The Best Apps for Dog Owners of 2024
Written by: BestApp.com App Testing Team - Updated: Sep 03, 2021
Whistle stands out as the absolute best app for dog owners due to its strong set of features, which includes GPS tracking and activity monitoring. But you may also be interested in other types of apps for dog owners, such as shopping apps for pet supplies and reference guides for dog-friendly accomodations. For this reason, we’ve also reviewed nine other top apps for dog owners for you to check out below.
Top 10 Apps for Dog Owners to Try
- Whistle — Top Pick
- Pet First Aid by the American Red Cross — Best Free App
- BringFido — Best for Finding Pet-Friendly Accomodations
- Rover — Best for Finding Dog Sitters and Walkers
- Chewy — Best for Pet Supplies
- iKibble — Most User-Friendly Interface
- Puppr — Best for Dog Training
- Tractive — Best for Finding Lost Dogs
- BarkHappy — Best Social Network
- PawPrint — Best for Medical Records
How We Chose the Best Apps for Dog Owners
To determine the best apps for dog owners, we looked for features such as online communities, GPS tracking, and health/fitness tips. You’ll also find that most of the apps featured in our guide offer live customer support — that way, you can get help quickly whenever you run into a technical issue.
Choose the dog owner app that’s right for you
The best app for one dog owner may not be the best for another. For example, some users may want an app that helps them keep their dog healthy, while others may be looking for a social network that connects them with other dog owners.
Consider the total cost of tracking apps
Dog tracking apps are typically free when it comes to downloading the app itself. But you should keep in mind that in order for these apps to work, you’ll need to use them with a separate tracking device. These devices can cost up to $200 upfront and may involve recurring subscription fees.
Our Best Apps for Dog Owner Reviews
Whistle — Top Pick
Download: Android ★★★★★★★★★★ | iOS ★★★★★★★★★★
This companion app for Whistle’s line of smart pet monitors makes it easy to track your dog’s health, fitness, and location. You’ll be able to see where your dog is located at all times. You can even set your home and other areas as designated “Safe Places” — then, whenever your dog leaves one of these Safe Places, you’ll automatically be sent an alert via text, email, or in-app notification. Whistle also monitors activity such as scratching, licking, drinking, and sleeping patterns. If there’s a change in your dog’s behavior that indicates a potential health issue, you’ll be notified about this as well.
Notable features:
- Free mobile app
- Whistle Smart Pet Monitor: $79.95 – $199.95 plus subscription fees
- Support available: Live Chat, Phone, Email, Knowledge Base
| Whistle Pros & Cons | |
|---|---|
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| GPS tracking capability | Separate Whistle device required for use |
| Health monitoring and alerts | |
| Live customer support | |
Pet First Aid by the American Red Cross — Best Free App
Download: Android ★★★★★★★★★★ | iOS ★★★★★★★★★★
This app from the American Red Cross includes over 25 step-by-step instruction guides for common pet emergencies. It also offers an early warning sign checker for preventative care and a feature for finding your nearest vet hospital. While Pet First Aid may not offer advanced features such as GPS tracking, none of the other apps covered in this guide are more helpful for when you’re dealing with a pet injury or illness. And best of all, it’s completely free to use.
Notable features:
- Free mobile app
- Support available: Phone, Email, FAQs, Inquiry Form
| Pet First Aid by the American Red Cross Pros & Cons | |
|---|---|
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Helpful reference guide for pet emergencies | Limited number of features |
| Live customer support | |
| Completely free to use | |
BringFido — Best for Finding Pet-Friendly Accomodations
Download: Android ★★★★★★★★★★ | iOS ★★★★★★★★★★
As any dog owner knows, having a pet with you certainly limits your options for apartments, hotels, restaurants, etc. But you’ll be able to easily find such accommodations with BringFido thanks to their database which includes over 300,000 pet-friendly hotels/rentals and 60,000 restaurants that allow dogs. The app also has listings for dog parks and dog events. Each listing includes verified pet policies, and you can use reviews from other pet owners to help decide between different options for particular accommodations in your area.
