Folkestone Groomers Directory
← Back to Blog

Best Pet Cameras with Treat Dispensers: Furbo vs Petcube vs Alternatives (UK)

Folkestone Groomers Team
5 December 2025
12 min read
Pet camera with treat dispenser showing dog receiving a treat remotely via smartphone app

Affiliate Disclosure

This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. We only recommend products we trust and believe will be valuable to our readers.

Best Dog Camera with Treat Dispenser UK (2025): Furbo vs Petcube vs Budget Alternatives

A dog camera with treat dispenser lets you see, talk to, and reward your pet from anywhere—turning your phone into a window home. If you've ever worried about leaving your dog alone, these dog treat dispensing cameras offer real peace of mind. You can check they're okay, hear if they're barking, and toss them a treat to break up their day.

Separation anxiety affects a surprising number of dogs in the UK. According to the RSPCA, around 8 out of 10 dogs struggle when left alone, though half won't show obvious signs.[1] Pet cameras won't cure separation anxiety on their own, but they're a useful tool for monitoring behaviour and providing comfort while you work on the underlying issue.

This guide compares the main options available in the UK: the premium Furbo 360°, the more affordable Petcube Bites 2 Lite, and several budget alternatives that skip the monthly subscription fees. We'll cover what each camera actually does, what it costs (including any hidden subscriptions), and which one makes sense for your situation.

Key Takeaways: Dog Camera and Treat Dispenser

  • Best premium dog camera treat dispenser: Furbo 360° (£149-199) offers 360° auto-tracking, colour night vision, and bark alerts
  • Best value dog treat dispenser camera: Petcube Bites 2 Lite (£90-100) delivers core features at half the price of Furbo
  • Best automatic dog treat dispenser with camera (no subscription): SKYMEE Petalk AI II offers 180° pan without ongoing fees
  • Budget pick under £50: LUSIMPO offers treat tossing and 1080p video without subscription costs
  • Separation anxiety support: Pet cameras help monitor behaviour but work best alongside proper training with a qualified behaviourist

Why Bother with a Dog Camera and Treat Dispenser?

Before we get into specific products, it's worth asking: do you actually need a dog camera that dispenses treats? For some dog owners, the answer is obviously yes. If your dog barks when you leave, destroys furniture, or you just worry about them constantly, a treat dispensing camera gives you eyes on the situation.

The treat-dispensing feature adds another layer. It's not just about watching—it's about interaction. Hearing your voice and getting a treat can help break your dog's focus if they're getting stressed. You can reward calm behaviour from across town, which is genuinely useful if you're working on training.

That said, these cameras aren't magic. If your dog has serious separation anxiety, tossing treats from an app won't fix it. You'll still need to work on the underlying issue, ideally with a qualified behaviourist. What the camera does give you is data—you can see exactly what your dog does when you're not there, which helps identify patterns and track progress.

What to Expect from Dog Treat Dispensing Cameras

All the dog camera treat dispensers we're covering share some basic features:

  • Live video streaming – Watch your dog in real time through a smartphone app
  • Two-way audio – Talk to your dog and hear what's happening at home
  • Treat dispensing – Launch treats remotely with a tap on your phone
  • Night vision – See what's going on even when the lights are off
  • Motion or sound alerts – Get notified when something's happening

The differences come down to video quality, camera movement (fixed vs 360° rotation), smart features like bark detection, and whether you need to pay a monthly subscription for full functionality.

Furbo 360° Dog Camera: The Premium Dog Treat Dispenser

Furbo has become the best-known name in dog cameras with treat dispensers, and their 360° model is the current flagship. It's designed specifically for dogs (the company doesn't mess about with "pet cameras"—it's a dog camera) and it shows in the feature set.

What You Get

The headline feature is the 360° rotating camera. Unlike fixed cameras where you're stuck with one angle, the Furbo rotates on its base to give you a full view of the room. There's also auto-tracking—the camera follows your dog as they move around, so you don't need to manually pan to find them.[2]

Video quality is solid at 1080p Full HD, and it includes colour night vision—a genuine upgrade over the grainy black-and-white footage you get from cheaper cameras. You can actually see what your dog is doing in a dim room, not just make out a vague shape.[2]

The treat-tossing mechanism flings treats about a metre, with a sound (like a squeaky toy) to grab your dog's attention. It's designed to be a bit theatrical—the whole point is that your dog notices and comes running.

