10 Best Dog Cameras of 2020 (Large Pet Camera Test and Comparison)

Dog cameras are not like your regular security or CCTV cameras; instead, most pet cameras are interactive and designed specifically with the purpose of keeping an eye on your pets. They’re extremely popular today because they help with separation anxiety.

Many cameras also have useful features. For example, most dog cameras have a two-way audio system: speakers and a microphone. That way you can talk to your pooch through the camera and a smartphone app.

Some of the best dog cameras will dispense treats, have night vision, and a whole bunch more unique features, depending on the brand. But most importantly, dog cameras come with an app that allows you to check in with your pooch at any time and see what they’re doing.

Benefits of Dog Cameras

While dog cameras are not essential and most owners can take care of their pets without one, today you’ll find a pet camera in many homes, and there are a number of reasons for buying a dog camera.

They provide a peace of mind because you know what your dog is up to (destroying your slippers?) at all times and help prevent unwanted behavior like barking or separation anxiety by issuing commands and dispensing treats. The biggest advantage of a dog camera is in helping you make sure that your dog is safe and secure.

Ensuring Safety with a Dog Camera

In this one way, dog cameras are just like any other security cameras – they provide remote monitoring and allow you to keep an eye on your dog and observe his behavior while you are away from home.

This is especially important if your pooch is mischievous or overly curious since there are many dangers lurking at your home. Even with all the precautions, your dog can get into dangerous cleaning products or other toxic chemicals and medications.

Electrocution is a very common danger for dogs who like to snoop around and mess with things like unplugged electric sockets. Dogs that chew on everything are also in constant danger since they may chew through an electric cord and receive a potentially fatal shock.

Having a dog camera can save your dog from these hazards because you can see if your dog is doing something that he isn’t supposed to. That way, you can call him over to the camera and make sure that he stops with the dangerous behavior.

How to Choose the Best Dog Camera

Dog cameras can have numerous features and they can be very different from each other. However, some features are more important than others and you should take them all into account when you make your choice.

Video Quality

Video quality is not only important because it can give you the prettiest photos and videos of your dog. Better resolution and the sharper images will allow you to see what is going in more detail, which can be important if your dog starts to chew on something that he shouldn’t. If the video quality is not good enough, you may not be able to recognize smaller objects.

Also, there are some cameras that don’t have livestreaming capability, which completely beats the purpose of why you are getting a dog camera. The best choice is a wide-angle HD camera that comes with a smartphone app where you can watch livestream of your dog at any time.

Two-Way Audio

Two-way audio allows you to communicate with your dog. That means that you will be able to hear him and he will be able to hear you.

In addition to having two-way audio capabilities, the sound quality should also be good so your dog can hear you clearly when you tell him to stop with his shenanigans.

Night Vision

If you are working regular, daily shifts, you may not need this feature. But if you work night shifts, it’s necessary for the dog camera of your choice to offer night vision to allow you to see your pooch in dark and not just during the day.

Treat-Dispensing Capabilities

Some dog cameras are almost as regular security cameras with two-way audio but many of them are also able to dispense treats. The dispenser allows you to treat your dog whenever you want but it can also be set to provide regular meals at selected times and intervals.

Pet cameras that dispense treats allow owners to use them as positive reinforcement to train their dogs even when you’re not home.

Motion Alerts

Some dog cameras have motion sensors so you can receive notifications or alerts whenever there is movement in the camera’s range. This allows you to monitor your dog’s movement and activity without having to constantly check in on him.

This feature will alert you of any movement in the range, so it is also useful for other security concerns, like a potential break-in or your teenager coming home past curfew.

Ease of Use

In addition to all the handy features, a dog camera should be easy to set up and the corresponding app should be easy to use. This is particularly true if you are not a technical person but you still want to keep an eye on your dog when you are away from home.

Price

Depending on the number of features and the quality of video and audio feedback, as well as the brand name, the price of dog cameras can vary a lot. The range for dog camera prices is huge and you may find cameras for as little as $30, while there are also cameras that cost more than $300.

I have chosen a few of the best dog cameras to review and make your search a bit faster and easier. In addition to pet cameras, I’ve also included a few “regular” cheap security cameras for dogs monitoring since they can be used to keep an eye on your dog as well.

Top 10 Best Dog Cameras

1 Furbo Dog Camera

The Furbo dog camera is probably the most popular one, and also one of the brands (along with Petcube) that set off the whole pet cameras movement. It’s not a surprise when you see how it works and what it offers – I’ve reviewed it twice, with my oldest review back in 2017.

