Do you like having fun with your dog? The game of fetch is something that most pet owners enjoy engaging in, and we don’t even have to say how much the pups like it. But, sometimes, playing this game can be exhausting, and the owners don’t always have the time to throw the ball for their beloved pet.
This is where the iDogmate comes in. It’s an automatic fetch machine for dogs that can shoot the ball up to 50 feet of distance, coming together with the Li-ion battery and a handy remote controller. Is it worth the money? Let’s check it out!
What is the iDogmate?
Like many other devices of this type on the market, the iDogmate allows the pet owner to automate the whole process of throwing the ball for his dog. The pooch can use the machine without the owner’s help – he just has to put the ball in the hopper and run after it once the device shoots it out. This can come in very handy if you’re a busy person who’d still like to provide his beloved pet with the game of fetch.
You can use this device both inside your home and outside in the yard, as it comes together with an AC adapter and the rechargeable batteries. In this way, the game of fetch won’t depend on the weather – if it’s raining, you can bring the iDogmate inside and let the dog play with it in the living room.
With wireless operation and the maximum shooting distance of 50 feet, it’s no wonder that this model is already so popular among the pet owners. In the next part of the article, we’ll be taking a closer a look at the features that make it such a tempting purchase.
The Main Features
Most of the devices of this type provide the user with just three distance settings, and that’s not the case with the iDogmate. It can shoot the ball to distances of 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 feet, which is, in our opinion, outstanding. This gives the pet owner far more flexibility than the other products of this type and is a feature that deserves special praise.
The wireless operation we’ve mentioned comes in the form of a remote controller. It’s a simple, rectangle-shaped device with four buttons on it, allowing the user to power on/off the device, shoot the ball, and change the distance settings. To use it, you’ll have to be quite close to the machine itself, but at least you won’t have to bend down to change the settings.
The design of the iDogmate is quite innovative and unique. It comes in a beautiful combination of green and white, with a solid construction that ensures that this thing will serve you for years to come. Fortunately, the handles are also present, which means that you shouldn’t have any issues with transportation.
The balls that come inside the package also deserve some words of praise. They are 2.5″ in diameter and look just like your regular tennis balls, but in a different color and being non-abrasive on the pup’s teeth.
What Comes in the Box?
Unlike some other ball launchers we’ve reviewed, this one truly comes with everything you’ll need to have fun with your pup. The box itself looks quite attractive, and contains the following items:
- iDogmate machine
- Three non-abrasive balls
- Li-ion battery
- AC adapter & cable
- User manual
Even though we would have liked to see an instructional DVD, we simply can’t take that as a serious flaw. The user manual is well-written and very straightforward – with it, figuring out how the machine works shouldn’t be an issue for anyone. After all, this product isn’t a rocket science, wouldn’t you agree?
How Fido Liked It
Our beloved Fido had a blast with the iDogmate – he liked it! Just like we expected, using this machine was a breeze for the dog, as it comes with a huge funnel that the pup just cannot miss. The balls that come in the package are brightly-colored and non-abrasive, and it was a joy for Fido to run after them.
And when it comes to safety, the presence of a remote controller removes any risks of the dog getting injured. The reason is quite simple – thanks to the controller, the owner can be the one who decides when the ball will shoot out of the machine.
Pros and Cons:
What We Like
- Well-designed and attractive look
- Comes with a handy remote control that allows wireless operation
- Five distance settings give the pet owner far more flexibility
- Included rechargeable battery allows outdoor use
- Included balls are colorful and non-abrasive
What We Didn’t Like
- 50 feet isn’t that much, but it still tops the competitors
- Remote controller feels a bit flimsy
- Bulky device
The Final Verdict
To recap, we can safely say that this product comes with features that aren’t present on the most models of the competitors. The iDogmate features a great design, multiple distance settings, a high launching angle, a rechargeable battery, as well as the wireless remote control. All of this combined is precisely what makes it so popular among the pet owners.
Of course, the model is not perfect – we didn’t like the quality of the remote controller, and we would have liked to see the machine shoot the balls even further. But still, these are just minor issues, and the iDogmate is still one of the best ball launchers on the market. It’s only real competitor is the highly-popular iFetch Too.
