DOGTV Debuts to Entertain Your Canine

If your canine seems to be spending more time in front of the television, it could be the result of today's debut of DOGTV on Cox and Time Warner digital cable systems.

DOGTV will appear in the Health and Wellness category of Cox's Freezone, or by using the "guide" function to go to Channel 2635. On Time Warner, it's on Channel 148, where viewers need to choose Find It On Demand and select My Pet.

"Loving our dogs so much, we feel guilty when we leave them home alone," said Gilad Neumann, CEO of DOGTV. "DOGTV provides customized television entertainment, while the rest of the family is away at work or too busy to play. Studies show it relaxes and stimulates our dogs keeping them healthier and more content."

According to DOGTV, a creative team spent hundreds of hours over four years to produce content and test its benefits with dogs, owners, vets and trainers before scheduling the official launch of the network.

The experiments helped select scenery, scenarios, color palettes, camera angles and transitions that appeal most to dogs. They also tested audio soundtracks, including music and other sounds.

"Animals need visual and auditory simulation throughout the day, said Nicholas Dodman, a veterinarian specializing in animal behavior. "It will help millions of dogs that are left home alone every day and also help pet parents who don't have the luxury of taking their dog with them to work or paying for doggy daycare."

Dodman said YouTube has more than 5,000 videos of canines watching television.

-City News Service