How we review
Our method in full, including what it cannot tell you.
Last updated:
Where the information comes from
Our guides are research-based. For every device category we work from manufacturer specifications and manuals, published support documentation, subscription and warranty terms, regulatory and ingress-protection ratings (IP67, IP68 and similar), and the recurring themes in large volumes of owner feedback.
We do not run a hardware test lab, and we do not claim laboratory measurements. Where a number comes from the manufacturer, we treat it as a manufacturer claim rather than a verified result.
What we weigh
- Total cost of ownership, not just the sticker price: subscriptions, replacement filters, cartridges and batteries
- Whether the device still works when the internet, the app or the company goes away
- Battery life and charging behaviour under normal use
- Cleaning and maintenance effort, because this is what makes people abandon a device
- Safety and animal welfare — we do not recommend devices whose main mechanism is punishment
- Fit for the actual animal: size, weight, coat, age and temperament
What we will not do
No brand can pay for a listing, a placement or a better verdict. We do not accept sponsored posts, and we do not publish content written by a manufacturer.
We do not give veterinary advice. If a device suggests something about your animal's health, that is a reason to speak to a vet, not a diagnosis.
Corrections
Specifications change and products get revised. If something here is out of date or wrong, tell us and we will correct it — corrections are made in place and the page's update date changes with them.