PM Interview Question →You’re a PM at Google. Design a product for pets.

Published in

Bootcamp

6 min readFeb 11, 2025

Imagine if Google’s technology could make life easier not just for people, but for their pets too. From smart home integrations to AI-driven health monitoring, there’s a vast opportunity to build innovative products for the ever-growing pet care market.

As a Product Manager at Google, designing a product for pets means leveraging Google’s core strengths — AI, data, and connectivity — to create seamless, smart solutions that enhance the lives of pets and their owners. In this article, I’ll outline a step-by-step process to conceptualize and design Google Pets, a product aimed at making pet care smarter, more personalized, and connected.

1. Understanding the Problem Space

Why build a pet product at Google?

Market Potential: The global pet care market is expected to surpass $350 billion by 2027, driven by increasing pet ownership and a rise in pet health awareness.
Tech Gaps in Pet Care: While there are gadgets like pet cameras and trackers, there’s no comprehensive ecosystem connecting smart homes, AI insights, and pet health management.
Emotional Connection: Pets are family, and pet owners are willing to invest in products that enhance their pets’ lives.

Google’s Advantage:

AI and IoT Expertise: Google’s strengths in AI, voice assistants, and smart home devices (Nest) offer a unique edge in building connected pet products.
Data Ecosystem: Leveraging Google’s ecosystem (Maps, Search, Fit) allows for holistic pet health tracking and smarter insights.

2. Product Vision — Google Pets

Vision Statement:
“Google Pets — Empowering pet owners with smart tools to monitor, engage, and care for their pets through AI-driven insights and smart home integration.”

Mission:
To create a connected ecosystem where pet owners can track health, train, and engage with their pets using AI, real-time data, and voice commands.

3. User Research — Understanding Pet Owner Needs

Target Users:

Pet Parents (Dogs, Cats, Birds, etc.): Looking for solutions to monitor health, locate pets, and automate care routines.
Working Professionals: Need remote monitoring and automatic feeders for busy days.
Elderly Pet Owners: Prefer simplified health tracking and emergency alerts.
New Pet Owners: Seek guidance on pet training, nutrition, and health.

User Pain Points:

Health Monitoring: Difficulty in tracking pet health (diet, exercise, vet visits).
Pet Anxiety: Pets often experience separation anxiety when left alone.
Training and Behavior: Inconsistent training methods and lack of support tools.
Lost Pets: Owners struggle with tracking lost pets in real-time.

4. Product Concept — Google Pets Ecosystem

Core Idea:
Google Pets is an integrated app and smart device ecosystem that helps pet owners manage health, training, location, and engagement through a combination of AI, wearables, and smart home devices.

5. Core Features

1. Google Pets Hub (App + Assistant Integration):

A central app that syncs with smart home devices, wearables, and health trackers for pets.
Pet profiles to track medical history, exercise, and feeding schedules.
Google Assistant integration: “Hey Google, when did Max last eat?”

2. Pet Health Tracker (Wearable or Collar):

Fitness & Health Monitoring: Tracks steps, heart rate, sleep patterns, and caloric burn.
Activity Alerts: Notifies users if the pet hasn’t moved in a while.
Behavior Detection: AI can detect irregular activity like excessive scratching or limping.

3. Smart Feeder & Hydration Station (Nest Integration):

Automatic pet feeders integrated with Nest to dispense food based on schedule or pet behavior.
Smart hydration systems that monitor water intake and alert when hydration levels are low.

4. Pet Cam with AI (Next-Gen Nest Cam):

Real-time video monitoring with two-way audio and treat dispenser.
AI-driven insights: “Your dog has been pacing for 10 minutes — possible anxiety detected.”
Alerts when unfamiliar people approach the pet (useful for outdoor pets).

5. Lost Pet Tracking (Google Maps Integration):

GPS-enabled pet collar that tracks the pet’s location in real time.
“Find My Pet” feature integrated with Google Maps to ping the owner when the pet leaves a designated zone.

6. Google Pets Connect (Social & Vet Network):

A social platform within the app where pet owners can connect, share tips, and arrange pet playdates.
Access to vetted veterinarians through telehealth appointments.

6. Differentiators — Why Google Pets?

AI-Driven Insights: Google Pets learns from pet behavior over time, offering proactive alerts and tailored recommendations.
Ecosystem Play: Seamless integration with Google Nest, Fit, Assistant, and Maps makes Google Pets part of a connected lifestyle.
Holistic Care: Combines health monitoring, location tracking, and engagement tools in one platform.
Community Building: Google Pets isn’t just a utility; it fosters community by connecting pet owners.

7. Privacy and Trust

Data Privacy: Pet data is encrypted and stored securely, ensuring user control over all shared information.
Opt-In Tracking: Location and health monitoring features require explicit consent and can be disabled anytime.
Transparency: Users receive full visibility into how pet data is used and can delete records when necessary.

8. Monetization Strategy

Freemium Model:

Basic features (health tracking, reminders) are free.
Premium plan unlocks advanced insights, real-time pet cams, and telehealth.

2. Hardware Sales:

Google-branded pet wearables, smart feeders, and pet cams.
Bundled packages with Google Nest devices.

3. Subscription Services:

Monthly subscription for GPS tracking, behavioral insights, and tele-vet consultations.

4. Partnerships:

Collaborations with pet food brands, insurance companies, and vet clinics.
Sponsored content from pet care experts and trainers.

9. Go-To-Market Strategy

Phase 1 — MVP Launch (3–6 Months):

Launch Google Pets Hub (app) and health tracking collar in the US and Europe.
Target urban pet owners and new pet adopters.

Phase 2 — Expansion (6–12 Months):

Introduce smart feeders, hydration systems, and pet cams.
Expand to Asia and LATAM, focusing on growing pet ownership.

Phase 3 — Global Rollout (12–18 Months):

Launch “Find My Pet” globally with GPS integration and advanced location tracking.
Partner with vet networks for in-person and tele-vet services.

10. Measuring Success

KPIs:

Adoption Rate: Number of app downloads and devices sold.
Engagement: Frequency of users interacting with Google Pets app and features.
Retention: Percentage of users renewing subscriptions.
NPS (Net Promoter Score): Measure satisfaction through surveys and community feedback.

Conclusion

Google Pets represents an exciting opportunity to bridge technology and pet care, providing smarter, more connected solutions for pet owners. By integrating AI, smart devices, and social elements, Google can lead the way in redefining the pet care industry.

Thanks for reading! If you’ve got ideas to contribute to this conversation please comment. If you like what you read and want to see more, clap me some love! Follow me here, or connect with me on LinkedIn or Twitter.

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