INTERVIEW WITH RON LEVI, FOUNDER OF DOGTV
Q: A:
HOW DID THE CONCEPT FOR DOGTV ORIGINATE?
I actually got the idea from my cat, Charlie, who didn’t like being left alone while I was away at work. I noticed Charlie paid attention to television shows that had birds and squirrels on them, and that gave me the idea to use television as a tool to entertain and appease pets left home alone.
Q: A:
DESCRIBE THE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH THAT HAS BEEN PUT INTO DOGTV.
Unlike any other TV channel, every frame and every sound on DOGTV is designed 100% for dogs. After years of research, we created special content to meet the specific attributes of a dog’s sense of vision and hearing, for example: programs are specially colored to enhance picture details and great emphasis was put on contrast, brightness, and frame rate; the use of special sound effects, music and specific ranges of frequencies are tailored to a dog’s unique sense of hearing without startling or annoying their sensitive ears. Our original content was produced and developed by a team of pet experts, including Victoria Stilwell, star of Animal Planet’s “It’s Me or the Dog” and one of the world’s most recognized and respected dog trainers; Dr. Nicholas Dodman, world-leading veterinary behaviorist and chief scientist for DOGTV; and
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The Denver Dog | Winter 2013
Warren Eckstein, pet trainer and popular radio broadcaster known as “America’s most trusted pet expert.”
Q: A:
HOW WOULD A DOG LEFT HOME ALONE BENEFIT FROM DOGTV?
Q: A:
WHERE CAN DOG OWNERS GO TO GET DOGTV?
DOGTV is designed as the perfect babysitter for dogs who have to stay home alone. DOGTV’s three types of programming (Relaxation, Stimulation and Exposure) offer relaxing and stimulating content, as well as positive behavioral reinforcements. Dogs that are left alone tend to become anxious so the sounds and music in the relaxing segment were created to keep the dog calm and peaceful. Many dogs also suffer from lack of stimulation, which becomes acute when their owner is away. The stimulating content will provide the dog with invigorating images, animation and exciting real world sounds to keep the dog up and running. DOGTV’s programming meets a dog’s typical daily cycle and helps prevent mental fatigue, depression and boredom.
DOGTV is available on DIRECTV for $4.99/ month or online, through our streaming service www.dogtv.com/online, and through “Roku” boxes.