The Product: Bow-Lingual: The Dog Translator

The Claim: Features the “Japan Acoustic Laboratory’s…Animal Emotion Analysis System, a sophisticated voiceprint technology that allows dogs and their owners to communicate more easily.”

Test Results: “Our Chihuahua barks all the time, and we could translate her ‘cursing,’ which was hilarious!” said one tester. Another tester, a 10-year-old, was fascinated to hear the doggy dialogue that took place between his yellow Lab and another dog.

Take Note: “If there isn’t much barking, the product turns itself off,” reported one tester. “Our whippet-pointer mix barks infrequently, so the Bow-Lingual often wasn’t on when she began to bark.”

To Buy: Cost: $40, www.advancedpetproducts.com. Return policy: Must contact vendor before returning. There’s a seven-day money-back guarantee and a 30-day same-item exchange for defective products.