9 Weird Things You Can Buy For Your Dog That Are Actually Super Useful

Fun Feeder Slo-Bowl Mini, $14.99, Outward Hound

Whether your dog needs a bit of stimulation because of how smart it is, or just tends to wolf down bowls of food at slightly alarming rates, puzzle feeders might be the answer to your prayers. They can come in a variety of extremely weird-looking shapes resembling labyrinths, mazes or confusing children's toys — one popular option is a fluffy mat that encourages dogs to nose among grass-like fronds to find their treats. They're designed to stimulate the natural instincts of dogs to find their food in complicated natural environments. They slow down the eating process and give you a deeply entertaining spectacle.

If your dog's the kind to slip their lead and go off into the wild blue yonder, it's probably a good idea to get a GPS tracker around their neck, so that it can track where on earth they end up. There are several options on the market, from collars themselves to clip-on accessories that use phone networks or Bluetooth, so shop around to find something that will suit your pup's particular Houdini instincts.

Got a dog that loves sitting in the backseat of the car so much they run from window to window — or are small enough to go flying if you brake suddenly? Get a car zipline. This product is excellent for people whose dogs can't be transported in a carrier in the back of a car: It hooks onto either side of your back seat and clips onto the harness of the dog, allowing them free movement and preventing them from getting injured if the car moves unexpectedly.

Kurgo Collaps A Bowl, $10, Kurgo

How many times have you been out hiking, or just at a cafe with your beloved pooch, and had to improvise with a hose or a water bottle to give them a drink? Portable travel water bowls may be your answer. Collapsible ones are popular (Kurgo's squashes completely flat), as are ones that have non-spill technology; "floating" interiors mean that sudden jolts to those creations won't necessarily cover everything around them with water.

Bake Your Own Treats Kit, $10, Pawbakes

This is a particular help if, like many people, you have friends and family who love the idea of giving your dog human food — even though it's a bad idea. Encourage them to give them the correct nourishment — and make sure what goes into dog treats themselves is safe — by using a make-your-own treats pack. If you don't feel up to that kind of investment, or your canine is on a very specific diet that requires monitoring, dog food cookbooks are also an option for giving your dogs treats straight out of your own oven.

iFetch Interactive Ball Launchers for Dogs, $114.99, iFetch

There is basically nothing more exciting for dogs who are keen on fetch than an endless fetch game, and technology now exists that makes it a reality — even if you happen not to be home. The iFetch, provided that your dog's smart enough to retrieve balls and feed them into the machine, will keep firing miniature balls for hours, at adjustable lengths and heights. A variety of other options are available too, so shop around for something that fits your dog's behavior and size.

Hand-Knitted Dog Bed, $59.99, Etsy

Science shows that dogs shouldn't sleep on your bed if you want a restful night's sleep — but it may be hard to dissuade them if your covers are intensely comfortable. Give them something else to rest their heads on with a knitted-style bed, now apparently coming into fashion. They're available on Etsy and at some high-end knitted accessory boutiques, and if they're pure wool they'll be easily washable in a standard washing machine when they start to stink too heavily of dog fur.

Training and monitoring dogs is a difficult prospect for basically anybody, so welcome all the technological help you can get. Smart training mats for dogs who demonstrate cues to be let outside are now available; the dogs can be trained to sit on the mat, which then sends a notification that they want to be let out. Numerous digital health monitors for dog behavior, weight and sleep are also available, which could be particularly useful if you have an elderly dog or one with a health condition.

My in-laws currently own a delightful golden retriever who is so gentle with his toys that he never bites them hard enough to activate their squeakers. If yours isn't so, uh, civilized, the Tearribles may be for you. The product of a successful Kickstarter campaign, they're marketed as toys that are basically impossible to destroy, because they come with detachable limbs and tails to make them entertaining, but not a disaster. Other toys have methods to stop serious damage; the Kong Wild Knots Bear, for example, has a skeleton made of knotted rope (!) that means it's extremely difficult for dogs to pull apart, no matter how hard they try.