Dogs have been around as domesticated animals for thousands of years. Because they are naturally social creatures, dogs make for the perfect pet offering unconditional love and companionship. In many cases they are even treated by us with the same amount of, if not more, affection as with another human being. Over the past few decades the level of urban dog ownership has increased drastically. Two in five households across the country now have at least one dog, bringing the total number of dogs in the United States to over 73 million.

Recently with the internet running at full throttle and society wading through a gadget-rich market, technology for today's furry-pawed companions have also blossomed. How has technology affected human-canine relationships up until now? How can technology enhance these relationships both in the physical and virtual world presently and in the near future? These are a couple of the questions my thesis will address. In addition, a proposal for improving human-canine interactions will be made along with a prototype of a physical device as well as an online social network.

According to the Chinese zodiac, I was born in the year of the dog. Ever since I can remember I've been in love with dogs. If I see a dog walking down the street I secretly hope for her to come my way so that I can pet her. If not, I sometimes change my route so that we can meet. Being in New York City, even though my living situations do not allow for me to have a dog, I try to spend my free time sitting at the dog-parks. So when it came around to deciding on a thesis, I couldn't help but answer to the nagging thought in the back of my head to incorporate my love.

Dog-owners and dog-lovers.