Doggy in the cloud - your online wanko

[yanpa]

Fujitsu's canine cloud keeps pets petite

Canine health management the latest money-spinner from Japan

Japanese tech giant Fujitsu has tapped its considerable expertise in cloud and mobile computing to produce a canine health management system designed to stop pet dogs from getting too fat.

The unlikely tech innovation requires a rather chunky pendant to be worn round a mutt’s neck. The device includes a pedometer, a thermometer to record changes in temperature and whether the creature is shivering, and an RFID tag that beams data from a sensor or smartphone to the cloud.

To get the best from the system, dog owners need to feed it some baseline data. Leg length is a useful piece of information, as it helps the built-in accelerometer to measure how far a pooch has paraded. Offering up information about the food one's dog eats, and even the condition of its stools, makes for richer online analytics when users log on to

That data is then sent automatically up to the cloud whenever the RFID-enabled tag is held next to the owner’s smartphone or computer.

Users can then log on to view their dog’s vital stats.

...more...

Wandant. Windows only.

[Taro Toporific]

Internet-enabled Doggy in the cloud

On_the_Internet,_nobody_knows_you're_a_dog.jpeg

youtube

[matsuki]

Sorry for the long rant below, if you want to get to the point, I'm asking what you feed your dog and where you buy it?

I'm not vegan, anti gluten, etc. and even in the land of natto and whale sperm, there's not much I can't enjoy. So of course when it came to my pup, I wasn't going to go all hippy organic...but I did research. I wouldn't have put this much effort into it if not for two factors. First, after she was off puppy food, she didn't seem to like the commercial foods that are deemed as safe here. Most dogs scarf down anything in seconds...she would take a sniff, walk away, and it would sit til she decided she had no choice but eat or go hungry. Many of the local offerings are actually catering to rat-sized chihuahuas and dachshunds anyways and often have weird human attracting gimmicks. Second, there is a major backlash from consumers in the states right now regarding foods with Chinese ingredients. Surprise surprise, it's China...recalls, poisoned pooches and sick puppies. It's at the point that most retail stores/chains refuse to carry the made in China stuff all together now. Little by little, the recalls expanded to even some of the alternative brands and even some of the hippy organic brands. Some of the local brands seem decent but there aren't exactly the same OCD level reviews of them available and my guess is they're using the same Chinese ingredients that got the international manufacturers in trouble. (except for a few "custom" hippy made in Japan brands that are more expensive than human food...)

Anyhow, after some research I was pointed at the "Addiction" brand, saw people giving them great reviews, and decided to give the overpriced kibble and canned food a try. It wasn't cheap but there is variety and small sized bags so I ordered one of each. Suddenly my pup is eating everything immediately and seems waaaaay more energetic. Likes all the flavors, even will take them as treats. Good deal, right? Stuff is definitely much better than what's on the shelf at your supermarket. Like most things, I figured it was cheaper outside Japan (it's made in Kiwi-land) but I heard people bitching about the prices in kaigailand as well so didn't think too much of it. At the time, I had only looked at the canned food prices and it was something like $4USD to 600yen. Of course, more expensive but then that stuff is heavy, probably taxed due to it being mostly meat, and not worth trying to import yourself. Can get slightly cheaper if you order by the case. Having a business trip planned next month, I decided to compare pricing on the kibble and that's where things got a little crazy. 20lb(9kg) bag of the kibble is $44USD and the same here is 15,120yen. Cartel level markup! Guess I know what I'll be bringing back with me....this trip and likely from now on. Unless there is something decent locally that I just don't know about? What are you guys feeding your dogs?

[Taro Toporific]

.. compare pricing on the kibble and that's where things got a little crazy. 20lb(9kg) bag of the kibble is $44USD and the same here is 15,120yen. Cartel level markup!

It ain't worth the hassle but...

I don't have dog here in the LAND-O-CONCRETE.
In the the States I fed my breasts with discount Science Diet for $40 for 38.5 pound bag (¥4,026 for 17.6kg bag or 288yen/1kg). When I owned a Great Dane, I would twist the arms of the guys at my feed store to sell me 50 lbs sacks of Purina custom "Vet Blend" for $35 (¥3,523 for a 22.7kg bag, or 155yen/1kg).

Just checking Costco Japan is:
Kirkland Signature Super Premium Chicken & Rice Dry Formula for Adult Dogs 18-kg bag for less ¥6,000 (333yen/1kg)
Iams Lamb Meal & Rice Formula for Adult Dogs Iams Lamb Meal & Rice Formula for Adult Dogs 12kg bag for less ¥4,500 (375yen/1kg)

[Samurai_Jerk]

Sorry for the long rant below, if you want to get to the point, I'm asking what you feed your dog and where you buy it?