The Smart Features (and the Catch)

Where Furbo really tries to differentiate itself is with AI-powered alerts. The camera can detect barking and send you a notification—helpful if you want to know when your dog is reacting to the postman or getting worked up about something.

Here's the catch: the most useful features require a paid subscription. The Furbo Dog Nanny plan unlocks advanced bark alerts, activity alerts, cloud video recording, and daily highlight videos. Without it, you can still see, talk, and toss treats, but you lose the smarter monitoring features.

In the UK, the Furbo Dog Nanny subscription costs around £5-6 per month on annual plans, or you can pay upfront for multi-year deals.[3]

UK Price and Value

The Furbo 360° typically sells for around £149-£199 in the UK, depending on sales and whether you're buying a bundle with a subscription.[2] That puts it firmly at the premium end of the market.

Factor in the subscription and you're looking at roughly £220-£270 for the first year if you want full functionality. It's not cheap, but if the 360° coverage and smart alerts matter to you, it's the most complete package available.

Furbo 360° Quick Summary

  • Price: £149-£199 (camera only)
  • Video: 1080p HD with colour night vision
  • Movement: 360° rotation with auto-tracking
  • Subscription: Optional but recommended (£5-6/month for full features)
  • Best for: Dog owners who want comprehensive monitoring and are willing to pay for it

Furbo 360° Dog Camera

Premium pet camera with 360° auto-tracking, colour night vision, and treat tossing

Petcube Bites 2 Lite: Best Value Dog Camera Treat Dispenser

If Furbo's price tag makes you wince, the Petcube Bites 2 Lite offers most of the same core features at a significantly lower cost. It's become a popular dog camera treat dispenser alternative in the UK, and for good reason.

What You Get

The Petcube Bites 2 Lite delivers 1080p HD video with a 160° wide-angle lens—wide enough to capture most of a room without needing to pan. There's night vision, two-way audio, and a treat dispenser that flings treats at varying distances.[4]

The camera works with Alexa, so you can pull up the feed on an Echo Show or use voice commands. It's compact enough to sit on a shelf or mount on a wall.[4]

PCMag's review praised it for delivering the core pet camera experience—see, hear, talk, treat—without the premium price.[5]

What's Missing Compared to Furbo

The biggest difference: no 360° rotation or auto-tracking. The camera stays fixed where you point it. If your dog moves out of frame, you can't follow them. For many homes, the wide-angle lens covers enough ground that this isn't a problem, but in larger rooms or open-plan spaces, you might miss some action.

Some users report minor audio lag or connectivity hiccups, though reviews are generally positive. It doesn't have the AI-powered features of the Furbo—no dedicated bark detection or activity analysis built in.[5]

The Subscription Situation

Petcube has its own subscription service called Petcube Care. It adds video history, smart alerts, and downloadable clips. Pricing starts around $5-6/month (roughly £4-5), with annual plans offering savings.[6]

The good news: you can use the camera perfectly well without the subscription. You get live video, two-way audio, and treat tossing for free—you just lose the cloud recording and advanced alerts. For many people, that's enough.

UK Price and Value

The Petcube Bites 2 Lite sells for around £90-100 in the UK through retailers like Argos and Amazon.[7] That's roughly half the price of a Furbo, and you're getting a solid, reliable camera that does what it promises.

If 360° coverage isn't essential and you'd rather save the money, this is the one to buy.

Petcube Bites 2 Lite Quick Summary

  • Price: £90-100
  • Video: 1080p HD with 160° wide-angle lens
  • Movement: Fixed camera (no pan/tilt)
  • Subscription: Optional (basic features work without it)
  • Best for: Dog owners wanting reliable treat-tossing without premium pricing

Petcube Bites 2 Lite

Best value pet camera with 1080p video, wide-angle lens, and treat dispenser

UK Dog Camera Treat Dispenser Alternatives Without Subscription Fees

If ongoing subscription costs put you off, there are several automatic dog treat dispensers with cameras that give you full functionality without monthly fees. They lack some of the polish of Furbo and Petcube, but they get the job done.

SKYMEE Petalk AI II: Budget Pick with Pan Function

The SKYMEE Petalk AI II offers something the Petcube doesn't: 180° pan capability. You can remotely rotate the camera to follow your dog around the room—not quite 360° like Furbo, but a genuine upgrade over fixed cameras.[8]

It has 1080p HD video, two-way audio, night vision, and a treat dispenser that holds dry treats between 0.6-1.1cm in size. Crucially, there's no subscription required—everything works through their free app.[8]

The SKYMEE typically costs around £80-100 in the UK. It's not as slick as the premium options, but if you want pan/tilt without paying extra every month, it's worth considering.