It is a 1080p HD camera, so it has top-notch video quality. The camera also offers night vision, a 160-degree wide-angle view and two-way audio. You can even add voice control if you have an Alexa device.

Furbo dog camera provides livestream at any time on your phone. It also has treat-dispensing capabilities – you can fill the camera with up to 100 half-inch treats.

The app for this camera can be installed on Android and iOS phones, while the camera can be set up in just 3 easy steps. While the app is easy to use, it can sometimes freeze and you will have to restart the app in order to connect with the camera.

This camera comes with a barking alert, so you will receive push notifications on the app when your dog is barking but I have noticed that other noised can also trigger the bark detector. Furbo also has other alerts that notify you of different activities. However, most of the alerts are now only available if you have a premium plan.

» PROS: High-Quality Video, Wide-Angle View, Night Vision, Two-Way Audio, Treat-Dispensing Capabilities, Bark Detector, Various Alerts Available, Easy to Set Up, App Easy to Use, Works with Alexa

« CONS: A Bit Expensive, Some Features and Alerts Require a Premium Plan, Bark Detector Can Get Triggered by Other Sounds, App Can Sometimes Freeze

 

2 PetChatz HDX USA Made Luxury Dog Camera

One of the most expensive dog cameras on my list is, arguably, also one of the best in terms of the amount of features it offers, most of which I’ve mentioned in my older PetChatz review. PetChatz HDX is the third version of this dog camera brand that provides a complete interactive experience for you and your dog.

The PetChatz camera offers a wide-angle, 1080p live video streaming, with two-way audio, enhanced low-light video quality and stronger Wi-Fi connectivity. This pet camera is made without sharp edges or cords your dog may chew on, so it is one of the safest choices you can find on the market.

The installation is a bit more complicated than other devices I reviewed since the camera has to be mounted on the wall or on the special PetChatz Stand that you have to buy separately. This can also lead to problems with finding the right spot for setting up the camera since the camera has a very short cord and you have to position the camera close to the power outlet.

The new PetChatz HDX camera can be controlled remotely via the app on your iOS or Android phone and it comes with a treat dispenser. PetChatz HDX also has an aromatherapy option that can help calm dogs with separation anxiety. You can use many additional features that will keep your pooch entertained and occupied, like brain games or a subscription to DogTV.

» PROS: High-Quality Video, Wide-Angle View, Two-Way Audio, Treat-Dispensing Capabilities, Aromatherapy Capabilities, Various Alerts Available, App Easy to Use

« CONS: Very Expensive, Complicated Installation, Some Features Require a Subscription

 

3 New Petcube Bites 2 Pet Camera

As I mention in my recent Petcube Bites 2 review, the Petcube brand is one of the pioneers (along with Furbo) in the dog cameras industry and perhaps the best-known brand name to this date. Their products are high in quality but they are also pretty high in price as well. This camera is an improved version of the original Petcube Bites.

This camera allows you to watch your dog in 1080p full HD video but it also has night vision, 160° wide-angle view and 4x zoom. Two-way audio is available and pretty clear. Petcube Bites 2 also has Alexa built-in, so you can control the camera with your voice and use Alexa to perform other tasks.

The pet camera comes with a treat dispenser with 1.5 lbs treat capacity that allows you to toss treats at three different distances, or set up automatic treat dispensing at certain times.

I had no problems installing the camera, while the app is available for both iOS and Android. The app also has motion sensors and various alerts but some features and alerts require a subscription, which can is another expense added to the already hefty price. Also, some users reported connectivity issues, although I haven’t experienced these problems.

» PROS: High-Quality Video, Wide-Angle View, Two-Way Audio, Night Vision, Treat-Dispensing Capabilities, Motion Sensor, Various Alerts Available, Easy to Set Up, App Easy to Use, Built-In Alexa Assistant

« CONS: Expensive, Some Features and Alerts Require a Subscription, Some Reports of Connectivity Problems

 

4 New Petcube Play 2 Dog Camera

In my Petcube Play 2 review, I go in more details how this is a very similar pet camera to Petcube Bites 2 but with some important differences, like instead of tossing treats the camera allows you to play with your furry friend with a built-in laser toy that you can control from your smartphone.

