New Dog Toys That Adapt to Your Pet’s Mood

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By Theo Grant | Pet Innovations Column | The Pet Standard

Once upon a time, all a dog needed was a chewed-up tennis ball and a patch of grass. Now? We’ve entered the age of AI-enabled squeaky toys and Bluetooth-connected bones because naturally, the next logical step in dog evolution was emotional technology.

Yes, you read that correctly. Welcome to the world of dog toys that can “read” your pup’s mood and react accordingly. If that sounds both brilliant and slightly dystopian, you’re not alone.

Let’s unpack what these high-tech tail-waggers are all about, and whether they’re actually worth the hype (or just barking mad).

🧠 So, What Are Mood-Adaptive Dog Toys?

These are toys embedded with sensors, AI software, and sometimes microphones or cameras that attempt to assess your dog’s emotional state. They can respond by:

• Adjusting play styles (e.g., more aggressive for high-energy dogs, soothing for anxious ones)

• Emitting sounds, lights or vibrations based on behaviour

• Tracking mood changes over time via companion apps

• Learning patterns to become more engaging the more they’re used

Think of them as interactive companions rather than passive chewables. Some are even being marketed as “digital dog sitters.”

🤖 What Kind of Tech Is Involved?

While not quite canine telepathy, here’s what makes these gadgets tick:

• Motion sensors to track activity levels

• Accelerometers to detect how rough your pup plays

• Audio sensors to identify barking, whining or vocal tones

• Temperature and heart rate sensors in collars that sync with the toy

• Machine learning algorithms that adapt over time

Some models connect to mobile apps, allowing pet owners to see behavioural insights, set play schedules, or even check in via livestream.

So yes, your dog now has a better fitness tracker than you do.

🐾 The Top Mood-Adaptive Dog Toys in 2025

1. Wickedbone Smart Bone V2

Price: ~£89

Best for: Dogs who love to chase and chew

This interactive smart bone rolls, wiggles, and reacts to your dog’s movement. You can control it manually or let it run on “intelligent drive” mode, where it changes behaviour based on your pup’s interaction style.

Pros:

• Fun, durable design

• App control + auto mode

• Great for solo play

• USB rechargeable

Cons:

• Can be noisy on hard floors

• Doesn’t work as well on carpet

2. Varram Pet Fitness Robot

Price: ~£109

Best for: Energetic or overweight dogs

Originally designed to encourage exercise, the Varram now includes adaptive features that tailor activity based on your pet’s daily movement. It tosses treats, moves randomly, and tracks fitness via app.

Pros:

• Health-focused

• Dispenses treats

• Learns routines over time

Cons:

• Treat size limitations

• App could use improvements

3. PupPod Rocker Feeder + Feeder Hub

Price: ~£249

Best for: Puzzle-loving pups and owners with deep pockets

The PupPod is a multi-part smart toy that responds to your dog’s movement or barking with interactive challenges. It encourages cognitive development and adaptive learning. It even adjusts difficulty as your dog improves.

Pros:

• Highly customisable

• Great for mental stimulation

• App tracking and remote control

Cons:

• Expensive

• Needs setup and training

4. Laïka – Interactive Pet Companion

Price: ~£199

Best for: Anxious or home-alone dogs

Laïka is an AI-powered companion that senses barking, pacing or inactivity and responds with calming sounds, movement or treat dispensing. It’s ideal for separation anxiety and builds routines to calm your pet over time.

Pros:

• Emotional AI with learning ability

• Treat dispenser

• HD camera with 2-way audio

• Sleek design

Cons:

• Not for destructive chewers

• Needs a good Wi-Fi connection

📱 Do You Really Need an App for That?

If you’re not particularly tech-savvy, don’t worry. While most of these toys include companion apps, they’re designed to be plug-and-play once initial setup is done.

Apps generally allow you to:

• Track play time and activity

• Adjust difficulty levels

• Monitor behaviour trends

• Get push notifications (e.g., “Buddy is feeling bored.”)

Sure, it might feel a bit surreal to be data-analysing your dog’s emotional journey, but for owners who are away often or managing behavioural issues, the insight is surprisingly helpful.

🤔 Are These Toys Really Better Than a Squeaky Duck?

Let’s break it down.

✅ Pros:

• Keeps your dog mentally stimulated

• Reduces boredom and destructive behaviour

• Great for dogs home alone during the day

• Tracks emotional patterns (great for trainers or vet discussions)

• Builds play routines that evolve with your dog

❌ Cons:

• Expensive (you’re paying for tech, not fluff)

• May not suit all dogs especially power chewers or those disinterested in solo play

• Can require charging, updating, or customer service chats about Bluetooth pairing (yes, really)

• Some features are still “in beta” the AI isn’t quite dog whisperer level… yet

😅 Real Talk: Will Your Dog Care?

Here’s the twist: your dog doesn’t care if their toy has AI. They care if it moves, squeaks, or dispenses treats.

So while mood-adaptive toys offer a fun, futuristic layer to playtime, don’t toss out the rope toy just yet. For many dogs, it’s all about interaction whether it’s high-tech or hand-thrown.

However, if your dog gets easily bored, has anxiety, or you’re looking for more hands-off enrichment, these smart toys might just earn their place in your living room (and your heart).

🐕 Final Verdict

In a world where your fridge can tweet and your vacuum can judge your cleaning habits, it’s only fitting that your dog’s toys are getting smarter too.

Mood-adaptive toys aren’t quite mind readers but they are impressively responsive, and in some cases, genuinely helpful tools for boosting your pet’s mental and emotional well-being.

So, are they necessary? Not always .Are they cool? Absolutely.

And if your dog prefers the packaging over the toy? At least the box didn’t cost £200.