Disclaimer: this article contains affiliate links, and we may receive a commission on sales when you use those links, at no additional cost to you. We only recommend products we use and genuinely love.

Meet the Fitbark!

Are you someone who likes to keep track of your daily steps and exercise? If you do, chances are you are familiar with wearable devices like Fitbit trackers and smart watches. There is even a Fitbit-like health tracker device for your dog!

We have written about our experiences using the FitBark device and I encourage you to check out that article before you dive in here : https://www.lugaruk9training.com/fitbark-gps-review-the-fitness-tracker-for-dogs/.

Did you read that article? You sure? Great! But just in case, I’ll list a brief summary of the Fitbark. Just like a Fitbit, it tracks your pets steps and exercises based on their size. It also has added features of GPS tracking for some models and the ability to add your step counting app alongside theirs.

It is so fun to see how you compare to your best pooch! The Fitbark also gives you information on their sleeping habits and can give you warnings if it seems your pet is resting much more than normal.

Fitbark Watch Face

So now that we’re a bit more familiar with the device, what exactly is a watch face? Fitbit has a variety of watch faces and clocks to customize your display screen. They can be very informative and detailed or just a cute design that you like.

Most will show at least the time and your step count at the moment. Fitbit has a watch face that connects with your dog’s Fitbark app and information, so you can easily view your pets stats right on your wrist!

Cons of the Watch Face

I would like to start with the cons since I think it is better to end on a good note, right? The first one is the availability of the watch face. As of now, there are only two lines of Fitbit devices that allow you to use this face : the Versa and the Ionic.

While the Fitbit Versa has a few iterations in its line with more recent releases, the Ionic is no longer being sold new. The Ionic has been through a “voluntary recall” because “the battery in the Ionic smartwatch can overheat, posing a burn hazard” (Fitbit article).

This means that the Versa line is effectively the only watch that gets the FitBark watch face. I’m sure consumers would be happier to have more access to this feature on more than one device.

Since I have the original Versa which is an older device, it was admittedly a bit of trouble setting up at first. I spent a good amount of time just trying to connect it! The process is pretty straightforward but did take a long of updating. To connect, you have to download the watch face onto your device then link the Fitbark to your existing Fitbit device and account.

The connection was very simple, but I couldn’t get the information to transfer. For a long time, it would not display my personal information. I was so frustrated just trying to get Tanuki’s photo to pop up! After a good trial and error, and contacting support, it was finally resolved.

I don’t know if the process might have been easier if I had one of the newer Versa models.

Do you have multiple pets with a Fitbark?

Well unfortunately, you can only set one primary for your watch face. This wasn’t a problem for me since I just have the one FitBark device, but I can see being an issue with others. If you want to check out your ALL your dogs’ stats, you will have to use the phone app.

My suggestion for future versions of the Fitbit watch face would be to allow multiple pet displays. It seems unfair to have to pick which dog you want to keep a close eye on.

Pros of the Watch Face

My first pro for this would be Fitbit’s customer service. The representatives really did there best to help me solve my initial setup frustrations. It can make a bad product experience completely turn around when speaking with a caring representative.

The members I spoke to went through every troubleshooting idea I can think of! It was really comforting that they did want to help as much as they could. With the help of their team, I was finally able to see my cute pupper’s face proudly on display. I can’t speak for everyone, but the people I spoke with did a great job and eased my frustration.

Once everything was connected, I was SO giddy to see our steps next to each other’s. With a tap to the watch, you can see their steps, miles walked, and calorie count. Underneath that info, it will show tell you the location of your pet.

This info will change depending on if you set up safe places or not. It is a sigh of relief to check my watch and see big, bold, ‘AT HOME’ letters. My little one has escaped before so I am a bit more anxious about his whereabouts.

I have also definitely enjoyed showing off the cute display whenever I can! Behind all the information, is whatever photo you’ve chosen for your pet. So I do like to change the profile pic so I can show off his many sides of cute. It’s my version of shoving wallet sized photos at anyone that will look. So for someone as obsessed with their pet as I am, you will definitely enjoy this serotonin boost.

To Sum It All Up

All in all, my opinion the watch face definitely is a fun little addition to my Fitbit & Fitbark setup. If you have an existing Fitbit device that you love, I wouldn’t recommend trading it out for the Versa just for this feature alone.

If you already have a Versa, have fun with it! I think if more people asked for it to be added to newer models or even other smartwatch brands, it would be an amazing feature.

Unfortunately with the limitations it has now, it may not be worth the time. I did receive the Versa as a gift, specifically for this watch face. Otherwise, I may not have bothered honestly.

Now that I have it though, I can’t imagine not checking up on my boy right on my wrist! Fitbit still has a good ways to go with their Fitbark watch face and it’s features, but I believe in time they will truly blow us out of the water.

I still recommend picking up a Fitbark for your pet because the app is great all on it’s own.

Here’s some other great tools and related articles for you! :

https://www.lugaruk9training.com/fitbark-gps-review-the-fitness-tracker-for-dogs/

https://www.lugaruk9training.com/we-tried-the-yip-smart-tag-dog-tracker/

https://www.lugaruk9training.com/embark-vs-wisdom-panel-we-tried-both/

Works Cited

“Fitbit Ionic.” Voluntary Self Recall of Ionic Smartwatches, Fitbit, 2 Mar. 2022, https://help.fitbit.com/en_US/ionic.htm. Accessed 14 July 2022.

“Fitbit Versa.” Fitbit Versa 1 vs. Fitbit Versa 2: What’s the Difference (and Should You Upgrade)?, Future Us Inc. , 2 Dec. 2019, https://www.imore.com/fitbit-versa-1-vs-fitbit-versa-2-whats-difference-and-should-you-upgrade. Accessed 14 July 2022.