A brand-new smart device called Companion positions itself as an all-in-one nanny and tutor for your dog, keeping Fido busy and amused while you work (or rush to the store to buy grain-free artisan dog food).

Why it matters: Americans continue to treat the dogs they adopted during the pandemic like fur babies and are happy to spend outrageous amounts of money on them, further humanizing canines.

The company Companion, which will begin distributing its $49-per-month device in May 2024, has just begun accepting bookings.

The stationary appliance that dispenses treats “provides all day scheduled and on-demand engagement for your dog with games, behavioral programs, and training,” the manufacturer claims.

In addition, it keeps an eye out for “sudden or subtle shifts in your dog’s movement or posture that can indicate pain, anxiety, or stress.”
The system employs “AI hardware, machine learning, and best-in-class positive reinforcement techniques,” according to Companion.

The Companion, for instance, teaches the dog obedience by repeating directions like “sit” in the owner’s voice, all the while keeping an eye out for any bodily changes that would indicate disease. You can watch a video of this by scrolling down to “mission and vision.”
What they’re saying: According to John Honchariw, CEO and founder of Companion, “every dog in the United States could benefit from more enrichment.”

He observed that there was an odd asymmetry between human and animal children. People worry about the fact that while we don’t leave our human children alone, we do with our furry family members.
“We want to be able to provide our children with extremely fantastic educational stuff, whether they are toddlers or not. Additionally, we want to give our dog something that is incredibly enriching, and even better if doing so will improve our relationship with it.
Companion was created by Honchariw, a Google and Bain & Co.-educated engineer, for his rescue beagle-dachshund mix Boomer.

He claimed that it was his constant playmate and that he “loves it.” For him, it functions as the most technologically advanced food puzzle because he consumes all of his dog food through the apparatus.
And that really helped me because I knew he was learning all the fundamental obedience commands while also having fun.
It’s similar to beginning a chatbot with your dog, or using a tool that can communicate with your dog.

The big picture: Businesses are selling more items that appeal to our desire to treat animals like children as society becomes more anthropomorphic; examples include the Joipaw video game system for dogs and the development of human-grade dog chow.

According to Morgan Stanley, the total amount spent on pet care would rise to $277 billion by 2030, a 134% increase over 2019 levels.
“We want to be with our dog 24 hours a day,” Honchariw claims.
What it is now: Companion claims to have raised $14 million from investors including Lerer Hippeau and Digitalis Ventures. Veterinarians with expertise in dog training and the human-animal link serve on the advisory board.

The San Francisco SPCA will host Companion on Monday for a “demo day” to demonstrate the technology.

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