Furbo Dog Camera (Product Review)

I was over the moon to receive my Furbo Dog Camera just in time for Christmas. I have a very nervous rescue dog with separation anxiety and I try to only leave him when I absolutely have to and only for short periods.

However, at Christmas family must come first, so my dogs are left for approximately three to four hours per day on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

Initially, I was only interested in the Furbo for the camera feature but I found there was far more than I expected. There is also a microphone so that you can speak to your dog, a treat dispenser and it has night vision too.

Set Up

The Furbo Dog Camera was incredibly easy to set up via an app which I downloaded on to my phone. It took just a few minutes to be up and running.

The photos show what the app looks like on a mobile phone. There is the Night Vision feature which is very handy if you forget to switch the light on before you leave. The barking alert comes up as a notification on your phone. The last photograph shows the photo and video features, the treat toss (you simply swipe the yellow button upwards) and the microphone button which you press when you want to speak to your dog.

Furbo product link

Treat Dispenser

The Furbo Dog Camera instructions suggest that you firstly show your dog that it can dispense treats. Darcy hates anything new coming into the house and will attack anything that scares him. I knew the treats are tossed out so I was aware that it could startle him the first time. However, Darcy was animated and calm while he waited for his treat. Simply dispense the treat by swiping your finger upwards on the app, it is just like magic, and great fun.

At first, I was worried that there would be a fight when they both scrambled for the same treat. However, they soon worked out that Furbo (ie me) would always dispense another treat straight after…so there were no fights!

Camera Location

I tested the camera location a few times to make sure that I could see both dogs when they are in their beds. My dogs are small so I chose to put the Furbo a few inches off the ground on a small shelf. However, there is quite a long electrical lead so it could be placed much higher if necessary.

Bark Alert

Before I left I also made sure that the ‘bark alert’ signal was enabled. This tells you via a notification if your dog starts barking. This is great if you are not able to actually watch via the camera.

I was so intrigued about how the dogs acted when they are alone that I literally had my phone propped up next to me as I ate my Christmas Dinner. The picture quality was excellent and I could see the dogs on the screen as if they were in the same room.

Everyone was fascinated by my new ‘live streaming’ device, I was much more relaxed than usual and I have to admit I was very proud of how my dogs acted when I wasn’t around.

When Darcy barked I activated the microphone and told him quietly to settle down, at first he looked a little startled, but then he did as he was told!

Holly my little fifteen year old looked so comfortable and peaceful in her bed snoozing away, she got up a couple of times to stretch her legs but never made a sound. Darcy was on high alert listening for cars, voices etc outside but even he was more relaxed than I had anticipated. When he did hear a car door outside he made a strange howling noise which I have never heard before, luckily my voice soothed him and I could distract him by dispensing a treat.

On Boxing Day we went out in the evening and again I propped my phone up whilst we all tucked into some lovely party food and played board games. Evenings in our street are much quieter than daytime and I was thrilled that with less noise outside Darcy was very settled and slept for most of the time.

I hate to be apart from my dogs but the Furbo Dog Camera meant that I could relax and enjoy some family time with the knowledge that my dogs were snoozing happily in their beds. If they seemed anxious I would have left the party early, we were only a short car journey away from home.

Keep the neighbours happy!

It was a huge relief to know that when the dogs are alone they are not upsetting the neighbours by barking constantly. We live in a semi-detached house so it’s important to know that the dogs are not causing disruption by barking.

Help with Separation Anxiety

The Furbo Dog Camera is extremely helpful if you have to leave the dog alone when you go to work. If anyone has a dog with separation anxiety the video footage will highlight exactly how bad the problem is. Additionally,  you can show the Furbo footage to a dog trainer or behaviourist so that they can see what the problem is with absolute accuracy. If you adopt a rescue dog or have a new puppy the Furbo will give you an idea of how well the dog settles when you are not around. A breeder could use the camera to monitor an expectant bitch or newborn puppies.

Disadvantages

I have tried to think of some things I wasn’t keen on just to give a balanced review. To be honest, I am over the moon with this product, especially as it was on sale (I love a bargain) and had to think long and hard to find anything that I would change, but here goes:

When a treat is about to be dispensed there is a slight noise which could startle the dog until he learns to get used to it.

A tilt feature on the device would be good so that it is easier to direct the camera at an optimal place to see the dog.

Both points are very minor and I would happily give the Furbo 5 stars.

Some Techie Information (From Furbo Website)

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