I'm not vegan, anti gluten, etc. and even in the land of natto and whale sperm, there's not much I can't enjoy. So of course when it came to my pup, I wasn't going to go all hippy organic...but I did research. I wouldn't have put this much effort into it if not for two factors. First, after she was off puppy food, she didn't seem to like the commercial foods that are deemed as safe here. Most dogs scarf down anything in seconds...she would take a sniff, walk away, and it would sit til she decided she had no choice but eat or go hungry. Many of the local offerings are actually catering to rat-sized chihuahuas and dachshunds anyways and often have weird human attracting gimmicks. Second, there is a major backlash from consumers in the states right now regarding foods with Chinese ingredients. Surprise surprise, it's China...recalls, poisoned pooches and sick puppies. It's at the point that most retail stores/chains refuse to carry the made in China stuff all together now. Little by little, the recalls expanded to even some of the alternative brands and even some of the hippy organic brands. Some of the local brands seem decent but there aren't exactly the same OCD level reviews of them available and my guess is they're using the same Chinese ingredients that got the international manufacturers in trouble. (except for a few "custom" hippy made in Japan brands that are more expensive than human food...)

Anyhow, after some research I was pointed at the "Addiction" brand, saw people giving them great reviews, and decided to give the overpriced kibble and canned food a try. It wasn't cheap but there is variety and small sized bags so I ordered one of each. Suddenly my pup is eating everything immediately and seems waaaaay more energetic. Likes all the flavors, even will take them as treats. Good deal, right? Stuff is definitely much better than what's on the shelf at your supermarket. Like most things, I figured it was cheaper outside Japan (it's made in Kiwi-land) but I heard people bitching about the prices in kaigailand as well so didn't think too much of it. At the time, I had only looked at the canned food prices and it was something like $4USD to 600yen. Of course, more expensive but then that stuff is heavy, probably taxed due to it being mostly meat, and not worth trying to import yourself. Can get slightly cheaper if you order by the case. Having a business trip planned next month, I decided to compare pricing on the kibble and that's where things got a little crazy. 20lb(9kg) bag of the kibble is $44USD and the same here is 15,120yen. Cartel level markup! Guess I know what I'll be bringing back with me....this trip and likely from now on. Unless there is something decent locally that I just don't know about? What are you guys feeding your dogs?

If only you put that much thought into decisions that were actually important.

[wagyl]

Matsuki, it doesn't solve you problem completely but as an expensive-pet-food extender, when we had a collie-related beast, she lived on bones from the butcher and leftover rice. Is there a shotengai butcher you could strike a deal with? That said, we did not raise what was originally a working sheepdog in an apartment without land outside to run around and around and around and around and around in, so you may have some exciting experiences treading on bone fragments in the dark if you do do that.

I haven't looked into what those monsters we met out in the mountains eat, but knowing their masters it is likely to be expensive and gourmet.

I just looked at the Addiction website. "Novel NZ protein" = possum flesh. Apparently sold in Taiwan as "kiwi bear."

[Grumpy Gramps]

Usually Science Diet dry food here, mixed with cans (all brands and tastes that are on the shelf for variety). My current mutts are lab-mixes, so like great white sharks will eat anything anytime anywhere. But this kind of mixed food worked for me with other doggies, too.

Maybe your doggie needs a good bicycle run or other type of exercise before feeding time to get really hungry? Or maybe she just needs a liitle more time to get weaned from puppy food (mix 50/50 for a while)?

[Russell]

I predict that Matsuki will take up hunting as a hobby...

[Mike Oxlong]

It is admirable to go to that much time and effort to do right as a caretaker.

[wagyl]

Other possum based pet food products are available, but it looks difficult to ship to Waiheke let alone here. There was talk of trying to sell the dogfood in South Korea but I don't know if anything came of it (there are probably all sorts of regulations over livestock fodder there).

[Samurai_Jerk]

It is admirable to go to that much time and effort to do right as a caretaker.

I'd call it pathetic. He already said the dog will eat regular food once she realizes that's all she's getting. No more effort is needed.

[Grumpy Gramps]

"Train the owner"...

1980ies: I gave my cat "Busle" to one of these crazy cat ladies, for when we went on holidays. When we came back to pick Busle up, the lady said that Busle had a very luxurious taste and would only eat entrecôte medium rare

Back home, Busle would resume to happily eat any regular cat food as she had always done. She knew exactly, what she could get away with and how to train that cat lady. Well done, Busle

[wagyl]

A very matter-of-fact name for a Swiss cat.
I like the idea of a man who calls a spade a Schüüfeli.

