If you have ever sat at your desk wondering if your dog is currently eating your sofa, you are the target audience for the **Furbo 360° Dog Camera**. The original Furbo was a massive hit, but it had one glaring flaw: it was a stationary camera. If your dog walked out of frame, you were staring at an empty room while chaos ensued elsewhere. The new 360° model fixes this with a rotating base that tracks your dog across the room, ensuring you never miss a moment of mischief or napping.
This isn’t just a security camera; it is a full-blown interactive pet robot. It combines a high-definition camera with a treat launcher, allowing you to not only see your pet but also play with them from miles away. It is designed specifically for dog owners, with features like bark detection and “dog-specific” two-way audio that claims to be clearer for canine ears. But with a premium price tag and a push for a monthly subscription, is it actually better than taping a $30 webcam to your wall?
Design and The 360° Rotation
The Furbo 360° retains the sleek, hourglass shape of its predecessor, topped with a stylish bamboo lid that seals the treat hopper. It looks less like a piece of surveillance equipment and more like a modern air freshener or smart speaker, fitting nicely into most living room decor. The base is sturdy and comes with industrial-strength 3M adhesive tape on the bottom, which is a thoughtful addition—because a device that spits out food is definitely going to get knocked over by an excited dog eventually.
The headline feature, the 360-degree rotation, works by spinning the entire unit on its base. It is incredibly smooth and allows you to pan around the entire room via the app to check blind spots. The “Auto Dog Tracking” feature takes this a step further by automatically rotating to follow your dog as they pace or play. However, it is worth noting that while it pans horizontally perfectly, it does *not* tilt vertically. If you place it on a high shelf, you might miss your dog if they are sleeping directly underneath it.
Video Quality and Color Night Vision
The camera streams in crisp 1080p Full HD, providing a sharp and detailed picture that lets you see exactly which shoe your dog is chewing. One of the biggest upgrades in this model is the “Color Night Vision.” Unlike standard cameras that switch to grainy black-and-white infrared when the lights go out, the Furbo 360° attempts to render color in low light. This makes a huge difference if you are checking in during winter evenings or if you leave your dog alone at night.
The two-way audio has also seen a significant upgrade to full-duplex sound, meaning you can hear your dog and speak to them simultaneously without that awkward walkie-talkie lag. Users report that the sound quality is clear enough to actually get a dog’s attention, which is rare for these devices. If you see your dog getting into the trash, you can shout a command, and the distraction is usually instantaneous.
The Treat Tossing Experience
Let’s be honest: the reason you buy a Furbo over a generic security camera is the treat tossing. The 360° model features a redesigned internal mechanism specifically built to prevent jamming—a common complaint with older models. It works like a little windmill, scooping up treats and flinging them out of the front slot. It makes a “squeaky toy” sound before launching (which you can customize to your own voice recording), Pavlov-ing your dog into running toward the camera whenever they hear it.
You can adjust the tossing mechanism to handle different sizes of treats, though it works best with dry, round treats about half an inch in size. It is a fantastic tool for distraction. If you get a bark alert, you can open the app, toss a treat to redirect your dog’s focus, and stop a tantrum before it escalates. It turns separation anxiety management into a game rather than a chore.
Smart Alerts and The Subscription Reality
Out of the box, the Furbo sends you basic barking alerts, which is great for knowing if your dog is making noise. However, to unlock the “true” potential of the device, Furbo pushes the “Furbo Dog Nanny” subscription. This paid service adds advanced AI detection for specific events like dog crying, howling, chewing, and even emergency alarms like glass breaking or smoke detectors going off.
The subscription also unlocks cloud recording. Without it, you can only see the live stream; you cannot go back and watch what happened ten minutes ago unless you were staring at your phone. While the “Dog Nanny” features are genuinely impressive and offer peace of mind, it is frustrating to have key security features locked behind a paywall on an already expensive device. You have to decide if the live view and treats are enough, or if you are willing to pay extra for the full “nanny” experience.
Conclusion
The Furbo 360° Dog Camera is essentially the luxury sports car of pet cameras. It is fun, fast, looks great, and comes with features that generic competitors just cannot match. The 360-degree tracking and reliable treat tossing make it an incredibly powerful tool for interacting with your pet, not just watching them. For owners of dogs with separation anxiety, the ability to distract and reward remotely is invaluable.
However, the value proposition depends heavily on your willingness to subscribe. If you just want a camera to check in occasionally, there are cheaper options. But if you want a proactive system that alerts you to emergencies, tracks your dog’s movement, and lets you be a “digital dog parent” from your office, the Furbo 360° is the best in class.
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