Dogs Need Friends Too: Unleashing the Potential of Dog Wearables in Enhancing Canine Social Well-Being

Dog wearables have demonstrated promising potential in enriching human-pet interactions and facilitating healthier caregiving. However, one area that did not receive adequate attention is the tracking and support of dogs' social well-being through wearables. In this paper, we introduce PuppyFriends, an innovative platform designed to provide owners with insightful information on their dogs' social activities with other dogs. We report preliminary findings from interviews, featuring data collection and visualization, highlighting the potential effects of PuppyFriends on enhancing the social well-being of dogs. By shifting the focus from solely monitoring physical health to including social well-being, our work opens up new possibilities for improving the overall quality of life for dogs and nurturing more fulfilling human-pet relationships.