What’s up, doggo parents?! Welcome to my Furbo Dog Camera review. As a proud pupperino parent, I know firsthand how important it is to keep an eye on your furry bestie when you’re not home.
That’s why I was so excited when I heard about the Furbo Dog Camera, a new device that lets you see and talk to your dog no matter where you are. Keep reading for all the details on this nifty little gadget so you can decide if it’s a good fit for you. So let’s get started as we’ve got a lot of information to cover!
In This Article:
- What does a Furbo Dog Camera do?
- Is Furbo good for dogs?
- Will My Pupper Know How to Use Furbo?
- Does the Furbo Dog Camera Have a Monthly Fee?
- The Furbo App
- How to Set Up Your Furbo 360 Camera
- How to Use the Alexa Integration With Furbo
- What Treats Work Best For the Furbo Camera?
- Can the Furbo Dog Camera Be Hacked?
- Does the Furbo Dog Camera Come with a Warranty or Return Policy?
- The Bottom Line: Is This Treat-Tossing Camera For You?
What does a Furbo Dog Camera do?
The Furbo Dog Camera is a wifi-connected device that allows you to see, talk to, and even throw treats at your dog when you’re not home. It’s like having a security camera, nanny cam, and doggo-messaging machine all in one!
Even Ellen approves of the Furbo Dog Camera, and it has become one of the leading smart pet cameras in the industry.
The camera streams HD video to your phone so you can see what your dog is up to, and there’s even a night vision mode for spying on those nocturnal pups. The two-way audio system lets you talk to your pup (or tell them to stop barking), and the built-in treat dispenser can be loaded with your dog’s favorite snacks.
Some of the Furbo Dog Camera features:
- Real-time wide-angle 1080p HD camera, so you can clearly see more of everything
- Full-color infrared night vision image system, to check in on your doggerino even when it’s dark
- 4x zoom, you know, to have a close-up view of what they’re up to
- 2-way audio, to hear them and speak to them, for when your voice soothes them
- Barking sensor alert and sound monitor, so you can finally tell if your neighbor is making this up
- 360-degree view, to see what’s in front as well as behind the camera, like a small but less creepy R2D2
- Furbo Android & iOS app, so whatever phone you have, you can still see your pupper
- Treat dispenser, need I say more?
Is Furbo good for dogs?
I think that the Furbo treat tossing camera is a great idea for dog parents. But it depends on your specific four-legged friend and your own personal needs.
The Furbo would be good for a dog that is:
- Anxious or stressed when left home alone
- Easily bored and destructive when left home alone, such as chewing on everything they find
- Prone to separation anxiety
- In need of behavior training
The Furbo might not be as well-suited for a dog that is:
- competitive with other animals in the house
- already well-trained
- not food motivated
Some users also report that being able to see their pets through the Furbo device makes them miss them even more when they’re away from home. So, if you think you might be the type of person to get too attached to the Furbo, it might not be the best fit for you.
Some pros and cons to consider:
Pros
- This camera produces stunning 1080p color video, even in low light conditions.
- It’s simple to use and straightforward to set up.
- The treat dispenser works well according to customers.
- Alerts you to activity, barking, and people near the device.
- Allows you to photograph and record your pupperino.
- Features two-way chat and audio support.
- It’s Alexa-compatible.
Cons
- Due to its extra features, this camera costs more than a standard option.
- A subscription is required for additional features, such as the doggie diary and certain alerts.
- You can’t use your Google Assistant with this product, only Amazon Alexa.
- Alerts can be overwhelming, but you can adjust this in the app.
Will My Pupper Know How to Use Furbo?
The Furbo Dog Camera is very user-friendly, both for dog parents and pups. The device is simple to set up and the app is straightforward to use.
As long as your pup knows how to eat treats, they’ll be able to use this device with no problem! When the dog camera Furbo tossing feature is activated, it makes a noise. Your dog eventually knows that when this sound goes off, the Furbo camera will toss a treat. Just like Pavlov’s dog!
Some users say that their dogs get confused when they hear their owner’s voice. They may try to find their owner at the front door or look around for them in the room. The manufacturer says that dogs will learn that the voice is coming from the Furbo Dog Camera once they remember the light on the device turning green when their owner talks to them.
Some owners may worry that their pet will try to free cookies from the Furbo by tipping it over, but the device is very sturdy and has adhesive strips that keep it planted on the ground. The Furbo also has a “chew-resistant cord” in case your furry friend is extra determined to get those treats!
You may consider placing the Furbo camera up high so your pup can’t unleash the treats within.
Does the Furbo Dog Camera Have a Monthly Fee?
The Furbo dog camera does not have a monthly fee but if you subscribe to the optional Furbo Dog Nanny service (FDN), you’ll get additional features such as the doggie diary (which sends you a daily recap of your pup’s activities), cloud storage for recorded videos, and certain alerts (such as home emergency alarms, continuous barking, dog crying or howling, etc). The FDN service is currently available in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Australia.
The subscription service currently costs $6.99 a month, $69 a year, or $119 for two years. You’ll also get a free 30-day trial of the Furbo Dog Nanny service when you first set up your device.
Is the Furbo Dog Nanny subscription worth it?
As with most things in life, the subscription is only worth it if it’s within your budget and the additional features are useful to you. For example, the smoke alarm and CO2 alerts may be redundant if you already have these detectors set up in your home. And if you have a home security system, you may not need the person alert.
But if you don’t have any of these things and you want the peace of mind that comes with knowing your pup is being looked after even when you’re not there, then the subscription may be worth it for you.
