Tail-Wagging Tech: Highlights from the 2025 Arduino Printables Contest

From dogs and cats to hamsters, lizards, and even chickens, our pets bring us so much joy. So what better way to return the favor than by building them a gadget that makes their tails wag, whiskers twitch, or feathers flutter?

Earlier this year, hundreds of makers, tinkerers, and pet lovers took part in the 2025 Arduino Printables Contest. Their challenge? To design and build a tech-powered gadget for their furry (or not-so-furry) friend using Arduino and 3D printing.

We were blown away by the hard work, creativity and originality displayed by this year’s contestants. There were loads of great entries but here’s a quick look at some of the standout projects that had our judges purring with approval!

And the winner is…

First prize went to a talented high school student who designed a fully automatic tennis ball launcher for dogs. Controlled by an Arduino Uno Rev3 and powered by a Makita 18V battery, this gadget can fire tennis balls up to 25 meters (82 feet) and spin a full 360 degrees for maximum playtime fun.

To suit every backyard (big or small), the launcher includes four adjustable power settings and the option to turn the rotation mechanism on or off. It’s a smart and seriously fun way to keep your pooch entertained when you're tied up or away from home.

If you love this creative canine invention as much as we do, you can view the full build and download all the files on the Printables website.

Brilliant builds that nearly took the crown

Tied for second, we had not one but two paw-sitively brilliant entries.

The KibbleBot is a 3D-printed kibble dispenser powered by an Arduino Nano ESP32. Connected to the Arduino Cloud, it allows you to give your pet a treat even when you're not home. A perfect mix of convenience and care!

Our judges were equally impressed with the **CanineQuest** an interactive puzzle toy that challenges your dog’s intelligence with fun, distracting sounds and rewards.

More pet-tech creativity we loved

These award-winning projects were just the tip of the iceberg. Here are a few of the other projects that caught the judges’ attention:

Super Smart Chicken Coop Door Opener – Designed with a clever compliant switch mechanism and powered by an Arduino Nano ESP32, this automatic coop door opens and closes based on geo-location and sunrise/sunset times.
Hamster Tracker Wheel – Created by a 14-year-old maker, this wheel uses an Arduino Uno R3 to track how far a hamster runs. The display shows the distance traveled and even features a tiny running hamster animation. Cute and clever!
Infinity Bowl – Featuring Arduino sensors and real plumbing integration, this fully automated, 3D-printed in-wall feeding and hydration system gives your furry companion constant access to fresh, flowing water and food. And with a focus on hygiene, you won’t have to worry about bacteria-ridden standing water any more!
Automated Precision Fish Feeder with WiFi – With this smart aquarium assistant, you can feed your fish exact portions at precise times. The customizable schedules, multiple food compartments, and WiFi control make it the ultimate feeding solution for aquatic pet lovers.
Weight Watchdog – A practical yet playful device designed to monitor your dog's poop weight. You can even track your pooch’s progress on the live leaderboard. Smelly? Yes. Smart? Absolutely!

Feeling inspired?

These are just a few of the amazing inventions shared by our global community of pet-loving makers. You can check out all the entries over on the Printables contest page.

We hope these projects leave you feeling inspired, amazed, and maybe even determined to design your own smart pet gadget. So have fun, get creative, and give your pet the tech upgrade they deserve!