Having a pet is a commitment and you want to make sure that you are sufficiently doing your part to ensure that they are properly taken care of. This means providing them with every basic need including food, shelter, toys, and medical support to keep them safe and healthy.
Another way to make sure that they remain in an optimal state of being is by keeping an eye on them, especially if it is absolutely necessary to leave them alone at home or in a place without people to look out for them.
The best way to do this is to purchase a dog camera. These devices can give you the peace of mind you n need as a fur parent, while also ensuring your pooch that you have not left them for good. Thinking about getting one? Here’s what you should know.
What is a Dog Camera and How Does it Work?
A dog camera, also called a pet camera, is a device that lets you keep an eye on your fur baby when you are not with them. These can come in different forms, but the most basic feature of these gadgets is they have a camera that transmits live footage of your place to a compatible device.
A lot of dog cameras available on the market have connectivity, so you can link them to your computer, laptop, or mobile device. Typically, these come with an application or a platform where you need to connect your camera via Internet and view the footage. Some can store videos in memory cards.
The best part about most of the gadgets out there is they are equipped with a microphone and speaker, so you can talk to your fur baby and you can hear them.
While you can access real-time footage wirelessly, these tend to need a steady electrical supply, so you need to keep them plugged in at all times.
Reasons to Get a Dog Camera
Knowing what a dog camera is, you might be wondering if it is a good idea to get one for your doggie. Well, there are a few things that can convince you. Check them out:
- Comforting Them
One of the most important reasons to get a dog camera is to help soothe your dog’s worries. Remember, these pets look to you as a companion, so when they are left alone in the house, they tend to feel lonely.
These devices help assure them that you will be back to be with them. In the meantime, you can still be with them with the help of the two-way mic and speaker that most cameras have.
- Your Dog’s Safety
The thing about having dogs is some of them tend to get themselves into trouble. Some doggies may be more laidback, but others are curious, energetic, and adventurous types. When left to their own devices, they can put themselves in harm’s way.
Dog cameras can help you keep track of what they are doing and minimize the possibility of them getting on places where they could fall, or snooping into things that could fall on or hurt them. The mic and speaker once again play a part in this.
- Your Security
If you are worried about being away from your pet, one of the reasons could be you will be leaving them alone in the house. While these furry companions can help protect your home from intruders, cameras offer a better way to catch these criminals.
Dog cams can double as a security cam as they are sure to capture footage should any untoward incident happen. It can be a secondary device to help identify robbers and trespassers.
- Monitoring Their Behavior
As mentioned, some dogs can have a hint of mischief in them. Now, a bit of mischievous behavior can be endearing and entertaining, but if it becomes too much or goes unmitigated, it can be a real problem. As a fur parent, you want to make sure that your pooch can behave properly even without supervision.
As you are not around to observe their behavior in person, your pet cam can help you identify behaviors that need curbing. This way, you can raise them to be more disciplined for their own good.
Just keep in mind that your doggie is an animal that has instincts, which they sometimes cannot ignore. Proper discipline and training are key.
- Catching Funny Moments
If your dog tends to be on the goofy side, you have probably seen a lot of funny acts from them. Dogs who are prim and proper might have hilarious instances when they are by themselves.
You do not need to miss out on these moments thanks to dog cams. You can capture entertaining things your dog does when you are not around.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Having a Dog Camera
With all the reasons to get a dog camera, it is easy to think that all it offers are advantages. After all, these devices can help you improve your home security, check on your pets, increase personal safety, and get the peace of mind you deserve.
It can help you do something if you catch anything wrong in real-time, like bad behavior from your pet, accidents, or crimes that are currently happening. You can also use the footage to take action if you find it while watching recordings.
However, there are some downsides to having these pet cams. Keep in mind that these are often connected to the Internet for accessibility. While this can be a good thing, it can also pose some disadvantages as hacking is always a threat.
Malicious, tech-savvy individuals can hack into your camera and see what you are doing real-time. They can also see whether there are people in the house and target it. The good thing is you can prevent this from happening by purchasing a cam from a brand known for its superb Internet security system.
