Eating

Keeping up with your dog’s eating habits can be challenging, especially when you’re not home. We’re pleased to add meal detection to the suite of health metrics your dog’s WHISTLE™ device tracks! Along with the nutrition calculator and activity measurements, meal detection will help you ensure your dog is getting enough to eat without overfeeding. 

Eating thresholds are based on your pet’s personal eating habits, including meals and treats. Changes in eating patterns may be related to changes in human generosity, a new dog food (wet vs. dry), new food bowl, new food position, or even a new member of the pack. Changes in eating are not necessarily an indication that anything is wrong with your dog’s eating. If you see a change in your dog’s eating habits, take a closer look at your dog during meal time. Please consult a veterinary professional if you spot any reason for concern. 

The more your pet’s Whistle tracker is charged and on the collar, the stronger our predictions will be.

Note: The graph for Today's eating is in progress and not yet complete. Previous days are complete 

Eating Statuses

• Above average

  • It looks like your pet is eating more than usual. Eating thresholds are based on your pet’s personal eating habits, including both meals and treats. Increases in your pet’s eating may be related to an extra treat (or two) or a larger helping at meal time. Changes in eating are not necessarily an indication that anything is wrong with your dog’s eating. 

• Average

  • Looks like your pet’s eating is normal. Eating thresholds are based on your pet’s personal eating habits, including both meals and treats. Your pet’s eating habits have been consistent recently.

• Below average

  • It looks like your pet is eating less than usual. Eating thresholds are based on your pet’s personal eating habits, including both meals and treats. A decrease in your pet’s eating may be related to a missed treat (or two), a smaller helping at meal time, or even a faster meal event than normal. Changes in eating are not necessarily an indication that anything is wrong with your dog’s eating. 

Does your Whistle tracker's eating detection technology detect meals and treats?

Yes. Both meals and significant treats are detected. 

Why are my dog’s meals not being detected?

If you aren’t seeing any meals or eating data, and your dog has been wearing a charged Whistle device, there are a few things that could be going on:

1. Is your dog’s food wet or dry? Dry food - like kibble - is much easier to detect through the Whistle device than wet food. The crunch of the kibble sends vibrations through the Whistle device that signal that your dog is eating. Meals of wet food can still be detected, but it’s more likely that wet food meals can be missed.

2. Does your dog eat out of an elevated bowl? Eating out of an elevated bowl is not uncommon, but it is not the norm. Whistle’s eating detection technology is “trained” primarily on videos of dogs eating out of a bowl on the floor. If your dog eats out of an elevated bowl, and Whistle is missing some eating events, this could be the culprit.

3. Does your dog eat out of a Kong or similar device? Like with elevated bowls, eating out of a Kong or similar device is an unfamiliar signal to your dog’s Whistle device. Some of these eating events may be missed.

Why is the Whistle tracker detecting my dog eating when they aren’t?

It is possible that some non-eating activities, such as chewing on a bone or toy, may be incorrectly categorized as eating if they are only a few minutes long. The eating algorithm is continually learning and should get more accurate over time.