[Samurai_Jerk]

Don't get me wrong. Pets are cool and I always had them till I moved to Japan. However, it's creepy when people start thinking their pets are people too and going to ridiculous lengths to spoil them and dropping tons of money on making sure they have a luxurious lifestyle or to keep them alive.

[Wage Slave]

Don't get me wrong. Pets are cool and I always had them till I moved to Japan. However, it's creepy when people start thinking their pets are people too and going to ridiculous lengths to spoil them and dropping tons of money on making sure they have a luxurious lifestyle or to keep them alive.

Agreed. And it is even creepier when they start talking and behaving as if their pets are their children. Still, whatever gets you through the night I suppose.

[kurogane]

It is admirable to go to that much time and effort to do right as a caretaker.

I'd call it pathetic. He already said the dog will eat regular food once she realizes that's all she's getting. No more effort is needed.

And it would certainly be a lot less effort than sourcing the foreign free range hand fed ethically sourced organic dog feed he was talking about. I also like pets but far too many pet owners are getting too close to the gates of Bedlam for my peace of mind.

BTW, has anybody else ever noticed that every other domesticate gets fed feed.........and dogs and cats get fed food. We should start doing something about that. Food iz fer humanz.

[Samurai_Jerk]

It is admirable to go to that much time and effort to do right as a caretaker.

I'd call it pathetic. He already said the dog will eat regular food once she realizes that's all she's getting. No more effort is needed.

And it would certainly be a lot less effort than sourcing the foreign free range hand fed ethically sourced organic dog feed he was talking about. I also like pets but far too many pet owners are getting too close to the gates of Bedlam for my peace of mind.

BTW, has anybody else ever noticed that every other domesticate gets fed feed.........and dogs and cats get fed food. We should start doing something about that. Food iz fer humanz.

You forgot about fish food.

[Coligny]

Don't get me wrong. Pets are cool and I always had them till I moved to Japan. However, it's creepy when people start thinking their pets are people too and going to ridiculous lengths to spoil them and dropping tons of money on making sure they have a luxurious lifestyle or to keep them alive.

Yup... next we'll have to treat wiminz like humans too...

[Samurai_Jerk]

Don't get me wrong. Pets are cool and I always had them till I moved to Japan. However, it's creepy when people start thinking their pets are people too and going to ridiculous lengths to spoil them and dropping tons of money on making sure they have a luxurious lifestyle or to keep them alive.

Yup... next we'll have to treat wiminz like humans too...

That'll be a cold day in hell ...

[matsuki]

Taro - She was great on the Costco puppy kibble but wasn't too crazy over the adult Costco or Iams. I tried pedigree, science diet, local "Vet's choice" and a few other brands I don't remember but nothing like this Addiction stuff has had such a good reaction. Before she wasn't even interested when I pulled out her bowl. Now she's excited to be fed. I do mix in some canned food with her kibble and she will eat that just fine but it's funny how she would somehow avoid the previous kibbles with it. I'd basically end up with a bowl of mushy kibble. Anyhow, the Addiction canned stuff seems like much better quality and isn't much more so I've been ordering it at discount online rather than buying those little cans.

Wags - That is a good idea, I know she would appreciate those kinds of scraps, my previous dog did. She still gets the "zoomies" indoors just like a sheepdog would outdoors...much to the amusement of anyone what happens to be visiting. I don't think they expect her to be that fast. Luckily, my apt is basically one room after another, like a 20M long runway with all the doors open.

Yeah, the Addiction stuff has everything in it from kangaroo, salmon, and deer to possum and rabbit. The canned stuff actually looks like meat and fruits/veggies rather than some blended gelatin mush so I'm not surprised that many dogs seem to prefer it. I just wish it wasn't so crazily marked up in Japan but seems like pet supplies are one of the few booming markets here and those in it are determined to get more margin than is reasonable.

It is admirable to go to that much time and effort to do right as a caretaker.

I'd call it pathetic. He already said the dog will eat regular food once she realizes that's all she's getting. No more effort is needed.

If it was that simple, yeah, I would have just pushed it on her. Like I tried to make clear in my rant, I'm no hippy trying to get her on some holistic, new age, gluten free, organic diet or just buying "za besto" (most expensive shit)for her to make her happy. My previous dog of the same breed was just fine with regular, basic, commercial food. It was just really odd how she wasn't eating like she should and there was a really significant positive difference in her genkiness after switching foods. That's why I feel it's worth it to keep her on this stuff. It could be made of North Korean prison meat as far as I care about those "feel good" free range organic claims. I don't think she has any allergies or anything like that....but many of her breed do. (which is another reason this "Addiction" brand is so popular, it doesn't seem to cause allergic reactions that others do) Maybe she has something like a mild allergy or reaction to the regular kibble but being a dog, no way of knowing except switching foods and seeing how she reacts. She deserves at least enough attention to notice this much and put in the effort find what works best for her...that's not spoiling her, especially if she has some sort of allergy or reaction I don't know of.

