The FitBark and FitBark 2 are two activity trackers that give you a detailed picture of your dog’s movement and health in realtime.
Generally, the FitBark 2 is an improvement over the FitBark in almost every category, but the earlier model is still a viable option and can often be found for lower prices.
Let’s get into the details about what makes each device great, and where there is room for improvement.
FitBark vs. FitBark 2 — Things in Common
-
3D Accelerometer – There is some seriously impressive technology backing up the 3D accelerometer used in both the FitBark and FitBark 2. The foundation of the tech is used in vet schools and research institutions around the world, and generates “activity counts” through their own proprietary point system.
The accelerometer actually measures multiple times per second — integrated over a 1-minute period. Without getting too technical, it’s safe to say that both devices will track your dog’s movement with extreme accuracy.
-
Monitor Activity & Sleep 24/7 – One of the main advantages of both the FitBark and FitBark 2 are the numerous health-related categories it tracks for your dog. The devices will give you a general picture of your dog’s activity, but will also break that down into rest, active, and play time so you know what your pet is up to over the course of the day.
Additionally, the both trackers measure calorie expenditure, sleep, and provide a health index. All of this information combined should give you a pretty clear picture of your dog’s health, and is the main attraction when deciding to purchase the FitBark and FitBark 2.
-
Water Resistance – It’s important that you buy an activity tracker that can keep up with an active dog’s lifestyle, and waterproofing is part of that. Both the FitBark and FitBark 2 have IPX7 waterproofing, which allows it to be submerged up to 1 meter for up to 30 minutes. Just make sure the cap at the back of the unit is correctly closed so you don’t end up with fried electronics!
-
Bluetooth & Synchronization – Bluetooth Low Energy is a data transmission solution that is incredibly power efficient. Both devices have a pretty exceptional battery life, and part of that is due to the low energy requirements of connecting and syncing your FitBark or FitBark 2.
-
Linking to Your Profile – The FitBark and FitBark 2 can both be synced with a human fitness tracker such as the Fitbit, Apple Healthkit, or Google Fit. You can even just use your iOS or Android phone in order to track your steps and use that as a general indicator of your activity.
Watching your activity grow in line with your dog’s can be a great motivator to get in shape and is a major reason why the FitBark line is so great. Simply go into “Human Activity Monitors” in the settings menu, and follow the steps to get your own fitness band up and running.
-
FitBark Audience – The FitBark and FitBark 2 are designed for dogs, but they can also be used with cats. Just keep in mind that the data collection is largely designed with dogs in mind. That doesn’t mean that it won’t be useful for your other companions, but it’s important to realize that the full functionality might not be available for other species of animals. One other aspect worthy of note is that you can’t use the tracker with a harness, because it might influence the data.
-
Localization – Both the FitBark and FitBark 2 work anywhere in the world, so feel free to bring it along when you’re traveling abroad with man’s best friend.
FitBark vs. FitBark 2 — Differences
-
Difference #1: Display LEDs – The two activity trackers both have LED indicators that let you know of the status of the device, but they differ in how they relay this information.
With the regular FitBark, flashing LEDs mean that the device is currently pairing. A solid LED indicates that the FitBark is charging, while no LEDs means that it is fully charged.
The FitBark 2 is pairing when the LED is flashing rapidly, and is charging when the light flashes once every 10 seconds. When the LED is solidly on, that means your device is fully charged and you’re ready for your next adventure!
-
Difference #2: Battery Life – One of the biggest ways in which the FitBark and FitBark 2 differ from one another is in battery life. The FitBark lasts 14 days on a single charge which is pretty solid, but the FitBark 2 blows it away with a massive 6 months of battery life. While charging your tracker every two weeks might not be the end of the world, but not having to worry about it for half a year is much more convenient.
Both the FitBark and FitBark 2 can be easily charged without removing them from the collar, which makes it simple to get the trackers topped off and back on your dog in no time.
-
Difference #3: Memory – Considering that these devices are tracking activity about your dog every minute, it’s inevitable that the available storage will get used up at some point. The FitBark stores 28 days of minute-by-minute data, while the FitBark 2 is much more impressive with capacity for 100 days worth of information.
-
Difference #4: Fits Collars – The FitBark will work with any collar that is less than 1.18 inches in width, while the FitBark 2 supports collars up to 1.5 inches in diameter. This difference is due to the differences in how you connect the trackers — an aspect we discuss in more detail below.
-
Difference #5: Fasten Type – These two trackers are similar in a lot of ways, but they do differ in how they connect to your dog’s collar. The FitBark uses elastic bands in order to attach while the FitBark 2 uses zip ties. Naturally, the zip ties seem like they would be a little more secure, and this method of fastening also allows for thicker collars than were possible with the original FitBark.
The process for attaching the FitBark 2 to the collar does differ, however, based on how thick the collar is. So take a look at these informative videos for a step by step guide on how to get things up and running.
-
Difference #6: Material & Design – The FitBark and FitBark 2 differ slightly in their design, and are also made of different types of materials.
