If you’re like most pet parents, you worry about your furry friend when you’re not home. What if they get into trouble? What if they eat something bad? These are valid concerns, and that’s why many people are looking for the best pet cameras to help ease their minds.
A pet camera can help you see what your dog is doing when you’re gone, which can help to prevent any bad behaviors from developing.
In this article, we will review the best pet cameras on the market and give you a few tips on how to choose the right one for your needs!
What Is the Best Pet Camera on the Market?
If you’re ready to invest in a pet camera for your dog, you probably want to know which one is the best on the market. While there are a lot of great options available, we’ve narrowed it down to our top five picks:
- Furbo 360° Dog Camera
- Yakry Dog Feeder Camera: Best for Feeding Remotely
- Nooie Dog Camera: Best 360° Camera
- Wyze Cam v3: Best Camera for Night Vision
- Yi 4-Piece Indoor Camera: Best Multi-Room Option
The Furbo 360° Dog Camera (as seen on Ellen) is our top pick for the best pet camera on the market. It's a treat dispenser camera that allows you to see, talk, and give treats to your dog when you're away from home, using the free phone app or an Alexa device. It also has a bark alert feature that will send you notifications if your dog is barking, which can be helpful if you're trying to train them and monitor separation anxiety.
This pet camera offers an optional Nanny Cam subscription with 24/7 live streaming, so you can always see what your dog is up to. It also has something called a Doggie Diary, which is a daily recap of your dog's activities that the motion detection sensor has captured. 30-day free trial is available.
The camera has an HD 360° view that can capture an entire room and has color night vision, so you can see your dog even in low lighting. It also has a two-way audio system, so you can talk to your dog and hear them bark back. A previous model, which includes a 180° view and black and white night vision, is a bit more affordable, if you think you don't need these new features.
The treat tossing feature works great with small round treats. You can make a recording of your voice that alerts your pupperino when it's treat time or choose from a variety of pre-recorded sounds such as a toy squeaking.
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Did you know you can feed your dog with a pet camera?! Yes, it's true! There are now pet cameras on the market that allow you to do just that. The Yakry Dog Feeder Camera is our top pick for the best pet camera for mealtime.
This pet camera has a built-in food dispenser that can hold up to 6 liters of dry food. This can provide 15 meals for a pup and 30 meals for a cat, essential for those nights when you'll be home late.
You can record a 10-second long audio clip that is automatically played before each feeding. You can set up a feeding schedule in the app or manually dispense food from your phone.
The camera also has a two-way audio system, so you can talk to your pet and hear them meow or bark back. It also has a night vision feature, so you can see your pet even in low lighting conditions.
This pet camera is perfect for those who want to make sure their pet is getting enough to eat when they're not home. It's also great for those who have pets that are on a special diet or need to be fed multiple times per day.
This includes puppies who haven't been left alone since the pandemic and need to be fed more often than normal.
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If you have an active pup or several animals in your home, you'll want to consider the Nooie Dog Camera. This pet camera has a panoramic view that allows you to see up to 355° horizontally and 94° vertically.
It uses motion and sound detection that automatically pans and tilts the camera to follow your pet's movements. You'll then receive a notification so you can check in on them. You'll also get alerts when your furry friend is barking and when other people are in the room.
You have a choice of a subscription service to save your videos with cloud storage, like the Furbo Dog Camera above, or saving them to a 32GB storage card that is included in the box. You can also choose between continuous or motion-detected recording options.
This camera doesn't have 2-way audio or a treat dispenser, but it does have night vision and is great for those who want to catch all of the action with one of the best pet camera systems on the market.
This model will also save you money in the long run if you choose not to pay for the subscription service.
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Wyze has been creating smart appliances for the home for years now, and their Wyze Cam v3 is a great choice for those who want to keep an eye on their dog at night. This pet camera has full-color night vision that allows you to see your dog in low lighting conditions. It's a 1080P HD camera that has one of the most accurate sensors on the market.
Unlike other options on this list, Wyze Cam items can be used indoors or outdoors and are able to withstand temperatures between -5 to 113 degrees Fahrenheit (-20°C to 45°C), making them incredibly durable.
You can separately purchase a 32 GB microSD card which can provide you with both live viewing and time-lapse videos over the entire day. You can record up to 3 days of video with this size card.
This new version of the camera now has 2-way audio, so you can listen to your dog and talk to them even when you're not home. It also works with Alexa and Google speaker systems and products for easy control.
It's important to note that this camera does not have a treat dispenser or automatic food dispenser. However, it's a great option for those who want to see their pups clearly at night.
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Some of the best pet cameras can be used in several different rooms or areas of your home. The Yi Home Camera comes as a four-pack, so you can put them in different rooms and have a complete view of your pet's activity through your wi-fi.
These cameras have 1080P HD quality and two-way audio, so you can hear and talk to your dog from anywhere. You can control each individual camera and its settings from the app, allowing you to customize the experience for each room.
You can also choose between downloading the video to a microSD card or subscribing to cloud storage where you upload video through wi-fi. This gives you the option to view your videos without having to take up space on your device.
Most users find that the space for video storage is enough to watch their dogs for several days (up to a week) and don't opt into the cloud storage.
For those with an Echo Show, you can also view your dog on the screen with this device if you're in another room or you have an Echo Show in another space, such as at work. This helps to streamline the experience and make it even easier to keep an eye on your pupper.
