How to get a great recording

Written By Duncan Abbott

Welcome to Snoopy Dog Heartbeat. The following instructions will help you to get a result more quickly:

App setup

  • It is important to ensure you have allowed access to your microphone. You will be asked automatically but, if you’re not sure, you can do this by going to iOS Settings > Snoopy Heartbeat > Microphone.

  • The microphone is positioned at the bottom of your device.

  • We recommend removing your iPhone case, if you have one, as it improves contact. But the app should work fine with a thin case.

Important:

The app will pick up sounds when touching anything - from a pillow to a sofa. This is mainly caused by the material rubbing on your iPhone.

However, Snoopy is designed to listen to sound frequencies within the heartbeat range when applied to the skin. It will only work correctly when pressed directly against the flesh of your dog in the right position and held still.

You can test the app is working by trying it out on your own heart, which operates in a similar frequency range to your dog’s. Everyone should be able to do this and find a clear recording. If not, you may want to improve your technique and ensure the app is setup correctly.

Getting a Baseline Recording

It is really important to take a baseline heart recoding of your dog while they are fit and well so that you (or your vet) are able to compare the recordings in future. A baseline recording should:

  • Be taken when your dog is relaxed and calm.

  • Be at least 30-60 seconds in length with the heartbeat rhythm clearly audible.

Preparation 

Things you will need:

  • A small bowl of water and a sponge;

  • Bluetooth headphones if you have them;

  • The Snoopy Dog Heartbeat app downloaded to an iPhone 7 or later.

Step 1: Feel for the heartbeat

  • Firstly you’ll want to feel for your dog’s heartbeat using two fingers so you will know where to position the microphone on your dog.

  • While it is possible to do this with your dog lying down, sitting or standing is best.

  • Feel where the dog’s left elbow (looking from their perspective) would meet their chest.

  • It may take some time for you to feel for the dog’s beat, don’t worry - once you you feel it you’ll know!

  • Do not move on to the next step until you’ve been able to locate your dog’s heartbeat with your fingers.

Step 2: Wet your dog’s chest

  • Take the water and a sponge and wet the area where you felt the dog’s heartbeat.

  • Ensure enough water is used so the dog’s hairs part easily and and you can position the iPhone against the skin rather than the hair.

Step 3: Connect bluetooth headphones

  • Connect your bluetooth headphones. This makes the recording more comfortable for your dog and allows you to have the volume higher so you can hear well. Also, the app will not need to process the audio so much, so your recording will sound more like a real heartbeat.

  • If you don’t have bluetooth headphones, turn the volume down on your device to 20% or less. This will keep feedback to a minimum and ensure the best recording.

Step 4: Listening and recording

  • Take the bottom of your iPhone and press into the dog’s chest where you felt the heartbeat.

  • Ensure the phone screen is facing your dog’s leg, rather than their head. This orientation works best with the shape of their ribcage.

  • Press the microphone (bottom left of the phone) firmly against the skin and then hold still.

  • You may need to move the device a few times to find the best spot. Small movements are key - then hold still again to listen.

  • Press record once you have found the heartbeat and record the heartbeat for at least 30 seconds and ideally 60 seconds.

  • Your dog should be sitting or standing only - and be as still as possible - to achieve the best recording.

Sharing

Your dog’s heartbeat is easy to share via social media or send to your vet.

  • Once you have your recording you can play back, add notes and take a dog selfie! This helps keep track of your recordings over time.

  • We recommend adding helpful notes - such as the dog weight, respiration rate, age etc.

  • Title appropriately - such as Theia’s Baseline Recording or Rover’s July Heartbeat Check will be useful for future reference.

  • You can then share this recording with your vet or anyone else via email, What’s App - or any other app that supports iOS sharing.

How often should you take a recording?

We recommend once a month or more often if you have any concerns about your dog.

Troubleshooting

Please get in touch with our team if you have any issues - we are happy to help.

You can email support@impossible.am or message us via facebook.com/snoopydoghealth.

Duncan Abbott
Next

What is a Baseline Recording?