Dear Strava Team,
I am an active user of the platform and would like to propose an improvement that would benefit a huge portion of our community: the creation of a dedicated Pet Walking category, featuring metrics specifically adjusted to this activity.
Currently, although it is possible to tag a walk as a "Pet Walk," the algorithm treats it as a standard walk. This creates limitations for those who wish to track the health and progress of their four-legged companions. My suggestion is based on three main pillars:
1. Elapsed Time vs. Moving Time
Unlike performance training, walking a pet involves frequent stops for sniffing and socializing. In the current model, Strava discounts these pauses, showing a "Moving Time" that is much lower than the actual time spent outdoors.
• Proposal: In this specific category, the primary focus should be Elapsed Time, recognizing that the total time exposed to the environment and passive energy expenditure are vital parts of a pet's well-being routine.
2. Health and Behavior Markers
Strava is an incredible tool for monitoring human physical evolution. Why not extend this to pets? It would be invaluable to be able to add quick markers during the route (or in the post-activity summary) to record:
• Fatigue/Breathing levels: (e.g., "Pet got tired quickly at mile 2").
• Energy levels: (e.g., "Slower than usual today").
• Clinical observations: (e.g., "Showed slight limping at the end of the walk").
3. Pet Health History
This data would allow owners to maintain a clinical-sporting history for their pets. If a dog is progressing or regressing in physical endurance, Strava would be the perfect tool to identify patterns that could be shared with a veterinarian.
I believe this update would further humanize the app and engage a user base that sees physical exercise not just as personal performance, but as an act of care for their animals.
Thank you for your time and consideration. I am available to discuss this idea in further detail.
Best regards,
Gustavo, from Minas Gerais, Brasil.