The FitBark has dimensions of 1.6 x 1.1 x 0.4 in and weighs in at 0.28 ounces.It’s also made of ABS plastic, which is a sturdy but cheaper form of plastic.
The FitBark 2 is almost exactly the same size, but weighs 0.35 ounces. Rather than ABS plastic, it has been built with Polycarbonate. Polycarbonate is more flexible than ABS and has a higher impact resistance, meaning that the FitBark 2 should be stronger overall than its predecessor.
-
Difference #7: Color – The FitBark is available in seven different colors. The FitBark 2 is only available in black, but the large number of skins make it even more customizable than the regular FitBark.
FitBark vs. FitBark 2 — Comparison Chart
| FitBark | FitBark 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| 3D Accelerometer | Yes | Yes |
| Water Resistance | Waterproof IPX7 | Waterproof IPX7 |
| Activity Counts | Yes | Yes |
| Rest / Active / Play Time | Yes | Yes |
| Distance | Yes | Yes |
| Calorie Expenditure | Yes | Yes |
| Sleep and Health Index | Yes | Yes |
| Battery | Lithium-ion polymer | Lithium-ion polymer |
| Battery Life | Up to 14 days | Up to 6 months |
| Synchronization | 30 feet (9 meters) | 30 feet (9 meters) |
| Memory | Up to 28 days | Up to 100 days |
| Localization | Works anywhere in the world | Works anywhere in the world |
| Operating temperature | -4°F to 122°F (-20°C to 50°C) |
-4°F to 122°F (-20°C to 50°C) |
| Storage temperature | -22°F to 140°F (-30°C to 60°C) |
-22°F to 140°F (-30°C to 60°C) |
| Temperature Alerts | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| WiFi | No | No |
| GPS Location Tracking | No | No |
| Subscription Plans | No | No |
| Monitor Activity & Sleep 24/7 | Yes | Yes |
| Linking to Your Profile | Yes | Yes |
| Designed for | Dogs/Cats | Dogs/Cats |
| Fits Dogs of Any Size | Yes | Yes |
| Fits Collars | Not wider than 1.18 inch (30 mm) | Works w/ collars < 1.5″ (38 mm) |
| Fasten to Colar | Elastic Bands | Zip-Ties |
| Can be Used with a Harness | No | No |
| Material | ABS (Rugged design) | Polycarbonate housing (Rugged design) |
| Weight | 0.28 ounces (8 grams) | 0.35 ounces (10 grams) |
| Dimensions | 1.6 x 1.1 x 0.4 in (41 x 28 x 11 mm) |
1.6 x 1.1 x 0.5 in (41 x 28 x 13.5 mm) |
| Finish | Available in 7 different colors | Black |
| Color Skins | No | Yes |
FitBark and FitBark 2 Accessories
The FitBark 2, as mentioned above, supports a number of colored skins that allow you to put your own flair on your dog’s tracker. If you plan on transferring your FitBark 2 to another color at another point in time, stocking up on some zip ties wouldn’t be a bad idea either.
Both the FitBark and FitBark 2 are made more convenient by using their dedicated WiFi Base Station in order to automatically sync the trackers when your dog is at home.
FitBark vs. FitBark 2 — FAQs
Will I be able to track my dog’s location?
Neither the Fitbark nor the FitBark 2 track your dog’s location. The primary use of both models is to track your dog’s activity and give you insight into their health on a minute-by-minute basis. As a health tracker rather than a gps locator, it’s possible to keep an eye on their movement and activity but not their physical location.
If you’re looking for a GPS tracker, consider taking a look at the Whistle 3 vs. Link AKC — two excellent GPS-enabled options that will allow you to keep track of your pets.
Can FitBark track my dog’s anxiety?
Activity levels for your dog are measured using BarkPoints. A higher level of BarkPoints means that your dog has been more active than usual, and through these levels you can generally get a sense of when and to what extent your dog is anxious.
Simply look for activity levels that are significantly higher than usual and that aren’t tied to any play or walk that you’re aware of in order to know when your dog is restless.
Can I track my dog’s osteoarthritis?
While the FitBark and FitBark 2 can’t track osteoarthritis directly, their precise tracking can give you an idea of whether your prescribed course of action for addressing your dog’s pain is working correctly. If your dog isn’t being hindered as much by pain related to osteoarthritis, you should see higher activity levels.
Low activity levels likely means that your dog is still having issues maintaining normal movement, and will let you know when you need to take further steps to increase their health and comfort.
FitBark vs. FitBark 2 — Our Thoughts
When comparing the FitBark and FitBark 2, it’s pretty clear that the latter has the advantage. As the latest model from the company, it’s superior in pretty much every way.
With that said, you can sometimes get more bang for your buck by looking at other brands as well. For roughly the same price, you can get a comparable activity tracker that includes GPS capabilities. These GPS features sometimes come with a monthly fee which may make them less attractive options, but any of the Activity & GPS trackers on our site are viable options for keeping an eye on your furry friends.
Last update on 2024-04-19 at 08:12 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Hello there, You’ve done an incredible job.
I’ll certainly digg it and personally recommend to my friends.
I am confident they will be benefited from this web site.