local dog lovers by providing social tools and allowing photo sharing. You can pair the Pawscout pet tag (sold separately) with the app to keep tabs on your dog by tracking walks and activity levels.


17. DogHood – Playdate & Community

Type: Community
Availability: iOS
Cost: Free

DogHood Playdate & Community is a great app for connecting dog owners with other dog owners. Users create a profile to build community packs with similarly-minded owners and dogs of the same breed and type. You can share photos and facts about your dog with your friends and find dog-friendly services nearby.


18. PetCube

PetCube

Type: Monitoring
Availability: iOS and Android
Cost: Free

PetCube is a secure and fun app that allows dog owners to keep an eye on their pets while they’re out of the house via cameras. You can use the app to watch and talk to your pets, and if you own specific camera models, you can even play with them via laser or fling them treats. The app also has an optional

While the PetCube app is free to download, you will need to purchase the cameras separately. I personally own the two PetCube cameras to keep tabs on my cats when I’m away, and I absolutely love them.


19. Dog Monitor

Dog Monitor

Type: Monitoring
Availability: iOS and Android
Cost: $6.99

Dog Monitor is an easy-to-use app that provides dog owners with live HD video of their pets while they’re away from home. It tracks your dogs when you’re away from your phone and even allows you to record commands to send them to your pet remotely. You will require two smart devices, like two phones, to use the app. The one device, known as the Dog Station, must have a functional microphone and a camera if you wish to access a video feed.

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Conclusion

There are so many apps for dog lovers, so we hope this list has helped you narrow down some of the ones that are the most useful to you. Whether you are looking for an app to monitor your pets while they are away or if you want a tracker, one of the apps on this list might be perfect!

See also:


Featured Image Credit: Aleksey Boyko, Shutterstock

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