If you need to spend time away from home, a pet camera can be a great way to check on your dog while you’re gone. It can provide peace of mind by enabling you to see that they are safe and sound. It also provides a way for you to monitor their behavior, and many camera models even provide opportunities for you to engage with your pet, which can help you both feel better.

However, with so many different brands available, it can be challenging to find the right pet camera. Keep reading as we list reviews of the most popular brands, along with the pros and cons of each. There’s also a buyer’s guide to help you know what features to look for while shopping around.

A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2024

The 7 Best Pet Cameras for Dogs

1. Petcube Cam HD Monitoring With Vet Chat Pet Camera — Best Overall

Petcube Cam HD Monitoring With Vet Chat Pet Camera is the best overall pet camera for dogs. It has a 1080p camera that provides a 110-degree angle of your home, so it’s easy to see what your dog is doing even when they aren’t up close. Night vision will enable you to see in the dark up to 30 feet away. It works with your smartphone, so you always have access to your pet, and the included app provides a direct line to the vet should you encounter any problems. It can also save and replay activity if you purchase a subscription.

The main complaints about Petcube include its delayed sound, which takes a few seconds to get from your cell phone to the unit. Several people also complained that it could occasionally be glitchy, with the video and sound cutting out intermittently, requiring users to restart the pet camera or app.

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2. Wyze Cam v3 Pet Camera — Best Value

The Wyze Cam v3 Pet Camera is the best camera for dogs for the money. It has a 1080p camera, night vision, and even motion detection that will cause the camera to start recording when it detects movement. It’s also water resistant, which makes it a good choice if you need an outdoor pet camera. One of the most popular features of this camera for users is its ability to record video to a 32-GB microSD card, with some saying that it can accept a 128-GB card, so you don’t need to worry about subscription plans or cloud storage.

According to many users, the downside to the WYZE is that the video gets grainy after about 30 feet, making it hard to tell what’s going on at that distance. Another problem is that many people find the app difficult to use.

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3. Arf Pets Smart Automatic Wi-Fi Enabled Pet Feeder With HD Camera — Premium Choice

Arf Pets Smart Automatic Wi-Fi Enabled Pet Feeder With HD Camera is our premium choice pet camera for dogs. It provides standard HD visuals, and the night vision will help you see what’s going on even when the lights are low. It also includes a feeder with a large 29-cup capacity, so you won’t need to worry about your dog getting a healthy meal while you are away. The battery backup will ensure that the machine keeps running even if the power goes out, and the two-way voice connection will help you communicate with your pets.

The main complaint about this Arf model is that setting it up can be a challenge, and you will need to redo it every time that you change locations or your Wi-Fi password, which can be a real hassle. Many people also mentioned that it’s easy for dogs to tip it over, especially if they are trying to get food, which can point the camera straight at the floor.

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4. Cinnado 360° Indoor Wifi Security Camera 2K With Phone App

The Cinnado 360° Indoor Wifi Security Camera 2K With Phone App is a powerful camera ready for nearly any application, including keeping an eye on your pet when you aren’t home. The image is crystal clear due to the 2k FHD camera, and it also has four infrared lights that will enable you to see in the dark. With the motion-detection feature, it will start filming at the first sign of movement, and two-way audio will let you talk to your pets when you can’t be there. You can store your film using an SD card or by getting a subscription and using the cloud service, and the camera is even compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. One of the greatest features of this app is the tilt and pan controls that let you achieve a 360-degree view of your home.

Unfortunately, despite all the powerful features, there are a few downsides to the Cinnado pet camera. First, the camera doesn’t come with an SD card, so to save any videos, you will first need to purchase one or sign up for a subscription to the cloud service. Second, cloud storage is expensive, and uploading requires a great deal of bandwidth, which can slow your internet.

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5. TP-Link Tapo Pan/Tilt Pet Camera

The TP-Link Tapo Pan/Tilt Pet Camera is a fantastic camera that provides users with a 360-degree view of their home at any time. It also includes night vision, so you can use it at night. Two-way communication makes it easy to talk with your pets so you can provide comfort while you are away. SD card storage enables you to store your videos locally, or you can sign up for a subscription to keep them in the cloud.

The biggest downside to the TP-Link camera is that the motor is quite loud, and the noise gets into your video, which can make it annoying to watch and even hard to tell if your dog is making any sounds.

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6. Litokam 360 Pan/Tilt Smart Home Security Camera for Pets

The Litokam 360 Pan/Tilt Smart Home Security Camera for Pets has 360-degree rotation, and you can program up to six locations to point at quickly. It also has a motion-detection sensor that will turn on at the first sign of movement, and it will then start tracking that object as it begins to record video. Two-way audio enables you to communicate with your pets, and it works with Alexa, which helps add new features, like the ability to open the app by name.

Unfortunately, the Litokam also has a few problems, like no support for 5KHz and a poor-quality app with considerable lag. Another problem is the short cord, which causes many people to need a longer replacement.

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7. Galayou Indoor WiFi Camera 2K

The Galayou Indoor WiFi Camera 2K is an easy-to-set-up device featuring motion detection and 6X digital zoom, which will help you get a better look at distant objects if you need to. The two-way audio feature will help you communicate with your pets, and you can install a microSD card or subscribe to the cloud service to save your clips.

While many people enjoy the clear image, the Galayou can get quite hot while it’s operating and can even overheat. Others mentioned that the cord is a little short, and the sound quality isn’t great.

Buyer’s Guide: Selecting the Best Pet Camera for Dogs

Resolution and Image Quality

A crucial thing to look for when choosing a pet camera for your dog is image resolution and clarity. Modern cameras have come a long way in the past few decades, so there is little excuse for a blurry image in new products. Look for a camera that has an image resolution of at least 1080p, with a better option being 2K FHD.

Night Vision

Choosing a camera that has a night-vision feature can help make it possible to use your camera around the clock. It will likely have small light-emitting diodes (LEDs) that emit ultraviolet light that humans, dogs, and other animals can’t see, but the camera can, enabling us to see in the dark. Some cameras will have more powerful LEDs than others, which will produce better nighttime pictures.

Pan, Tilt, and Zoom

Many pet cameras available today enable the user to pan, tilt, and even zoom the camera, with some giving a full 360-degree view of the environment. These can be more useful than traditional point-and-view cameras that only enable you to focus on one spot because you can keep your pet in the center of the frame at all times. Some cameras even have automatic tracking for hands-free enjoyment. However, remember that these cameras often use complex mechanisms that can add noise and sometimes even visual distortions when in operation. Research any 360-degree models carefully to ensure that they operate quietly and smoothly.

Two-Way Communication

Most of us want our pet cameras to provide two-way communication so we can comfort our pets when we view them on screen. Try to ensure that any camera that you are considering purchasing has this feature.

Storage Options

Consider whether you want to use local or cloud storage to save footage of your pet. Cloud storage can be convenient but often comes with subscription costs and can use a large amount of bandwidth. An SD card enables you to keep your files local, but you usually need to purchase it separately and install it in the camera.

Conclusion

When choosing your next dog camera among these reviews, we highly recommend our top choice. The Petcube Chat Pet Camera provides a wide view of the environment. It also has night vision, and the app has a direct line to your vet. Other great choices include our best value, the Wyze Cam v3 Pet Camera, with its motion detecting and water resistance, and our premium choice, the Arf Pets Smart Pet Feeder, which combines the benefits of a pet camera with an automatic feeder.

Also see:

• How to Keep a Dog Busy While at Work: Proven Methods
• How to Travel Without Your Dogs Guilt Free: Tips & Tricks

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Featured Image Credit: Andrey_Popov, Shutterstock