Hot Tomali was initially approached to develop an app that showed nearby dog parks. During the build of the iOS app it dawned on us that this had the potential to be so much bigger! We liked it so much we partnered with founder Alister and chairman Brutus (the Frenchie) to create the ultimate mobile utility for dogs and their humans. The end result is Pooch, the first social network that encourages people to do more with their four-legged friends. Within the app users can add, share, and discover dog-friendly businesses; explore nearby dog parks; engage in local Play Dates with other dog owners; and, use the app to send an alert to nearby dog owners in the event that their dog goes missing. Pooch strives to connect communities and dog lovers alike, while allowing dog-friendly establishments to be found with ease.
To get the word out about Pooch we borrowed from a familiar communication method used by out little furry friends.
Leveraging mobile, we are able to curate local offerings for dogs all in a single easy-to-use interface. Need a nearby groomer? Veterinarian? Pet Store? Or do you just want to go check out a dog park? This information is at everyone’s fingertips. Inside the interface, users can filter to their needs, and we take advantage of mobile location services to find and suggest establishments nearby.
Through Pooch’s search functionality, when a user selects a park or a business they can then find the details of the establishment, like hours, pictures, phone numbers, address, and even mobile guided directions. Featured businesses can also offer direct booking requests and offer promotions right in the app. If they love the place, they can leave a review and rating so other locals can check it out as well. To save a business, a user can add them on their favorites list for easy-access. Matching people with their needs, and engaging dog-friendly businesses has never been easier.
After meeting others within the community, Pooch users can organize Play Dates! This is the secret sauce of the platform which encourages meet-up’s between dog-owners.
Dog owners are in complete control as they can schedule a Play Date, or filter through Play Dates at other people’s request. If they happen to drop into a local park they can join a Play Date that’s already happening! A great ice breaker connecting strangers and their pets while maintaining a sense of privacy by containing all contact strictly within the Pooch app messaging service.
After a Play Date is done all parties are encouraged to rate their Play Date, leaving the community feedback about the other owner(s) and their pets.
If your four legged friend goes missing you can leverage the community by sending out a Pooch Alert, sending notifications to all users within a 10 km radius of the location you last saw your pup. Users are able to contact owners through communication settings set up during the creation of the Pooch Alert.