Notable features:
- Free mobile app (contains ads)
- Support available: Email, Phone, FAQs
| BringFido Pros & Cons | |
|---|---|
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Thousands of listings for pet-friendly accomodations | Contains ads |
| Live customer support | |
| Completely free to use | |
Rover — Best for Finding Dog Sitters and Walkers
Download: Android ★★★★★★★★★★ | iOS ★★★★★★★★★★
Rover is similar to BringFido, but instead of connecting you to pet-friendly accommodations, this app will help you find high-quality dog sitters and walkers. Their network includes over 14,000 cities and 300,000 sitters. To ensure that their users get the best service, Rover is highly selective — only 20% of those who apply to join their network as a sitter are accepted. You can message sitters and send payments directly through the app, and its other features include viewing a map of your dog’s walk as well as food/water alerts.
Notable features:
- Free mobile app
- Support available: Help Center, Email, Q&A Community
| Rover Pros & Cons | |
|---|---|
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| In-app messaging and payments | No live chat or phone support |
| Completely free to use | |
Chewy — Best for Pet Supplies
Download: Android ★★★★★★★★★★ | iOS ★★★★★★★★★★
If you already use Chewy for your pet supply needs, then you should absolutely download their mobile app. It allows you to set up automatic shipments for products that you order regularly, and you can keep track of order status from within the app as well. If you don’t currently use Chewy, you should certainly consider doing so — they offer over 1,000 brands and free shipping on orders over $49.
Notable features:
- Free mobile app
- Support available: Chat, Phone, Email, FAQs
| Chewy Pros & Cons | |
|---|---|
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Automatic recurring shipments | Limited number of features |
| Live customer support | |
iKibble — Most User-Friendly Interface
Download: iOS ★★★★★★★★★★
Wondering if you can feed a certain food to your dog? This app offers a guide with hundreds of food types to browse through, with each entry describing how safe it is for your dog to eat. It’s also worth noting that iKibble’s interface is very easy to navigate — they have a rating system that allows you to review food safety at a glance, and their search feature makes it easy to find whatever food you’re looking for.
Notable features:
- Free version available
- In-app purchases: $0.99
- Support available: Email
| iKibble Pros & Cons | |
|---|---|
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| User-friendly interface | No live customer support |
| Comprehensive food safety advice | |
Puppr — Best for Dog Training
Download: Android ★★★★★★★★★★ | iOS ★★★★★★★★★★
Puppr features step-by-step video guides for training your dog. Over 80 lessons are offered by the app, which cover everything from basic obedience (e.g. “sit”, “stay”) to advanced tricks (e.g. “fetch leash”). These lessons were designed by Sara Carson, who is one of the top dog trick instructors in the world and was a top-five finalist in a season of America’s Got Talent. If you upgrade to the premium version of Puppr, you’ll get access to all of their lesson packs as well as 24/7 live chat with professional trainers.
Notable features:
- Free version available
- Puppr Premium: $12.99/month, $99.99/year
- Support available: Email, Contact Form
| Puppr Pros & Cons | |
|---|---|
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Comprehensive video lessons | No live customer support |
Tractive — Best for Finding Lost Dogs
Download: Android ★★★★★★★★★★ | iOS ★★★★★★★★★★
Like some of the other apps featured in this guide, Tractive requires the use of a separate pet tracking device. What sets Tractive apart is that their device operates on all major carriers in the US, and it’s the only one that works internationally. Tractive will automatically connect to the best signal, regardless of carrier, while other apps rely solely on AT&T. Tractive is also the only app of its kind that does not require a proprietary collar — their tracking device fits most collars and harnesses. This device allows you to track your dog in real-time with unlimited range, and you can share the location of your pet with others. Active time, rest, and calories burned can be tracked on local, breed, and international leaderboards. Tractive offers a geofencing feature as well, which can be set up to automatically send you a notification if your dog ever leaves an area such as your home or yard. Another helpful feature is Find Mode, which you can use to pinpoint your dog’s exact location even when your GPS signal is weak. And with the Power Saving Zone feature, you can triple battery life by offloading the connection to Wi-Fi while your pet is at home.
