Pet Camera Reviews: Monitoring Your Morkie While You’re Away

Last Tuesday Georgie ate my sock and acted like I’d wronged him when I took it back. He gave me this look like, “Oh, so you’re just gonna take things now? Cool. Real cool.” The drama, dude. It’s endless. Anyway, you asked about the pet cams – specifically for keeping an eye on your Morkie while you’re out. Lemme tell you, I’ve been through it. When Georgie was a puppy, he was a little destroyer. I’d come home to an upside-down trash can and a very innocent-looking Georgie who would somehow manage to look betrayed that I was even questioning him. Now that Teddy is here, it’s a whole different ballgame. They’re either plotting world domination or fighting over who gets to chew on the most disgusting thing they found outside. So yeah, I’ve used a few.

What I Tried First (and Why It Sucked)

Okay, so first I went cheap. Classic me. I grabbed one of those random “WiFi Pet Camera” things off Amazon for like, $30. It had decent reviews, mostly from people who probably just wanted to see if their cat was still alive. It was a bust. The picture quality was grainy as hell, especially in low light. I swear Georgie looked like a fuzzy potato half the time. And the lag! I’d see him doing something, then ten seconds later, the camera would finally catch up. By then, he’d already moved on to his next mischief. The two-way audio was a joke – it sounded like I was talking through a tin can filled with static. Georgie, who thinks he’s a literal wolf and has very strong opinions about everything, would just tilt his head at the weird noise and then go back to whatever he was doing, probably plotting to steal Teddy’s favorite squeaky chicken. It died completely after about six months, which honestly felt like a mercy killing. Save your money, seriously. Don’t bother with the no-name brands if you actually want to see what your dog is up to.

What Actually Works (Mostly)

After the cheap camera debacle, I decided to actually invest a little. I landed on the Furbo Dog Camera: Treat Tossing Full HD Wifi Pet Camera, which I got on sale for about $170 (usually around $210). This one is way better. First off, the picture quality is solid. Full HD, wide-angle lens, and the night vision actually works. I can actually tell if Georgie is sleeping like an angel or if he’s giving Teddy the side-eye for daring to breathe near his bed. The two-way audio is much clearer. I can actually tell Georgie to “leave it” and he usually, usually, listens. He still gives me that aggrieved look when I get home, like, “Why did you have to interrupt my very important plans to gnaw on the couch leg?” but at least he hears me.

The main selling point, and honestly, the reason I got it, is the treat tossing. It’s pretty genius. You can load it up with small, hard treats (soft ones can jam it) and dispense them from your phone. When Georgie hears that little dispensing noise, he usually zooms over, tail wagging like crazy. It’s a good distraction if he’s getting into something he shouldn’t. Teddy, bless his heart, is usually just confused by it. He tries to figure out where the treats are coming from and then Georgie, the little opportunist, swoops in and snatches them. Classic sibling dynamic. Georgie definitely thinks he deserves all the treats just for existing.

One feature I actually use more than I thought I would is the barking alert. It sends a notification to my phone if Georgie starts barking. This is super helpful because Georgie has a bark that could peel paint. He barks at the mailman, the wind, a leaf falling, his own reflection – you name it. It lets me know if he’s just doing his usual “I’m a big scary wolf” routine or if there’s something actually going on. It’s definitely cut down on my anxiety about leaving them alone. The setup was pretty straightforward too, connected to my Wi-Fi with no drama.

The Other Option (If You Don’t Need Treat Tossing)

So, the Furbo is great, but it’s not cheap. If the treat-tossing isn’t a must-have for you, or if you’re on a slightly tighter budget, I’ve heard good things about the Wyze Cam v3. My friend uses it for her Chihuahua and swears by it. It’s only about $36 on Amazon, so a massive difference in price. It’s got 1080p HD, color night vision, and two-way audio. It also detects motion and sound and sends alerts. It doesn’t have the fancy treat dispenser, obviously, but for basic monitoring and good picture quality, it’s a solid contender. I haven’t personally used it for Georgie and Teddy, but if my Furbo ever bites the dust and I’m feeling less inclined to throw treats at them from afar, it’d be my next go-to. Georgie would probably just stare at it indignantly anyway, wondering why it wasn’t providing him with snacks.

Final Thoughts on Pet Cams

Look, no pet camera is going to completely stop your Morkie from being a Morkie. Georgie will still find ways to cause trouble, like stealing Teddy’s toys and then pretending he found them under the couch, or giving me the cold shoulder because I dared to leave the house without him. But having a camera definitely gives me peace of mind. I can check in, make sure they’re not eating the furniture, and occasionally dispense a treat to remind Georgie that I do, in fact, still love him despite his constant drama. The Furbo has been a good investment for our house, especially with the two of them. It helps me monitor their interactions and step in (verbally, at least) when Georgie inevitably tries to assert his dominance over Teddy, which is pretty much 24/7. He really thinks he’s the pack leader, even though he’s like, seven pounds.

Honestly, I’d just get the Furbo again.

Frequently Asked Questions