Our Final Verdict
We give the DogPack App a rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars.
Ease of Use: 5/5
Design: 5/5
Compatibility: 4.9/5
Directory: 5/5
Filtering: 5/5
Social Features: 4.9/5
As someone who wants her dog involved in every part of my life, we frequently travel together. She flies with me, goes on roadtrips, and participates in all my adventures. As anyone who travels frequently with their dog will tell you, finding pet-friendly services in a place you’ve never been can be stressful.
So, what if I told you that there is an app out there, with a directory of thousands of dog-specific locations, that can be filtered by the amenities you want? What if I told you that you can search for a slew of pet services wherever you travel? That’s the beauty of the DogPack App, an iOS and Android app that aims to be the one-stop shop for all dog-parenting needs. From a social network to an assistant providing daily care advice, this app is so much more than just a location finder.
Overview
| Product Type: | Website, iOS App, Android App |
| Best Suited For: | Anyone with a dog |
| Price Range: | Free |
| Countries Serviced: | 34 countries, including the USA |
| Types of Locations: | Dog parks and dog beaches |
| Filtering: | 25 different amenity filters |
| Pet Businesses: | 52 different categories, including lodging |
| Social Features: | Social media-type feed |
Our Experience
I travel a lot with my dog, from local road trips to cross-country adventures. Even when we are home, I am always seeking new adventures for my 9-year-old mixed-breed Lorelei. However, wherever we end up, it can be a headache to find pet-friendly spots to walk around or pet services should she need a groom when we’re out of state. I knew I had to check it out when DogPack came across my feed (no pun intended).
Although I have used dog-friendly locator websites in the past, I never knew there could be a phone app for one! The fact that DogPack is a handy app attracted me to the service. I quickly downloaded DogPack to my Android phone and got started right away.
Upon opening the app, I was prompted to create an account. No personal information was asked for, just my email, a username, and a password. DogPack then requested that I make a profile for my dog, although you can always do that later! I filled in Lorelei’s information.
The app opened first to the Feed, allowing me to start interacting with other pet owners immediately! I enjoyed seeing so many cute snouts and faces; everyone’s dogs looked like they were having an absolute blast. The feed gives the same feeling as Instagram and had many of the same features (Liking, Commenting, etc.). I posted a few images of my dog and got some likes and interactions fairly quickly!
When it came time to explore the Map, I enabled Location Permissions on my phone and had it search my current area. I was in Beverly Hills then, and was enthused to see so many markers populate the map. Each marker was a different color, indicating a Dog Park, Dog-Friendly Location, Service, Lodging, etc. I could toggle which markers I wanted to see on my map through a bar at the top of the screen.
Some of the marker selections on the map were a bit glitchy – a couple of markers required multiple taps of my finger for it to open. But alas, it is a phone app, glitches happen! This did not impede my enjoyment of DogPack.
I decided that I wanted to locate a dog park specifically, and was happy to see that you can filter parks by amenities as well. I opened up Magic Johnson Dog Park and got to view the park’s star rating, list of amenities, description, weather (this is a super nice touch), dog count, and more.
DogPack can also be accessed on a web browser, and although it limits some of the features, it was just as convenient to use as the app. The web version did make it a bit easier to read the blogs, I will say.
I found that DogPack had a much more extensive collection of pet-friendly businesses, dog parks, and outdoor locations than the other websites I have used in the past. The other present features, such as the breed guides, made for fun late-night reading if I couldn’t sleep.
The in-app currency, Treats, was a cute little touch – I liked that you could get discounts on the product store for DogPack just by using the app. There is a lot of incentivization for interacting with DogPack, and I honestly cannot believe this app is free. It is such a great resource!
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Completely free
- Directory of pet services
- Worldwide
- Page for lost and found pets
- Integrated social media
- Great blog, breed guides, and more
- Available for web, iOS, and Android
Cons
- Like all apps, there are glitches
Key Features
Dog Park Location Finder
The crowning jewel of DogPack is the extensive map of dog parks and dog-friendly outdoor locations! You can use the location services on your phone or type in an area to search for dog parks and/or pet-friendly spots.
The map is fully interactive and customizable, with paw print indicators in different colors to signify what location is what. You can even filter dog parks based on their amenities to find the exact kind of spot that you want to take Fido to.
Depending on how many people are active in an area, there is even a live tracker for how many people checked in for a specific park and how many dogs may be there.