You can also set the lasers to autoplay mode and the camera will keep your dog busy when you’re away from home. Other features are the same as with Petcube Bites 2 – you get a camera with a 1080p full HD video, 160° wide-angle view, night vision, and 4x zoom.

The Petcube Play 2 dog camera also has two-way and a built-in Alexa assistant that allows you to use your voice to issue commands. You can also get motion alerts since the camera comes with motion sensors.

This camera is easy to install, just like the app that is available on Android and iOS devices. However, some features and alerts require subscription and connectivity issues have been mentioned in some reviews. I didn’t have that problem but I did notice that it takes a couple of minutes for the camera to connect to my Wi-Fi.

» PROS: High-Quality Video, Wide-Angle View, Two-Way Audio, Night Vision, Built-In Lasers, Motion Sensors, Various Alerts Available, Easy to Set Up, App Easy to Use, Built-In Alexa Assistant

« CONS: Expensive, Some Features and Alerts Require a Subscription, Some Reports of Connectivity Problems

 

5 Nest Cam Security Camera for Pet Monitoring

This is one of the best security cameras overall but since it is not specifically designed for pets it doesn’t allow you to dispense treats. This model is specifically designed for indoor use but you can get another high-quality camera for outdoor use if you need it.

The camera shows a live stream video in full 1080p HD quality. You can watch the video on the app, as well as receive sound and motion alerts. In fact, this camera allows you to set up the type of motion alerts you can receive since it can differentiate between your dog rolling and a person entering the room.

What makes this camera special is the superior night vision mode that shows a clear view of the entire room and not just a limited spotlight. The camera works with Alexa to allow voice commands, while the setup is quick and easy – you can mount the camera on the wall (the wall-mounting piece is included) or you can set it up on a flat surface. The biggest problem I had with this camera is the monthly subscription, which is necessary if you want to get the full scope of the features.

» PROS: High-Quality Video, Wide-Angle View, Two-Way Audio, Night Vision, Refined Motion Sensors, Various Alerts Available, Easy to Set Up, App Easy to Use

« CONS: Expensive, No Treat-Dispensing Capabilities, Some Features Require a Subscription

 

6 Vimtag VT-362 Surveillance Camera

This surveillance camera can rotate the view 350 degrees and tilt it 100 degrees, so you should be able to get almost a complete view of the room at any time. The camera also comes with pan and zoom capabilities and provides night vision so you can keep an eye on your dog in dark as well.

The video quality is great since the videos are recorded in 1080p HD quality. The camera comes with an app on which you can watch live streams and use it to talk with your pooch since the camera has 2-way audio as well.

The storage capacity is 32 GB, which is good but you can also install a micro SD card up to 512 GB of storage space. Alexa assistant is built-in and allows you to use voice control and perform other tasks.

Unfortunately, this camera doesn’t have treat-dispensing capabilities. One of the main issues I had with this camera was the poorly developed user interface on the app. It can get complicated at times and if you are looking for a camera that will provide more than simple monitoring, you may not like the UI as well since taking snapshots and other features are not presented in a user-friendly manner.

Also, I noticed that the motion detection is slow and often gets activated after my dog was already out of the frame. In addition to this, some users reported security issues, complaining that their camera was hacked and controlled by somebody else.

» PROS: Affordable, High-Quality Video, Complete View Due to Rotating Capabilities, Two-Way Audio, Night Vision, Motion Sensors, Various Alerts Available, Easy to Set Up

« CONS: No Treat-Dispensing Capabilities, Slow Motion Detection, Bad User Interface, Potential Security Breaches on the Camera Software

 

7 TENVIS Affordable Security Camera for Dogs

This is another affordable security camera that is not made specifically for dogs so it doesn’t have treat dispensing capabilities.

Despite not being a pet specific camera, it has many great features pet owners can use, like 720p HD video quality and the ability to cover 360 degrees in order to provide a complete view of the surveilled area thanks to the unique design that provides the camera with 355°horizontal and 120°vertical rotation.

The camera also has a powerful night vision range of 32 feet and two-way audio that allows you to communicate with your furry friend. There are also motion sensors that send a notification to your app when activated. This camera also has room for an SD card with up to 128 GB of storage space.

While the camera comes with detailed instructions on how to set it up, it can be a bit difficult to do this if you are not a tech-savvy person. And while I had no problems with connectivity, some users reported connectivity issues, especially if they have more than one camera connected to the app, which is possible with to do if you have multiple TENVIS security cameras.

