How to log pet care with widgets, Siri and the Action button
Why log from a widget or Siri?
Because the moment you finish a job is the moment you are least likely to open an app. You have a lead in one hand and a bag in the other, or a cat food tin and a fork. A log that takes one tap or one sentence gets written; a log that takes five taps gets forgotten, and then somebody feeds the dog twice.
Everything below writes the same entry as the app: the time, the pet and who logged it.
Which Paw Crew shortcuts are there?
Paw Crew gives iOS one set of actions, and they show up in several places.
| Where | What it does |
|---|---|
| Home Screen widget | Shows what is due and has interactive Log buttons, such as Fed or Walk |
| Lock Screen widget | Shows the next medication due at a glance |
| Siri | Logs by voice, such as “Log a walk for Max in Paw Crew” |
| Shortcuts app | Builds your own automation around a log action |
| Action button | Logs with one press on iPhone models that have it |
| Notifications | Mark done, Snooze or Skip right from the reminder |
How do you add a Paw Crew widget step by step?
It takes about five minutes to set up all of them.
- Add a Home Screen widget. Touch and hold an empty area of the Home Screen, tap Edit, then Add Widget. Search for Paw Crew, pick a size and tap Add Widget.
- Choose the pet. Touch and hold the widget, tap Edit Widget and choose which pet it shows.
- Add a Lock Screen widget. Touch and hold the Lock Screen, tap Customize, choose the Lock Screen, tap the widget area and add Paw Crew to see the next med due.
- Try Siri. Say “Log a walk for Max in Paw Crew”, using your pet’s name. Siri confirms the entry.
- Set the Action button. On an iPhone with an Action button, open Settings, then Action Button, swipe to Shortcut and choose a Paw Crew log action.
- Check the log. Open Paw Crew once. The entries you made from the widget, Siri or the Action button are on the pet’s Day Ledger with the time and your name.
What can you say to Siri?
You can ask Siri to log a care event for a named pet. Phrases name the app, such as “Log a walk for Max in Paw Crew”, “I fed Miso in Paw Crew”, “Log meds for Miso in Paw Crew” or “What’s next in Paw Crew”. If you have more than one pet, say the name; Siri asks if it is not clear. You can also add the log action to a Shortcut and give it any phrase you like.
Do widgets and Siri work in a shared household?
Yes. A log from a widget or Siri is an ordinary log entry. If you share the pet through household sharing, everyone you share with sees it, with your name on it. That is the point: the person who did the job writes it down, in the fewest possible taps. If the owner made you view only for a pet, widgets, Siri and the Apple Watch show that pet but do not log for it.
Frequently asked questions
Can I log pet care from the Lock Screen?
The Lock Screen widget shows the next medication due. To log, use a reminder notification’s Mark done, the Action button, Siri, or the interactive Home Screen widget.
Does Siri need the internet to log a walk?
The log is written on your iPhone. Some Siri requests may use Apple’s servers depending on your device and settings; Paw Crew itself sends nothing to any server of ours.
Which iPhones have the Action button?
The Action button is on recent iPhone models that replaced the Ring/Silent switch. If your iPhone has one, it appears in Settings as Action Button.
Can I log for an earlier time from a widget?
Widgets log at the current minute. To log for an earlier time, open Paw Crew and hold a quick-log button.
Is Paw Crew on Apple Watch?
Yes. The free Apple Watch app logs Fed, Meds, Walk or Litter for the selected pet, shows what’s next, lets you Mark done or Snooze a reminder, and runs the walk timer. A complication puts the next item on your watch face.
Where to go next
- The full list of features, in Features.
- How the Now line and quick-log buttons work, in How Paw Crew works.
- Reminders you can act on from the notification, in Reminders.
Paw Crew doesn't provide veterinary advice. Always consult your vet.