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GoBone: The smart pet toy that plays with your dog when you're not around

The latest pet tech to launch on Kickstarter is a "smart bone" that your dog won't want to bury in the backyard.

John Falcone Senior Editorial Director, Shopping
John P. Falcone is the senior director of commerce content at CNET, where he coordinates coverage of the site's buying recommendations alongside the CNET Advice team (where he previously headed the consumer electronics reviews section). He's been a CNET editor since 2003.
Expertise Over 20 years experience in electronics and gadget reviews and analysis, and consumer shopping advice Credentials
  • Self-taught tinkerer, informal IT and gadget consultant to friends and family (with several self-built gaming PCs under his belt)
John Falcone
2 min read
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PulsePet

Pet tech is one of the emerging trends in the gadget world. Plenty of those "security" cameras are used for checking in on cats and dogs, and newer models like Furbo even let you say hello and dispense treats. But while it's good to know that your dog is safe and sound, there's often a tinge of guilt: I'm sorry I left you locked up in the house all day while I'm at work.

That's where GoBone is hoping to change things up. The "smart bone" is a toy that rolls, spins and flips, keeping your engaged and entertained for up to eight hours. When you're home, you can use the smartphone companion app for more targeted games like fetch and hide-and-seek. Smartly, the exterior of the GoBone is replaceable, so you can swap in a fresh skin once the old one gets chewed up. And, of course, the GoBone's battery is rechargeable.

The project launched today on Kickstarter with a $60,000 funding goal. And while the final price of the GoBone is still to be determined, buying in at the $299 level offers you the chance to get your own while donating a second one to your favorite animal shelter.

As always, please note that CNET's reporting on crowdfunding campaigns is not an endorsement of the project or its creators. Contributing to a crowdfunded project comes with risk. Before contributing to any campaign, read the crowdfunding site's policies, such as those for Kickstarter and Indiegogo, to learn more about your rights (and refund policies, or the lack thereof) before and after a campaign ends.