Petting your dog adds steps

[Iya]

I have the charge HR. I was disappointed to see that just petting my dog added many steps. I find this disappointing because I want an accurate count.

[USAF-Larry]

Since it a motion based tracker, worn on the arm, each "swing" of the arm is counted as two steps. That is not an inaccurate count, it is doing what it is designed to do. The only option is to wear the tracker on the other arm, not the one you pet the dog with, or take the tracker off while petting or grooming the dog.

[Iya]

Thank you

[Marydu]

Cool, I have 5 cats - gotta start petting them left handed - OK, that might be cheating, a tiny bit, but I'm a cripple - I need all the steps I can get - even "cheater" steps - I call it motivation..........

[FerdinandFitbit]

Hahaha that might work @Marydu.

Good to see you all in the forums! Anything else you might need help with, let me know! 🙂

Happy stepping (and petting too) 

[Marydu]

I posted this on the "You Know You're a Fitbit Addict When" site also -


I got the new large band for my Alta and now wear it on my right ankle. I think it records steps better - if I am carrying a load of laundry, my arm isn't swinging, one-armed pushing a shopping cart really doesn't work. This way I get my steps counted. Also if it is on my wrist, I really don't swing my arms much - neck, back problems - I have to think about moving my arms. The only problem is the sleep tracking - so far it either thinks I sleep all day (yesterday I didn't do much - neck hurt) or it thinks I don't sleep at all. Thursday I cleaned like a crazy person (which is why my neck hurt so much on Friday) but I got more than the 4,500 steps I try for. I knew vacuuming and mopping floors had to count - on my wrist, I never got that many steps - even when vacuuming sitting on a chair! I realized I won't get "cheater" steps for just moving my legs - when on my recliner or any other chair I can't even cross my legs because of my hips. I'm happy - my wrist-ankle thingy is really happy, buzzing like crazy when I went over 4,500 steps!! Of course, I can't bend over to check the time, the number of steps or anything - I don't bend that well. I have lots of watches and I check my progress on my cell phone!! I don't care what they say - it works!! But, I still pet the cats - steps or no steps!! Good for my blood pressure and they make me!!

[Care2try75]

I have 4 dogs so I just set it on dominant wrist placement although it's on my left wrist. Sad to see the number of steps was actually a lot lower, but grateful it's now more accurate. Hope it helps.