Robert Alan Anderson: 10 Best iPhone Apps for Dog Lovers

Man’s best friend is well catered for on the App Store with a pack of apps angled at the dog owner, ranging from functional to fun. But there’s such a broad choice you could go barking mad trying to narrow them down.

That’s where we step in with the following ten that are top dog as far as canine-themed apps go, but as always, be sure to let us know of any we might have missed in the comments.

1. Off Leash

As dog owners will know, the most fun your furry friend can have, aside from sniffing other dog’s butts, is to be let off the leash to run riot in a dog park, in which case the former may well happen. In order to help you locate such places – regardless of your zip code – pet food maker Eukanuba’s “Off Leash” app locates the five nearest to your location and provides driving directions to get there. Walkies!

Cost: Free

2. Cesar Says

Those that subscribe to Cesar “exercise, discipline, affection” Millan’s school of dog training can carry Cesar around in their pocket – and we’re not referencing his diminutive stature. The “Cesar Says” Dog Whisperer app offers sound bites from the famous pack leader, while a tap or shake of the phone will generate Millan’s trademark “tsst!” warning noise.

Cost: Free

3. Dog Park by Dogster.com

Think Facebook for Fido. This app from the social networking site for dog owners – Dogster – helps users to meet other local dog owners and set up doggie play dates. The app also takes care of the social side between humans with free messaging and the less useful ability to send “virtual gifts” and such.

Cost: Free

4. Dog First Aid

Should you have a canine crisis, this app will help you with what to do until you can get some proper veterinary help. Offering fast and clear advice for the most common dog emergencies, we hope you never, ever have to use this, but if you do, the $1.99 cost will be more than worth it.

Cost: $1.99

5. PetMinder

Make no bones about it — managing the needs of a dog requires organization. If you’re not naturally gifted with the o-skill, then try PetMinder which schedules reminders for events related to your pet, such as vaccinations, grooming, training sessions, play dates and more, with e-mail reminders available to give you the timely nudge you might need.

Cost: Free

6. Dog-A-Log

If you’d like to know the difference between a bearded and border collie (“collie” comes from the Scottish word for a sheep-herding dog rather than suggesting one particular breed) then this reference app, that draws from WikipediaWikipedia
info, will offer you just that, right in your hot little paw.

Cost: $0.99

7. Pet Services Finder

Perhaps more of use to those with a first dog, or new to an area, the Pet Services Finder will help you find all things mutt, such as dog walkers, sitters, groomers, vets and even pet-friendly hotels with the ability to search via zip codes and see reviews of the services from other users.

Cost: Free

8. DogiDuty

DogiDuty offers a specially tailored approach sending time-stamped e-mail reports after each walk, or dog sitting session, to let owners know if the little woof did a pee or poo, was fed, and other notes of interest. It looks like it could be an invaluable app for those in the dog-walking/sitting business, and a good aide to busy professional dog owners trying to keep track of Fido’s “movements.”

Cost: $0.99

9. Dog Tricks – Best of 101 Dog Tricks

Dog training is one of those activities best done little and often, so having an app right on your phone with a dog log of training activity means if you have a spare 10 minutes you can fire it up, see the photo and video walk-throughs and give your pooch the chance to practice, whether it be simple tricks such as sitting, or circus-level dog skills like the hoop jump.

Cost: $2.99

10. Fail Dogs

If you own a dog, chances are you have a sense of humor. We’ve saved the last slot for the very funny iPhone app from the Fail Dogs blog, promising chortles galore as you browse the galleries of dogs that fail so very badly at being just that. Whether you’re looking for spaniels getting pwned by cats, or Frisbees getting the better of fox terriers, this app has it all — and more. Enjoy!

Cost: $0.99

More iPhone resources from Mashable:

- 10 iPhone Apps to Avoid Work Disasters
- 10 Essential iPhone Apps to Avoid Dating Disasters
- iPhone TV: Top iPhone Apps for Live Streaming Television
- Top 10 iPhone Apps as Judged by Mashable Readers
- 7 iPhone Apps That Can Save Lives
- 5 Must-Have iPhone Apps for Wine Lovers
- 20 Creative Apps For Your iPhone

Image courtesy of iStockphotoiStockphoto
, toddtaulman