Do you worry about your dog during the day while you're away from home? What if there was an easy way to check on your pet without having to leave work early? Not only will the Petcube Play allow you to look in on Fido, it gives you the option to play with him throughout the day as well.
We have a pet camera so I can check on our dogs and cats when we're away from home for the day. I worry about our older dog, and I always like checking in to make sure the younger two haven't torn the house apart.
THIS PRODUCT IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE
I was excited to try out this pet camera from Petcube because it offers a couple of features that other similar products don't. It's also much smaller than most similar devices, so I thought it may blend in with our home's decor a little better than the pet camera we already have.
What did I think of the Petcube Play?
You'll have to keep reading to find out, but I can tell you that this device makes it easy to check up on your pets when you're not at home. It's also the smallest pet camera on the market, and it can be mounted on the wall or placed on a shelf or table. You don't have to be tech savvy to use it either!
MORE VIDEO REVIEWS: Best Dog Supplies Reviews
Petcube Play Dog Camera Review
As you might have noticed in the picture above, this pet camera is small. It's a 3″ X 3″ X 3″ cube. Most similar devices are at least double its size, so if you only have a small area to work with this may be the best option for you.
The Petbube Play works in much the same way as other pet cameras. You plug the device into a power source and allow it to connect to your home's WiFi. Yes, you have to have WiFi in your home for this device to work.
Then all you have to do is download the Petcube app, which is free for Android and iOS devices. It only takes a few moments to connect your smartphone or tablet to the camera in your home. You'll need to turn on the Bluetooth access on your device and the two will sync up automatically.
RELATED: Furbo Automatic Treat Dispensing Dog Camera Review
Trust me, I'm not tech savvy at all, but it was very simple to get the Petcube Play up and running. As you'll see in my video review above, it comes with simple instructions that are very easy to follow if you can't figure it out on your own.
The camera streams in 1080p HD video, which is better than the 720p you'll find with some similar products. It also has a wide angle view view at 138°. The camera is even equipped with night vision so you can still check on your pups after dark.
The Petcube Plus allows you to hear what's going on at home and record messages for your pets with its 2-way microphone. You'll receive sound and motion notifications when your pets are active.
You can also see the built-in laser toy if you watch my video guide above. It's been certified safe for humans and pets.
This laser lets you play with your pets even when you aren't there. This is a unique feature that is not found on many other pet cameras.
So how does it work? Did I like it, and (more importantly) did my dogs like it? Well, this pet camera from Petcube is not without its flaws, but overall I think it's a great pet camera that definitely does its job.
Towards the end of my video review I show you what the app looks like and how to use it. It's very user friendly, which is a bonus if you're not very tech savvy. You can see that the camera streams in live time, so you see exactly what is going on at your home at the moment you open the app.
SIMILAR REVIEW: Petzi Treat Cam for Dogs Review
When you first open the app you have the ability to either check on your own pets and connect to a live feed from your home camera or watch and play with other peoples' pets. That's right; Petcube lets you link to other cameras, which is cool for a couple of reasons.
You can set your camera to ‘Private' if you don't want anyone else to be able to connect to it.
If your pet is sleeping or doesn't feel like playing, you can entertain yourself by playing with other peoples' pets. If you don't have time to play with your dog during the day, maybe someone else will! It also gives your friends and family members the ability to check on your canine companion for you without having to stop by your house.
BONUS! There are some shelters that use a Petcube to allow pet lovers to play with shelter cats in their spare time!
You can also follow other Petcube users if you find other animals that you really enjoy playing with or if you want to keep tabs on your friends' pets. And remember, you can set your camera to ‘Private' if you don't want strangers to be able to access your feed.
MORE CAMERAS: Top 6 Best Dog Cameras for Pet Monitoring
As you will see in my video review, there is a menu on the left side of the app that allows you to toggle the laser and microphone on and off or share pictures and videos. On the right side you can zoom in to see a close-up of your pet's face, take a video recording or snap a still picture.
The quality of the video feed is good, but there's a bit of a lag sometimes. Of course, that will depend on how strong your internet connection is and how strong the connection is at your home. If you live in a rural area where the internet connection is slower, a pet camera may not be a wise investment.
You can see that the laser entertains our pets, but our dogs aren't always in the mood to play with it. They also get bored with it quite easily, which you can see in my video review. The laser is a HUGE hit with our cats though!
The only thing I don't like about the laser is that it points straight across. That means that you need to put your Petcube Play up high and angle it downward in order to get the laser on the floor. If you place the device on a coffee table or shelf the laser is just going to point straight across at the wall.
Pet cameras aren't a necessity, but they are a great thing to have if you worry about you pets during the day. They may also be able to soothe a pet with mild separation anxiety. Unfortunately, they don't come cheap. You can purchase the Petcube Play for $199 on Amazon, which certainly isn't a price that will fit into every dog owners' budget.
Summary of the Petcube Play Pet Camera Review
THIS PRODUCT IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE
PROS:
- Smallest pet camera on the market, measuring just 3″ X 3″ X 3″
- App is free for Android and iOS systems
- Easy to setup and the app is user friendly
- 1080 p HD camera
- 2-way audio allows you to talk to your pets and hear what is happening in your house
- Sound and motion alerts sent to your smartphone or tablet
- Built-in laser allows you to play with your pets when you're not home
CONS:
- You must have WiFi in your home to use this device, which is necessary for every pet camera
- Laser points straight across and cannot be adjusted, so the device needs to be placed up high and angled down toward the floor or it will point at the wall
- Pricey and won't fit into every pet owners' budget
Now it’s your turn to review the Petcube Play Pet Camera
Do you have one of these pet cameras to monitor your pets when you're not at home? Do you enjoy using it? Do you allow other people to play with your animals or do you have it set to ‘Private'? Share your opinion in the comments below or leave your own video review on our Facebook page. Your review may help other pet owners who are shopping for a pet camera for their home.
Disclosure: We may earn affiliate commissions at no cost to you from the links on this page. This did not affect our assessment of products. Read more here and find full disclosure here.
