Technology can be useful

If you need to find a dog park — quick! — there's a new application called "Off Leash," from the people at Eukanuba.

Available for the iPhone or iPod Touch, this app lets you use the phone's GPS system to locate nearby dog parks.

Alternatively, as with the Touch, you can search by ZIP code. You have to be connected to the Enterwebs, either on the 3G network or by Wi-Fi, for the doohickey to work.


Unfortunately, a search using my ZIP code — 12603 — turned up nothing closer than New Milford, Conn. There is a way to send information about dog parks into the company so they can be included in their databases and, conceivably, turn up in future searches.

The app also has puppy training and nutrition videos. Again, you have to be connected to the WWW. I haven't looked at all of the videos, so I can't vouch for them. Just bear in mind, the app was created and is being distributed by a major dog food company.