TechPet from Bandai.

Thinking of getting a dog? Don’t! Try this TechPet from Bandai.

My daughter has wanted a dog for years and we always said ‘not now dear’! This has ‘filled the void’ as from the TechPet arrived, there has been no mention of a dog!

TechPet is an app based electronic pet. You can use an iphone or ipod to interact and play games and your pet can even be taught to perform tricks by voice recognition – very cool! It will walk forwards, backwards and even turn in a circle in recognition to voice instruction.

It walks, can wag its tail, dance and bark along to songs. Touch its nose to get to the main menu to check if your dog needs fed!  Its quite strange to see this little thing come walking into the kitchen with my daughters face on – yes, you can customise its face to any picture. She has played with this for hours on end and any friends who come over, its straight to the new ‘doggie’! Other children with TechPets can use Bluetooth to allow up to 6 pets to sing and dance together.

Setting up was not complicated. It requires 3xAA batteries – not included. The dog will walk after being switched on, then she was on google and u tube and within 5 minutes, the dog was trained and performing to a captive audience! The instructions in the app are all in English so we found no problems, thankfully. I am not great with technology and you don’t need to be a tech genius to use this.

So far, TechPet has never ‘wet’ in the house and we are all very pleased with this little four legged friend.

Suitable for ages 12 years and over.

Size 15.5, W11, D16cm. For ages 12 years and over. Available from all good toy stores and online. RRP £19.99