Pet Services Directory and Listings
DogPack also shows dog services worldwide, from groomers, trainers, photographers, and so much more. This is especially helpful for those traveling with their dogs who may be in need of various services at their destination. You can filter services by type or view all available in a specific area via the map. You can even find pet-friendly hotels and lodging included in the directory.
For pet businesses, listing is completely free! You do need to have an account, however. This is a great additional advertising for your pet-based service.
Social Media Feed
There is a very social aspect of DogPack, which can make it easy to schedule pup-dates and park meet-ups. The app has an actual feed page that looks similar to Instagram and Facebook. People post photos of their pups with captions, and you can Like, Comment, or post your own. DogPack allows you to Follow people, and they can become your Follower in return.
This is an excellent way to connect with other pet owners in your area and organize doggy meetups, playdates, pack walks, and so much more.
Lost & Found Pets, Breed Listings, and More
As if the above wasn’t enough, DogPack is slowly becoming the go-to dog resource with additional features.
There is a dedicated page to post lost dogs (anyone pinging in the same area will receive an alert to keep an eye out for their missing pup) and found dogs.
DogPack has a pervasive Breed Guide page, with some rare and unique breeds listed. As a dog breed enthusiast, I can attest that the information I read on some uncommon breeds was sound and correct.
The blog has a multitude of valuable and fun articles that help with all aspects of dog ownership. There is even a page dedicated to pet insurance!
Earning Treats
DogPack has an interesting rewards-based feature called Treats. Treats can be collected by referring friends to the app, completing specific tasks, or engaging and participating with DogPack. Treats can then be redeemed for rewards such as discounts on the DogPack store, raffle tickets, and even having your pup shared on the DogPack social media accounts.
About DogPack
| Founded: | 2021 |
| Headquarters: | Montreal, Canada |
| Number of Listed Dog Parks: | Over 75,000 locations globally |
| Community Engagement: | DogPack socializes with its user base through local events, blogs, and more |
| Core Principles: | Improve the lives of dog owners by providing a platform to explore dog-friendly parks and services |
| Additional Offerings: | DogPack also has a pet product store with harnesses, leashes, toys, and more |
Is the DogPack App a Good Value?
The DogPak App is free – yes, you read that right, free! That makes it the best value of all, right? Moreover, the app itself is a tremendous value for its directory of locations and services alone.
For all of us who want our pets included in every aspect of our lives, having a service to peek through pet-friendly amenities quickly is a significant enhancement to daily dog ownership life. Adding a lost and found page, a dog breeds page, and a helpful blog makes the DogPack App invaluable.
How We Tested
The beauty of an app is that all I needed was my phone – I could test the service from the comfort of my couch! I have an Android phone, so I scanned the QR code from the DogPack website and launched the Google Play Store. After downloading the app, I created an account and got to searching. I proceeded to visit a couple of the local locations and verified that the information on those parks is indeed very accurate!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Do You Have To Have An Account To Use DogPack?
You do not need an account to browse the parks and business directory, but you need an account to use the other services offered by DogPack App. Creating an account is free!
What Is The Difference Between a Dog-Friendly Area and a Dog Park?
On the DogPack App, a dog-friendly area is a space not specifically designated for dogs, but dogs are welcome to visit. Marked red on the map, these locations typically require dogs to remain on-leash and don’t tend to have dog-specific amenities or facilities.
An official dog park is marked green on the map and considered an actual dog park designated area (whether by the city or a private business). These locations allow off-leash use, can be fenced in, and have dog-specific features.
A Dog Park I Know Of Isn’t On The App – How Can I Submit One?
With an account on DogPack, you can suggest parks that may not be on the database already. To do so, navigate to the Dog Park page, which opens up a map. You can access this page by searching for an area using the search bar, clicking the “Explore” button, and selecting “Parks” from the dropdown menu.
Once the map loads, click the Suggest a Pin button. Once the pin is in the proper place on the map, you can fill out information about the dog park, and then press Suggest Pin to close the window. The park will be reviewed by a DogPack admin once approved, you will receive a notification, and the park will be on the map.
An Amenity Listed For a Park Isn’t There – What Now?
DogPack offers a way to verify whether or not specific listed amenities are correct. You can vote on park amenities by navigating to the Amenities section on the park page and clicking Vote on the Available Amenities. You can always change your vote if an amenity that was there before is now gone.
Conclusion
Sure, we all have the power of the internet in our pockets via smartphones, but it can require a lot of effort to find what we are looking for. DogPack makes this process simple for us dog owners by having everything you could want as a dog owner well-organized and in the palm of your hand!
From finding dog-friendly locations, services, and even posting a found pet – I can’t imagine not using DogPack now!