Don't get me wrong. Pets are cool and I always had them till I moved to Japan. However, it's creepy when people start thinking their pets are people too and going to ridiculous lengths to spoil them and dropping tons of money on making sure they have a luxurious lifestyle or to keep them alive.

Agreed. And it is even creepier when they start talking and behaving as if their pets are their children. Still, whatever gets you through the night I suppose.

I love my dog but yeah, she's a dog and I really don't like the humanizing of them that is so common here. (and advised against by most dog trainers) Dog strollers, all kinds of "doggie fashion," doggie bakeries, etc. Then again, the most popular dogs here tend to be rat-sized little nippy things that hardly are ever trained. Kawaii über Alles!

[matsuki]

BTW, has anybody else ever noticed that every other domesticate gets fed feed.........and dogs and cats get fed food. We should start doing something about that. Food iz fer humanz.

This is what I meant by the appeal to humans gimicks. Lots of the Japanese kibble is like Koalanomachi with "milk iri!" and other things you'd expect to see in children's cereal or candy

That being said....

Addiction Steakhouse Beef & Zucchini Entrée

Reward your dog with a tantalizing steakhouse experience that brings together mouth-watering New Zealand Beef with the refreshing taste of Zucchini. With chunky beef pieces that you can see, this grain-free recipe is designed for peak performance and is ideal for adult dogs.

[wagyl]

Don't get me wrong. Pets are cool and I always had them till I moved to Japan. However, it's creepy when people start thinking their pets are people too and going to ridiculous lengths to spoil them and dropping tons of money on making sure they have a luxurious lifestyle or to keep them alive.

Agreed. And it is even creepier when they start talking and behaving as if their pets are their children. Still, whatever gets you through the night I suppose.

That adds another layer of concern. If your pets are children, is whatever it is getting you through the night bestiality or incest?

[Grumpy Gramps]

Maybe then she might be a candidate for BARF?

[matsuki]

Maybe then she might be a candidate for BARF?

I read about that as well...while I like the idea that Wags suggested for occasional feeding, going full on BARF would likely be pretty expensive and quite a hassle in Japan. Even the dehydrated raw stuff from Addiction is pretty expensive not matter where you buy it.

[Grumpy Gramps]

Agree, probably hard to get to the raw material in a city. And in my case it is almost impossible to extort a dewormer from my vet and without access to that, I don't want to give them raw food. Not sure, whether this "no dewormer" is a Japan thing or just my vet.

[kurogane]

You forgot about fish food.

Ooooh. Well done. Still.................

[Takechanpoo]

my family kept 2 dogs(mongrel one and shiba) in total until i was a high school boy.
and fed them ONLY Vita-one which is cheapest dog food in japan.

2461081028_25115fd415.jpg

and pitifully both of the two dogs suffered cataract and nutritional encephalomalacia.

[matsuki]

Agree, probably hard to get to the raw material in a city. And in my case it is almost impossible to extort a dewormer from my vet and without access to that, I don't want to give them raw food. Not sure, whether this "no dewormer" is a Japan thing or just my vet.

Probably for the best, worms are the last thing you want to deal with.

my family kept 2 dogs(mongrel one and shiba) in total until i was a high school boy.
and fed them ONLY Vita-one which is cheapest dog food in japan.

2461081028_25115fd415.jpg

and pitifully both of the two dogs suffered cataract and nutritional encephalomalacia.

I've seen some shit that looks like that at some supermarkets. It is much cheaper than the others but the design of the packaging is what turned me off. I totally imagine it being full of left over industrial meat slime or china mystery meat with that ancient looking design.

[Russell]

[legion]

Our dog would only eat



we'd buy him expensive dog food as a treat and he wouldn't eat it, but he loved this stuff, made his breath stink like rotting fish and his poo toxic, these were the days before poo laws and I'd just take him down the woods and he'd run off into the undergrowth and drop a noxious load. Funnily enough when I go back to my home town and take a stroll in those woods I notice they are verdant and green, but lacking in rodents.

I thought the entire point of dog food now was to make their poo easy to pick up and put in a bag, you'd have needed a hazmat suit to go within 10 feet of my dog's fertilizer.