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Main Features Comparison
On mobile, turn to horizontal for a better view
Magnetic mounting kit included
Benefits of Using a Pet Camera
I love using a pet camera with Indy and have found it to be super helpful for a few reasons. Here are the best benefits of using a pet camera that I’ve found:
You Can Monitor Their Behavior
One of the main benefits of using a pet camera is that you can monitor your dog’s behavior when you’re not home. This can be helpful in a number of ways. For example, if you notice that your dog is starting to bark more when you’re gone, you can take steps to address the issue before it becomes a bigger problem.
You Can Make Sure They’re Eating
Another benefit of using a pet camera is that you can make sure your dog is eating when they’re supposed to. If you have a schedule for when your dog should be fed, you can use the camera to check in and make sure they’re getting their meals.
This can be especially handy if you’re away for a long period of time and you don’t want your dog to go hungry.
They Double As Security Cameras
In addition to keeping an eye on your dog, you can also use a pet camera to keep an eye on your home. This can be helpful if you’re worried about burglars or you just want to see what’s going on while you’re away. Having a security camera can give you peace of mind.
How Do I Choose a Pet Camera?
Now that you know a little bit more about the best pet cameras on the market, it’s time to start thinking about which one is right for your needs. Here are a few factors to consider so that you can make the perfect choice:
Price
Not only will you need to consider the price of the camera itself, but you may also need to factor in a subscription cost. Many pet cameras come with a free trial period, but after that, you may need to pay a monthly fee to continue using the service.
Features
Some pet cameras come with basic features like live streaming and two-way audio. Others offer more advanced features like treat dispensing, automatic food delivery and Alexa or Google compatibility. Consider which features are most important to you before making your decision. Check out our feature comparison section above.
Ease of Use
You’ll also want to think about how easy the camera is to use. If you’re not tech-savvy, you may want to choose a camera with a simple setup process and user-friendly interface. You may want to make sure that the manufacturer is easy to get in touch with in case you have any questions.
Functionality of the Camera
The most important part of using a camera for your dog or cat is to be able to actually see them! You may choose a camera with 1080p full HD for clarity. You may also choose a camera with motion detection or a wide angle lens or a pan tilt.
Night vision is another popular feature because you can see what is going on, even in low lighting.
Can I Use a Nest Cam to Watch My Dog?
A Nest Cam is a great option for keeping an eye on your home, and their indoor cameras can be used to watch your dog while you’re away. However, there are a few things to keep in mind if you’re considering using a Nest Cam for this purpose.
First, the camera doesn’t have any features specifically for pets, so you won’t be able to dispense treats or food with the camera. You’ll also need to make sure the camera is placed in an area where your dog can’t reach it, as they may be able to damage the camera if they’re able to get to it. Well, this really applies to all dog cameras.
Once you have your Nest Cam set up for your pup, using it is a breeze. The camera will automatically detect and zoom in on the movement, so you can see what your dog is up to at all times. And if you have the Nest Aware subscription, you can even go back and watch footage of your dog from earlier in the day.
Are Pet Cameras Good for Dogs?
Yes, pet cameras can be great for dogs! They offer a number of benefits, such as:
- Ability to check in on your dog while you’re away
- Help with separation anxiety
- Make sure they’re eating properly
- Even use them as security cameras
However, it’s important to remember that pet cameras aren’t a replacement for human interaction, and you should still make sure to spend quality time with your pup when you’re home.
The best pet cameras will meet your dog’s specific needs by providing them with a meal, something special from a treat dispenser, or the reassuring sound of their hooman’s voice.
Is There a Camera Where My Dog Can See Me?
Currently, there aren’t many options available for a pet camera where your dog can see you, but there have been a few on the market previously.
The PetChatz HDX camera provides two-way audio and video experience so that you can see, hear, and speak to your pet from anywhere. However, the company is currently relocating to a new distribution center so they aren’t available.
So far, there have been many promising reviews of the PetChatz camera. Users have reported that their dog or cat quickly learns to respond to the ringtone when their parents call and often come to the camera to see their peeps.
It also helps pet parents to feel more connected in an interactive way to their fur babies while they’re away.
Hopefully, these products will continue to be developed over time with demand from the market. They may even be developed with additional features such as a treat dispenser or motion detection capabilities.
Can Pet Cameras Be Hacked?
You may think that since these cameras are designed to be connected to the internet, they may be susceptible to hacking. And since a camera provides a private viewing of your home, a security camera can be targeted as well.
Most companies that make pet cameras have security measures in place to prevent hacking, but it’s always a good idea to do your own research to be sure.
You can also take additional steps to secure the camera by changing the password frequently and not sharing it with anyone. This means having a strong password on both your wi-fi network as well as a strong password for your camera and app.
You can also use a VPN (a virtual private network), like we do at home, that will encrypt your connection, protect your privacy and make it more difficult for someone to hack into the camera. A subscription to the NordVPN service is low-cost, easy to set up and highly recommended for all your online traffic as it blocks malware, ads, malicious sites, and trackers.
Finally, make sure to keep the software on your pet camera up to date so that you have the latest security features.
The Bottom Line
These are just a few of the best pet cameras on the market for those who want to check in on their pupperino while they’re away. By choosing one of these options, you can ensure that your doggie is happy, safe, and well-cared for when you’re away from home.
What pet security camera has worked best for you? Let us know in the comments!
Great pick for #1! We have one for our pup, and it's phenomenal. It was a huge help in transitioning him out of his crate and into full-house freedom while we were away from home. 🙂
I’m so happy to hear our #1 pick also worked for you and your pupper!