SmartPawsGuides, comparisons & trusted resources — Guides & trusted resources — always independent.
Our Story
The trusted guide
every pet owner deserves.
SmartPaws started with the same questions we had as pet owners — what products are actually worth buying, what should we prepare for, and how do we make better decisions without spending hours researching.
About John Choi
John Choi writes SmartPaws pet-care and product guides and the SmartPaws breed-book series published by Bluewell Publishing.
SmartPaws guides draw on product specifications, published research, and owner feedback. Any hands-on testing or veterinary review must be identified for the specific article; authorship alone does not imply either.
Our Mission
Help pet owners make confident decisions, at every stage.
Most pet content tells you facts. SmartPaws tells you what to do next. Every guide we publish combines a clear explanation with a practical action plan, downloadable tools, and trusted product recommendations — so nothing falls through the cracks.
We cover the full arc of dog and cat ownership — from the first 24 hours with a new puppy or kitten to senior pet health planning. Product recommendations and affiliate links are part of that picture, but they're one layer, not the whole story. We only recommend products we genuinely believe in.
Our Chief Tester
Meet Evie
Evie is a Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier who has been testing products, escaping yards, and stealing hearts since 2017.
Chief Dog Tester
Evie 🐕
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier · Born March 25, 2017 · Rambunctious, opinionated, and the reason SmartPaws exists. If a product survives Evie, it survives anything.
What we stand for
Independent Research
We research every product we recommend — reading real owner reviews, studying specs, and cross-referencing vet and trainer guidance before making a call.
Curated, Not Comprehensive
Our catalog is intentionally small. We only include products we genuinely believe are worth your money. If something doesn't meet that bar, it doesn't appear here.
Honest Verdicts
We list the cons alongside the pros. If a product has a real flaw, we say so — because your pet deserves the truth, not a sales pitch.
How We Got Here
Founded in 2022. Built to last.
SmartPaws didn't start as a business. It started as a spreadsheet two frustrated pet parents kept updating every time they found a product worth trusting.
The Spreadsheet Begins
John starts a personal spreadsheet after bringing Evie home — tracking every smart pet product he tries, noting what works, what breaks, and what's just marketing. The rejection rate is high.
SmartPaws Goes Live
The spreadsheet becomes a website. The first guides launch covering GPS trackers, automatic feeders, and pet cameras — with honest pros, cons, and no sponsored placements.
Cats Join the Picture
SmartPaws expands to cover cat ownership. The New Cat Guide, Cat Care hub, and cat product recommendations are built from scratch — not adapted from dog content.
Guides & Checklists Expand
SmartPaws grows beyond product reviews into full ownership guides: 30-day calendars, vet prep sheets, travel checklists, and downloadable tools for both dogs and cats.
Still Growing. Still Independent.
The mission hasn't changed: help pet owners make confident decisions from day one. The catalog stays curated, the guides stay honest, and the affiliate links stay transparent.