» PROS: Affordable, High-Quality Video, Complete View Due to Rotating Capabilities, Two-Way Audio, Night Vision, Motion Sensors, Various Alerts Available

« CONS: No Treat-Dispensing Capabilities, Difficult to Set Up, Some Reports of Connectivity Issues

 

8 Pawbo Life Pet Camera

As I’ve said in my old Pawbo review, this dog camera offers a very smooth livestream in 720 HD video quality, which is a bit less than some of the best dog cameras at the top but still good. The camera also comes with a 130° wide-angle lens and 4x digital zoom, as well as two-way audio that allows you to talk to your pooch.

The best thing about Pawbo dog camera is the fact that it allows you to dispense treats and play with your dog thanks to built-in lasers – it’s the only dog camera that has both of these features included in one product.

On the downside, the camera can get pretty loud when dispensing treats and some dogs can get scared of the sound. Another problem is the low quality of night vision mode – I have choppy and barely visible video when the camera was in night vision. Some users also reported connectivity issues, especially if you have multiple Wi-Fi networks in your home.

» PROS: Wide-Angle View, Two-Way Audio, Night Vision, Motion Sensors, Treat-Dispensing Capabilities, Laser Games, Various Alerts Available, Easy to Set Up

« CONS: A Bit Expensive, Some Reports of Connectivity Problems, Bad Night Vision Video Quality, Treat Dispenser a Bit Loud

 

9 Nooie Cheap Dog Camera (360 View + WiFi)

If you are looking for the best dog camera that won’t set you back a lot, Nooie dog camera is probably your best choice. As I’ve said in my review, this affordable pet camera is more of a baby monitor for dogs, it’s easy to set up and comes with tons of useful features but it doesn’t have treat dispensing capabilities.

While this camera has two-way audio, night vision and pan, tilt and zoom capabilities that provide a full view of the surroundings, the video quality doesn’t hold up to high standards as other dog cameras on my list. On the other hand, the ability to rotate the camera 80 degrees vertically and 350 degrees horizontally is a pretty unique feature when it comes to dog cameras I have reviewed.

This camera also works with Amazon Alexa and comes with motion sensors and alerts that you can receive on your iOS or Android device. Among other unique features it comes with motion tracking, with sound and motion detection. The downside is that because it’s made “overseas,” the instructions for this pet camera are written in poorly translated English and some dog owners have experienced connectivity problems.

» PROS: Affordable, Camera Can Rotate to Offer Full View, Two-Way Audio, Night Vision, Motion Sensors, Various Alerts Available, Easy to Set Up

« CONS: Some Reports of Connectivity Problems, Instructions Hard to Understand, No Treat-Dispensing Capabilities

 

10 Petzi Treat Cam for Dogs

Petzi Cam is oldschool, and it’s one of the first cameras I’ve reviewed a long time ago. This dog camera that dispenses treats can’t compete with the top ranked brands in terms of video quality since it is in 720p resolution but that is still good enough to get a clear picture of what your pup is doing when you are not home.

On the other hand, the camera does capture videos from a wide angle and has night vision mode included as well. Unfortunately, it lacks two-way audio – you can only speak to your pooch but you can’t hear him.

The camera can be installed easily, anywhere in your house. You can mount it to the wall with screws or affix it to a shelf or other piece of furniture with Velcro. The app is available for both iOS and Android devices and allows you to dispense treats at will.

Petzi dog camera also has dash replenishment enabled which allows you to set automatic reorders when the treats get low. Treat dispenser is a bit loud, however, so this camera may not be the best choice if your pooch gets easily spooked.

I was reluctant to include this camera in my review at first since there are many poor reviews left by other dog owners, mainly about the connectivity issues. But since I didn’t experience those issues, at least for the couple of weeks that I tested the product, I felt that this is a solid camera that warrants a place on my list, although at the very end of it.

» PROS: Wide-Angle View, Two-Way Audio, Night Vision, Treat-Dispensing Capabilities, Motion Sensors, Easy to Set Up, App Easy to Use, Dash Replenishment Enabled

« CONS: No Two-Way Audio, Treat Dispenser Is a Bit Loud, Many Reports of Connectivity Problems

Conclusion

While the market for dog cameras is still relatively young and should grow in the upcoming years, there is still a wide range of products you can choose from at the moment. I hope that my guide and reviews have been helpful and that you have been able to use my advice to find the best dog camera for your needs.