The #FiFeud: Meet the Pups Turning Friendly Competition into a Step Showdown!

At Fi, competition runs in our DNA—whether it's smashing personal step records or outpacing your best friends in the Fi Leaderboard. That’s why we're excited to share the story of the #FiFeud, a friendly rivalry among some of our most dedicated users: Bastian, Parker, and Al. These three pups and their humans have turned tracking steps into an all-out competition for bragging rights—and a $500 donation to their favorite dog-related charity!

We’re inviting you to dive into the details of this ongoing Feud, get inspired by their stories, and maybe even start your own #FiFeud with friends and fellow Fi users.

Below, you'll find exclusive interviews with the owners of Bastian, Parker, and Al, where they share insights into their dogs' personalities, their strategies for the #FiFeud, and what motivates them to keep stepping up the competition.

Meet Bastian:

Bastian is a rat terrier mutt hailing from New York. He just celebrated his 6th birthday and spent the day hiking, which is his absolute favorite thing to do! He uses recordable buttons to "talk" and often asks for hikes and walks - especially when he hears the ice cream truck (aka "fridge car") coming down the road! Bastian was Fi's "2023 Dog of the Year".

We have loved our Fi collar since joining the FiFamily in 2021. The social features are a bonus, allowing us to track friends and compete against them. Al has always been a top contender on the Fi Leaderboard, and it's been a dream to catch up to him. A few weeks ago, I was puppysitting Parker and we had a solid streak that finally overtook Al! Naturally, I made sure Al knew he was no longer in first place, sparking the #FiFeud.

I let Bastian choose our daily walks, which sometimes means multiple outings, and I've been enjoying audiobooks during our excursions. With the heat of the summer coming, we set an alarm to walk early before it gets too hot and usually finish the day with another walk in the evening. On bad weather days, we explore dog-friendly stores. We're determined to keep up this pace to win #FiFeud2024, aiming to break old records and stay creative despite the warm weather

Meet Parker: 

Parker is a sassy, sporty, social 3 year old beagle mix originally from Kentucky but adopted and living in Des Moines. Parker racks up most of her steps playing her favorite game - fetch, though she also loves walking around downtown and visiting all her favorite stores (spoiler: they’re the ones that have treats) and walking along and in the Huron River. Like Bastian and Al, she is a “talking dog” and uses recordable buttons to communicate her requests, queries, and of course to let everyone know when someone has used the bathroom. 

I’ve had the Fi collar for a few months now and I absolutely love it. It’s such great peace of mind especially when I travel (like I recently did to Japan) to be able to know where Parker is and who she is with. I was able to add Joelle to our account as a “dog walker” so that she had access to Parker’s Fi details while she was staying with her when I was out of town, and I was able to see everything they were getting up to and know that Parker was safe. 

When I got back from my trip and picked up Parker from staying with Bastian, I realized I had to get in on the #FiFeud2024 as well! Luckily I had a few days planned in NYC and walking back and forth across Prospect Park for a few days put Parker into the lead! A fatal error on my part (forgetting to charge Parker’s Fi before leaving for a trip - the charge lasts so long that I forgot it might ever need to be charged!) plummeted her back to third, but we’re determined to regain the lead! 

Meet AL:

AL, short for Aloysius, is a 3 yr old bully mix brought to Boston from Tennessee by Great Dog Rescue New England. We have been using the Fi since December of 2021 to keep things consistent for puppy AL between his two human walkers and to keep track of his favorite spots to play around town. AL is full of personality and it became important to him quickly to see the many humans that make his city run smoothly; from his handful of crossing guard friends, street sweepers, school custodians, teachers, and his favorite: Tito the ice cream man. This is how AL became the unofficial official mayor of Chelsea, MA.

At his peak step days, AL was often the #1 dog for surrounding cities and frequently in the top 1,000 of all dogs on Fi, which made him a bit of a celebrity. We would occasionally hear on walks, "That's AL!!! The dog from Fi! In hushed voices between humans walking their Fi dog. And from friends who also joined Fi thanks to our enthusiasm, we would hear stories of competing dogs in nearby cities that swore he "must be fake or a bot". "Who could do over a million steps?" They would laugh and show a picture proving that they knew AL. 

Like Bastian and Parker, AL also uses buttons to communicate. His favorite requests are to play -- (pig toy and ball), for sunshine, Tito his ice cream friend, and to request his Grandma to appeal for anything he doesn't get on his first request.  

For AL, the #FiFeud2024 is just a way of life. Though the heat and some long travel days have caused some turmoil to our long reigning lead... we will persevere. Because with Fi – it's the consistency that counts. 

Final Thoughts

The #FiFeud isn’t just about winning—it’s about building community, having fun with your pup, and maybe getting in a few extra steps along the way. Whether you’re rooting for Bastian, Parker, or Al, we hope their stories inspire you to start your own competition. Who knows? You could be the next dog to top the Fi Leaderboard! So rally your friends, get those steps in, and let the games begin. Don’t forget to share your journey with us using #FiFeud, and may the best dog win!