Companion opened reservations in 2023 for a $49-a-month AI device for dogs

Subscription smart device for dogs that dispenses treats, runs games and training, and monitors health

Dog owners will pay $49 a month for a stationary AI device that entertains, trains and monitors their dog all day

$14 million, with backers including Lerer Hippeau and Digitalis Ventures

John Honchariw, an engineer whose background includes Google and Bain & Co., built Companion for his rescue dog Boomer, a beagle-dachshund mix. He said people leave dogs alone but are anxious about it, and Boomer eats all his food through the device.

Companion began taking reservations for the $49-a-month device, which dispenses treats, plays games, behavioural programs and training. It uses machine learning and positive reinforcement, plays commands like sit in the owner's voice and looks for subtle shifts in movement or posture that could signal pain, anxiety or stress. Its advisory board includes vets, and it held a demo day at the San Francisco SPCA.

Owners who adopted pets during the pandemic were spending heavily on them

Honchariw said people feel anxious about leaving dogs alone while they work

A subscription gave a recurring fee on top of a device

Health monitoring added a reason to buy beyond entertainment

A hardware subscription for pets sells on owner guilt and a growing pet-spending market, but its claims on health monitoring and training are the company's own until shipped units show results.

As of 2023-04-17, Companion was taking reservations, had raised $14M and, per Axios, planned to ship from May 2024; no sales or performance data were reported.