On a lighter note, a minor disadvantage of these pet cams is you can be obsessed with checking the footage. Viewing the stream from time to time is okay, but you might find yourself doing it more often, instead of say, focusing on your work or errands, or enjoying your vacation.
Check Out the Best-Rated Dog Cameras Out There
Now that you are more aware of what these devices have to offer, you can decide to purchase one of them. In all honesty, these can be one of the best things you buy for your pet. The question is, what are your best options? This list can give you an idea.
Furbo Dog Camera
Furbo Dog Camera is the best companion for fur parents who want to keep track of their pooch while continuing their training even from afar. This device is equipped with a treat tosser, so you can still reward your dog when they show good behavior.
Aside from this special feature, this cam has all the standard qualities such as an HD camera, two-way audio communication, and Wi-Fi connectivity. The footage is accessible via a dedicated mobile app, which lets you take photos, capture videos, and toggle communication.
One unique thing about this gadget is it has a barking sensor, which gives you real-time alerts when it detects that your dog is barking. It also sends activity and person alerts to keep you updated on what is happening with your pet.
Pros:
- Compatible with Alexa
- Controllable using an app
Cons:
- Treats need to be refilled from time to time
Eufy Pet dog Camera
Eufy Pet Dog Camera is your best bet if you are looking for an all-around device. This can do a lot of things like dispense treats, allow two-way communication, mobile app accessibility, and local storage of footage.
What sets it apart is its ability to turn 270-degrees, which opens a lot of possibilities that can give you peace of mind. You can watch your pooch even if they walk out of view as you can simply turn the camera around using the app.
Another great thing about this gadget is it has built-in storage. This way, you do not need to purchase external memory cards just to have your dog’s day available locally.
Aside from these, you can also enjoy barking alerts, activity notifications, detection of human movement. This way, you can fully take care of your pet even while you are away.
Pros:
- Pet tracker vision
- Built-in storage
- No subscriptions required
Cons:
- No cloud storage compatibility
Faroro Dog Camera with Treat Dispenser and Speaker
Faroro Dog Camera is one of the easiest to set up. This device comes with a QR code that you just need to scan the code, then it will lead you to the Google Play Store or App Store page where you can download the application.
Then, you just need to connect the USB power cord, plug it into a power source, then connect the device to the Internet. After this, you just need to fill it with treats and you are good to go. The app is where you can control the capabilities of your app.
This cam has treat tossing, two-way audio, motion detection, barking alert, real-time video streaming, and recording capabilities.
Pros:
- Fully functional with smart features
- Night vision enabled
- Easy to use
Cons:
- Recorded footage is stored in your phone
Eufy Security Solo IndoorCam
Eufy Security Solo IndoorCam is a great alternative to devices that are dedicated to watching your pets. It is designed to be home and personal security system, which you can definitely use to keep an eye on your pet.
This device is equipped with smart capabilities like human and pet detection for easier operation. The best thing about this option is you can use it with smart assistants like Google and Alexa. Plus, you can gain control of your security cam using Apple HomeKit.
You will be glad to know that this device was built with your privacy in mind. You do not have to worry about hackers as it is equipped with encryption features to protect you and your pet.
Pros:
- Compatible with Apple HomeKit and Google Assistant.
- 360 Rotation
- Dedicated to privacy
Cons:
- No treat tosser
Echo Show 8
The Amazon Echo Show 8 is a great option for individuals looking for a camera that comes with a dedicated display. This bundle gives you the Echo show 8, which is the screen display, and the Blink Mini, which is the camera.
This pair gives you a big screen to use to monitor your dog in the other room. It is equipped with different features such as voice control and live view. Plus, you can get the added benefit of a smart device as you can use it to watch videos through Prime Video, Netflix, Hulu, and many more. The device also lets you turn the camera on or off remotely.
Pros:
- A pair composed of screen and camera
- Smart capabilities
Cons:
- No dedicated pet features
Final Words
Your pet is part of your family and it is only right to take extra precautions to take care of them. With dog cameras in your arsenal, you can achieve this goal and more.
