The company is currently trying to raise $100,000 through Indiegogo, in order to develop the technology further and also prepare for mass production. “The tail is the dog’s social interface, like a smile for humans,” the campaign page reads. “Understanding the tail means understanding the dog.”

The device is a lightweight sensor that is placed on a dog’s tail to capture movement patterns all day long.

The makers claim that TailTalk is most useful for owners to understand what happens to their pets when they’re not together; like when dogs are alone at home, with dog walkers, or at the dog daycare. The device connects to a smartphone app that provides real time information on how the pet is doing.

The makers apparently consulted professors at Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine in the early stages of product design. They learned that tail wagging could reveal a lot about what dogs were feeling. For instance, left wagging indicates negative feelings like fear, aggression, or anxiety, and right wagging could mean positive feelings of happiness, excitement, or satisfaction. They also spent a lot of time talking to pet owners, and most of them seemed concerned about the health and happiness of their dogs.

They’ve managed to raise over $40,000 in seven days, and, if successfully funded, the product will ship to backers by May next year. Retail sales will begin next October.

(Source - Oddity Central)