This review is supported by Furbo, who kindly gifted Bodie with this nifty gadget so we could give you the lowdown! All thoughts and experiences are our very own.
MISS YOU ALREADY
Do you…
- Wonder what your darling doggie gets up to when you’re not home?
- Worry that he or she could be barking, stress-pacing or pining?
- Wish there was a way to send him or her a little love and reassurance – or better yet a tasty snack to break up your time apart?
- Want to watch over your pup while they are sleeping and/or gaze fondly when you should be doing your work?
HOME ALONE
I have always felt a combination of guilty and anxious leaving Bodie home alone, even when I’ve taken him out for an exhaustive walk and all he really wants to do is splay out and sleep, I still feel uneasy telling him, ‘You’re going to stay!’ He watches me so expectantly as I get ready and when he hears the word ‘stay’ he sighs and turns away from me, flumping down on his mat, resigned to his fate. Which is better than when he used to throw himself down on the doorstep like a dead weight and refuse to move, acting like he was about to draw his last breath in a dramatic rendition of a Shakespearean play.
BARK OFF
When a neighbour commented on his disruptive barking, I left my phone on record and was shocked to hear how long he could sustain his vocal outrage. Mind you, the neighbour later said she stuck her hand through the letterbox to try and pat him and calm him down, which may have had something to do with it. Of course I had to go out without my phone that day and I didn’t really want to buy a tape recorder just to tell me that my dog was barking in my absence. There had to be a better way…
And then along comes Furbo, solving all these problems and even adding some doggie bonuses!
FURBO DESIGN
It’s a beauty – the sleek, shiny body has a bamboo topper, which makes me long for a Hello Hoku home – you know the look: an abundance of white surfaces, flooded with bright natural light. Bodie and I are currently visiting my mum in Devon but it looked just as stylish next to her cut crystal and little ivy plant! (Exact dimensions 15 x 12 x 22.5cm)
FURBO FANCLUB
You know how we humans like products celebrities use? Well these celebrity dogs are also big fans of the Furbo: Harlow & Sage, Manny the Frenchie (who I just met at Superzoo in Las Vegas!), Crusoe the Celebrity Dachshund, Elsa from Paws Across Britain and, of course, Hello Hoku!
FURBO SET-UP
These words normally chill my non-millennial heart but it was genuinely a breeze: plug in the Furbo until it beams a green light at its base, download the Furbo app (cute little yellow tab with a white line dog motif) to your smartphone, connect to your wifi and you’re good to go. (You can even operate from your Apple watch!) When you’re ready you can add a little profile pic of your pup with some basic info like breed, age and weight. Oh and don’t forget to add the treats – just lift the bamboo lid and tip them in.
Bodie’s initial meet and greet with the Furbo (prior to plug in and set-up). Seems to be going well…
FURBO TREATS
The Furbo can hold 100 little pieces – the optimum size/shape is a round treat with a 1cm diameter. (Think training treats like Zuke’s Mini Naturals). The light turns from yellow to blue when in use, as these are the two colours dogs can see best.
FURBO SETTINGS
I know this is technically part of the Set Up but I was so keen to see the Furbo in action, I began before making any custom adjustments. Later I increased the speaker volume and recorded my own Snacks Call. I also set the Barking Detection to Medium – this is really handy because, if triggered, you receive an instant barking notification when you’re not home and then you can either call to your dog and soothe him with your words or distract him with a treat.
FURBO CAMERA & VIDEO
The camera (1080p HD) has great wide-angled lens capabilities and can take in an entire room – in our case from the window sill to the back of the sofa, which amazingly Bodie never secretly jumps on! The livestream video can be set to high, medium or low quality (1080p, 720p or 360p) and there’s even Night Vision!
Here he comes! Lured by the sound of the treat popping out!
xFURBO ON YOUR PHONE
The home screen on your phone shows you:
1) the live feed of the room
2) your dog’s profile
3) how many times you have ‘played’ today – as in how many interactions or treat propulsions.
4) a link to all the questions you might have/support you might need
5) a link to the overall menu
Tap the image of the room and it will fill the screen. On the left you have the option to take a photo or a video, in the middle you have the icon for the treat (tap it and you can see 1-4 ping out) and on the right you have the microphone icon which means you can have the sound on or off. (My friend’s hairdresser keeps his phone propped up on his station on silent so he can keep an eye on his pug!)
THE FURBO FUN BEGINS
It look a moment for Bodie to associate the sudden treat windfall with the white machine on the side table, but then I followed the training video (just respond to the invitation to watch) and began hand-feeding him when he acknowledged the whirring-click sound it made as it propels the treat. Once he had made the positive association (rather like clicker training) I could step out of the room and he would hear the sound and go trotting over to investigate, snuffling on the floor and gathering up these doggie versions of ‘pennies from heaven’.
Ultimately Bodie will learn to pose and smile for the camera, I’m sure. For now – contrary as ever!
FURBO FUTURE
I’ve only just begun my adventures with this clever device so I’ll update this post as I proceed – my next goal is to get Bodie to respond to my verbal requests over the microphone, like ‘sit’ and ‘could you get the dinner on for when I get home…’
FURBO PRICE
At £249 you want assurance that it’s worth the investment and I feel very lucky to have been able to try this out and see its value firsthand. If you think of spreading the cost over a year it’s just 68p a day for pup peace of mind! (And of course it will last you many years, so even more of a bargain!)
FURBO CONCLUSION
I just love it when cool, modern tech solves an age-old problem! I used to feel nervous anticipation every time I was coming home from several hours absence – half of me couldn’t wait to see Bodie and the other half was fretting, ‘I hope he’s alright!’ and now I know exactly how he’s doing, plus I’ve got some cute photos and videos of the love of the my life that I wouldn’t normally have! In a nutshell, the Furbo puts the fun in functional – reassuring, makes me feel more connected and with the treat function, I think this might be Bodie’s new best friend!
WANT YOUR OWN FURBO?
The Furbo is available on Amazon (where it’s the #1 bestselling dog camera) or you can buy it direct from the Furbo Shop. Lots more info at: Furbo.com
Amazon currently have a special offer if you purchase with Amazon Prime – £199!!
NOTE:
The Furbo should be set on a stable, flat surface. (It has self-adhesive feet.)
The Furbo is for use only with dogs, it is not suitable for cats.
Your dog will still be just as excited to see you when you get home!
TELL ME MORE!
I’d love to hear about your experiences with Furbo and your furry friend! Can you get them to respond to your commands? Any classic pics? Do drop me a line!
Thank you to Karkalis Communications for arranging our fab Furbo experience!
1 comment
Comment by Jenny azcat
Jenny azcat October 13, 2018 at 2:12 am
Best pet related purchase I’ve made!!! Furbo sends your phone alerts when your dog is barking or when their are loud noises in your house- i.e. when your CO detector is going off! Saved my dog’s life!
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