Furbo 360° dog camera

When you’re away, a bark or an unexpected sound can leave you wondering how your dog is doing. The Furbo 360° Dog Camera is designed to keep you connected through live viewing, alerts and two-way audio.

It can also toss treats, so you have a way to interact from the app rather than simply watching a feed.

There’s an important catch: a paid Furbo Nanny subscription and a one-time activation fee are required before the camera can be used. The product listing specifies a three-month minimum commitment and no free trial.

Getting the most from it

Set it up near a power outlet, connect the included USB-A cable, install the Furbo app and join a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network. The camera does not support 5GHz Wi-Fi, and a USB-A power adapter is not included, so you’ll need a compatible charging block of your own. Setup also requires choosing a subscription plan, without activation, the camera has no available features.

With an active plan, you get live view, two-way audio and treat tossing, along with AI alerts and video history. The camera can send real-time notifications about barking and unusual activity, which may be useful if you’re out and want a prompt to check in. For example, if your dog starts barking while you’re at work, an alert can let you open the app and speak through the camera. How helpful that is will depend on your Wi-Fi connection and whether you’re comfortable relying on app notifications.

Furbo says it uses bank-level encryption and recommends enabling two-step verification. Those are useful privacy measures to know about, though they don’t remove the need to consider where you place a camera in your home.

Why it’s worth it

The appeal is the combination of remote interaction and alerts, rather than video alone. If you prioritize checking in and responding to your dog during the day, the audio and treat-tossing functions give you more to do than simply watching a basic camera feed. If you prefer a one-time purchase with no recurring commitment, a simpler camera without a required subscription may suit you better.

The plan requirement is the main limitation. The activation fee is paid during setup, and the subscription must be active to use the camera’s features. You can cancel after the initial commitment, the product information says core features remain after cancellation, but advanced AI alerts and video history are listed as subscription features. For an additional camera, a new Furbo Nanny subscription is required.

The essentials

This is a rotating dog camera with app-based live viewing, two-way audio, treat tossing, auto-tracking, AI alerts and video history. The included items are the camera and a USB-A power cord. The power adapter and subscription are not included. Keep in mind that the setup is tied to 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, so a home using only 5GHz Wi-Fi won’t meet the stated connection requirement.

Given how it’s set up, it makes most sense for someone who wants interactive monitoring and is willing to budget for an ongoing plan, not someone looking for a plug-in camera with features available immediately. It suits you if you’ll use the alerts or remote interaction, it is not for you if subscription-based activation is a deal-breaker.

When to choose it

Choose the Furbo if being able to check in, talk to your dog or toss a treat remotely matters more than avoiding a subscription. It may be a practical fit for a dog that spends time home alone and for an owner who wants barking or unusual-activity alerts during the day. Skip it if your Wi-Fi is limited to 5GHz, you don’t have a compatible USB-A adapter, or you’d rather avoid the required plan and activation fee. Those conditions shape the day-to-day experience as much as the camera’s feature list.