Notable features:
- Free mobile app
- Tractive GPS tracking device: $49.99 plus subscription fees
- Support available: Help Center, Live Chat, Email, Ticket
| Tractive Pros & Cons | |
|---|---|
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| GPS tracking capability | Separate Tractive device required for use |
| Affordable pricing compared to competitors | |
| Excellent customer reviews | |
BarkHappy — Best Social Network
Download: Android ★★★★★★★★★★ | iOS ★★★★★★★★★★
BarkHappy will help you find dog-friendly restaurants, bars, hotels, and parks. For each location listed, you can review pet policies and see what kind of amenities are available (dog treats, water bowls, whether dogs are allowed inside, etc.). But what really sets this app apart is its social networking component — you can create a profile for your dog on this app and connect with other dog owners in your area. BarkHappy also offers listings for dog-friendly events as well as lost and found alerts.
Notable features:
- Free version available
- In-app purchases: $1.99 per item
- Support available: Email
| BarkHappy Pros & Cons | |
|---|---|
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Robust social networking component | No live customer support |
| List of dog-friendly restaurants, hotels, and parks | |
PawPrint — Best for Medical Records
Download: Android ★★★★★★★★★★ | iOS ★★★★★★★★★★
PawPrint makes it easy to access your dog’s medical records. To initially get a copy of such records, you just need to tell PawPrint which vet you use and sign your request — they’ll take care of the rest. You can also use this app to store feeding instructions, reminders, and even photos.
Notable features:
- Free version available
- In-app purchases: $4.99 – $49.99
- Support available: Email, FAQs
| PawPrint Pros & Cons | |
|---|---|
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Easy access to medical records | No live customer support |
| Ability to set reminders | |
Apps for Dog Owners: Feature Summary Table
| Apps for Dog Owners Comparison Table | ||
|---|---|---|
| App | Subscription Fees or In-App Purchases | Features |
| Whistle — Top Pick | Whistle Smart Pet Monitor: $79.95 – $199.95 plus subscription fees | X Online Community ✓ GPS Tracking ✓ Health/Fitness Tips |
| Pet First Aid by the American Red Cross — Best Free App | Free | X Online Community X GPS Tracking ✓ Health/Fitness Tips |
| BringFido — Best for Finding Pet-Friendly Accomodations | Free (contains ads) | ✓ Online Community X GPS Tracking X Health/Fitness Tips |
| Rover — Best for Finding Dog Sitters and Walkers | Free | ✓ Online Community X GPS Tracking X Health/Fitness Tips |
| Chewy — Best for Pet Supplies | Free | X Online Community X GPS Tracking X Health/Fitness Tips |
| iKibble — Most User-Friendly Interface | In-app purchases: $0.99 | X Online Community X GPS Tracking ✓ Health/Fitness Tips |
| Puppr — Best for Dog Training | Puppr Premium: $12.99/month, $99.99/year | X Online Community X GPS Tracking ✓ Health/Fitness Tips |
| Tractive — Best for Finding Lost Dogs | Tractive GPS tracking device: $49.99 plus subscription fees | X Online Community ✓ GPS Tracking ✓ Health/Fitness Tips |
| BarkHappy — Best Social Network | In-app purchases: $1.99 per item | ✓ Online Community X GPS Tracking X Health/Fitness Tips |
| PawPrint — Best for Medical Records | In-app purchases: $4.99 – $49.99 | X Online Community X GPS Tracking ✓ Health/Fitness Tips |