The doggie diary feature is also a nice touch. It’s fun to see what your pup has been up to during the day, and it can be helpful to track their eating and sleeping habits, especially for new pups or dogs actively being trained.
The Furbo App
The free Furbo app is the main way you’ll use your Furbo camera unless you hook the device up to Alexa, in which case you can use voice commands to operate the Furbo. Here are the four main sections within the app:
The Home Screen
You’ll find a running list of how often your dog barks, any activity going on inside of the home, if there’s a person recorded on the camera, as well as any selfies that the Furbo cam has captured.
The device records 15 seconds worth of footage for each of these events and saves them in the app. There’s a timeline letting you know when each activity occurred.
The Furbo Dog Nanny Area
If you’re a subscriber to the Furbo Dog Nanny service, you’ll be able to access all FDN additional features from this area.
This is where you can view the doggie diary, set up alerts, and even schedule your camera to turn on and off automatically.
The Menu Area
If you want to get help from the Furbo team, this is the area to go. You’ll also be able to see your account details and read through the FAQ section.
The Settings Area
You can change the name of your Furbo camera, adjust the video’s quality, toggle night vision on and off, adjust the speaker volume, and adjust scheduling options in this section. You can also adjust the barking sensitivity and disable certain alerts if you’re getting too many notifications from your camera.
How to Set Up Your Furbo 360 Camera
If you’re not a tech whiz, no worries, the Furbo dog camera is incredibly easy to set up. Just plug it in with the USB cord, download the Furbo app to your phone, and make sure that everything is hooked up to your home WiFi. The light on the Furbo camera will turn green when the device is good to go.
The Furbo 360 arrives with a full charge and is ready to use as soon as it’s connected. You’ll need to pick a location for the camera so it captures as much of the space as possible. It’s best to put it about 3-4 feet or 1 to 1.2m from the floor, 15 feet or 5m away from your router, and in a peaceful location to take advantage of its scanning capabilities. The camera is secured by 2 double-sided adhesive strips on both of its sides.
How to Use the Alexa Integration With Furbo
Luckily, the Furbo 360 camera is compatible with Amazon’s Echo devices. So, if you own an Echo Show, Spot, or Dot, you can use voice commands to control your Furbo dog camera.
To set up the Alexa integration, open the Furbo app and go to settings then click on “Alexa Skill.” Once you’ve enabled the skill, you’ll be able to do things like ask Alexa to show you the Furbo feed, take a snapshot of what’s going on, or start a recording.
To use these features, just say “Alexa, ask Furbo to…” and then give the command you want.
If you have an Echo Show, you can live-stream your pupper on its display and also open your Doggy Diary for an easy and fast glance at your dog’s day home alone.
Hopefully, additional smart devices will be compatible with Furbo in the future so you can have even more control over your Furbo camera.
What Treats Work Best For the Furbo Camera?
In order for your Furbo camera to properly toss treats to your pupperino, you’ll need to make sure that they’re the right size.
Treats should be dry, hard, circular, and under a half-inch wide for smooth operating.
The best treats for Furbo include treats that are not too crumbly and not too sticky or wet. Crumbly and dry treats tend to make a mess, while wet or sticky treats can be difficult for Furbo to pick up.
Also, the treats must be smaller than the Furbo dispenser opening. The best size treats measure between half an inch to one whole inch.
Here are some good options for Furbo-friendly treats:
These treats are specifically recommended by the Furbo manufacturer, so you know the machine will toss treats with ease. But don’t be afraid to try your own treats that fit within the basic Furbo treat guidelines.
Can the Furbo Dog Camera Be Hacked?
The Furbo 360 dog camera uses the latest in security technology to ensure that your device can’t be hacked. The company employs TLS/SSL encryption for all data in transit, so you can rest assured that your pup’s treat-tossing activities are safe from prying eyes.
In order to secure your Furbo camera, it’s best to focus on securing your WiFi network. Make sure that your WiFi network is password protected and that you’re using a strong password. You should also enable two-factor authentication if possible.
You can also use a VPN (a Virtual Private Network) such as NordVPN, like we do at home, that encrypts your connection, protects your privacy and makes it more difficult for someone to hack into the camera or your network.
By taking these simple steps, you can help to ensure that your Furbo camera is as secure as possible.
Does the Furbo Dog Camera Come with a Warranty or Return Policy?
When investing in a higher-end product like the Furbo dog camera, it’s always nice to know that there’s a warranty or return policy in place in case something goes wrong.
The Furbo 360 comes with a one-year limited warranty that covers defects in materials and workmanship. If you have any problems with your camera during that time, you can contact customer service through their live chat to order a new unit.
Keep in mind that this warranty won’t cover accidents, liquid spills, misuse of the product, or products that were taken apart and reassembled.
You can return or exchange your camera for up to 30 days from the date of purchase, as long as you have the original packaging and receipt.
To return your Furbo camera, simply contact customer service to get a return authorization number. Once you have that number, you can send the camera back to Furbo and they will process your refund within 14 business days.
The Bottom Line: Is This Treat-Tossing Camera For You?
The Furbo Dog Camera is a great choice for pet parents who want to keep an eye on their furry besties and toss treats to them while they’re away from home. The camera has many features that make it easy to use, so it will be intuitive for even the most tech-challenged pet parents.
Since this camera comes with a 30-day guarantee, there’s no reason not to try it! And who knows, maybe your doggie will benefit from the extra attention and treats. Please share your Furbo experience in the comments below!
