PlayDate is Fetch for Next Gen Dog Nerds

Diana Faria
by Diana Faria
No matter where you are, take time out to play fetch with your dog. PlayDate takes the standard ball and goes 2.0 with an app, built-in camera and treats.


Oh technology, what can’t you make better? We’d like to thank you for everything you’ve done thus far, and for your latest innovation that takes a doggy favorite – the ball – and nerded it up all the way to 10! Meet PlayDate, the coolest dog toy/video camera/phone app you and your pet have ever played with!


PlayDate wants to change the way we play with our dogs by designing a ball with a camera inside. The wicked thing about this particular ball (aside from having a camera – talk about the best pooch selfies ever!) is the fact that you can control its movement on the ground from anywhere in the world!


This awesome gadget is currently crowdfunding on Indiegogo in order to secure the funds to move onto their next stage in the project (mass manufacturing the design). The idea was born when co-founder and CEO Kevin Li adopted a Lab/Rhodesian Ridgeback mix named Hulk. First, Li built a tracker to keep track of Hulk, but as he got older, this became less and less of an issue. Then, he realized that pet owners needed a better way to interact with their pets remotely from wherever they were, for example, at work or running on the treadmill at the gym.

The camera is inside a polycarbonate shell, and no matter where that ball rolls, it will always be facing your dog. It can be sitting stationary or rolling around – you’ll always have the perfect shot. And although the ball isn’t indestructible, the polycarbonate shell can be replaced after Fido has had its fun with it.


Let’s get to the best part: you can watch your pet go crazy via the PlayDate app on your smartphone. So, let’s say you’re on your break at work and want to get some playtime in with your feline back at home. Simply access the PlayDate application and roll the ball around using the toggle (found at the bottom left corner of the screen) to go left, right, forward or backwards. There’s nowhere your pet can hide from PlayDate!


If your pet is catching a few ZZZZZs, you can entice her to come play with the ball by remotely squeaking this toy. Now that playtime has been engaged, you can snap a few pictures or record a couple of seconds of action and upload the footage to her social media accounts (we know you’ve set up an Instagram account for her). The PlayDate also comes installed with a microphone so you can hear your dog or cat, or have a meaningful convo with your furry significant other.


Related: Pawly Lets You Play With Your Pets Even When You’re Not Home


Because you can access PlayDate from wherever you are, there are no excuses for lack of pet playtime – an important part of your cat’s or dog’s well-being. Even if you work 8-10 hours a day at work, and the last thing you want to do is throw a ball around the yard, the PlayDate steps in until you catch your second wind.


As of now, PlayDate has exceeded its $60,000 goal, so it’s a done deal that it’ll get produced. You can still order your on PlayDate’s Indiegogo page – we can’t wait to get ours!

Diana Faria
Diana Faria

More by Diana Faria

Next