SKYMEE Petalk AI II

Budget-friendly pet camera with 180° pan, treat dispenser, and no subscription fees

Closer Pets TreatView: UK Brand with 3-Year Warranty

Closer Pets is a UK company, which means easier customer service if something goes wrong. Their TreatView camera offers a 130° wide-angle lens, 1080p video, two-way audio, and treat dispensing—the standard feature set.[9]

What stands out is the 3-year guarantee—significantly longer than most competitors offer. The camera supports both 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz Wi-Fi, which can help with connection stability. There's also an adhesive wall-mounting option if you don't want to drill holes.[9]

The TreatView sells for around £80-100 in the UK. It's a sensible choice if you value after-sales support and don't need fancy AI features.

Closer Pets TreatView

UK brand with 3-year warranty, 1080p video, and no subscription required

LUSIMPO Pet Camera: The Budget Option

If you're watching your pennies, the LUSIMPO is the cheapest option worth considering. It offers 1080p HD video, night vision, two-way audio, and treat tossing—and it typically sells for under £50 on Amazon UK.[10]

It supports both 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz Wi-Fi and has no monthly subscription fees. Amazon reviews are generally positive, with users praising the easy setup and functional app.[10]

The trade-off? It's a fixed camera with no pan function, and you're not getting the build quality or sophisticated features of pricier options. But at this price point, it's a low-risk way to try out a treat-dispensing camera.

LUSIMPO Pet Camera

Budget option under £50 with 1080p video, treat tossing, and no subscription fees

Dog Camera Treat Dispenser Comparison Table

Here's how the main dog camera and treat dispenser options stack up:

Comparison infographic showing features and prices of Furbo, Petcube, SKYMEE, Closer Pets and LUSIMPO pet cameras with treat dispensers
Pet camera comparison: key features and UK prices at a glance
CameraUK PricePan/RotateSubscriptionStandout Feature
Furbo 360°£149-199360° + auto-trackYes (for AI features)Colour night vision, bark alerts
Petcube Bites 2 Lite£90-100Fixed (160° lens)OptionalBest value, Alexa compatible
SKYMEE Petalk AI II£80-100180° panNoPan function, no fees
Closer Pets TreatView£80-100Fixed (130° lens)NoUK brand, 3-year warranty
LUSIMPOUnder £50FixedNoCheapest option, dual Wi-Fi

Buyer's Guide: Choosing the Best Dog Camera Treat Dispenser

Before you buy a dog camera with treat dispenser, think through these practical points:

Do You Actually Need Treat Dispensing?

This might seem obvious, but it's worth considering. Treat-dispensing cameras cost more than basic pet cameras. If your dog is overweight, on a restricted diet, or you have multiple pets who might scrap over flying treats, the dispensing feature could create more problems than it solves.

A simpler camera without treat dispensing might be a better fit. You can still see and talk to your dog—you just can't reward them remotely.

Total Cost Over Time

The upfront price is only part of the picture. A Furbo that seems expensive might actually cost less over three years than a cheaper camera with a mandatory subscription. Do the maths:

  • Furbo 360° + subscription – Around £220-270 first year, £70/year after
  • Petcube Bites 2 Lite (no subscription) – £90-100 total
  • LUSIMPO (no subscription) – Under £50 total

Over three years, the LUSIMPO costs under £50 total while a Furbo with subscription could run £400+. Whether the extra features justify the cost depends on what you need.

Treats That Work

All treat-dispensing cameras have specific requirements for treat size and shape. Most work best with:

  • Small, dry, firm treats – Soft or moist treats can jam the mechanism
  • Uniform shape – Round or spherical treats work best
  • Size around 1-1.5cm – Check your camera's specific requirements

SKYMEE recommends treats between 0.6-1.1cm, while Petcube suggests treats up to 2.5cm (1 inch).[8][4] Standard training treats from most UK pet shops work fine. Avoid anything crumbly or irregularly shaped.

Where to Put It

Position matters. Manufacturers typically recommend placing the camera:

  • About 90cm (3 feet) off the ground – Eye level for most dogs
  • Stable surface – Somewhere it won't get knocked over by an excited dog
  • Near a power outlet – These cameras need mains power
  • Good Wi-Fi signal – Weak signal means laggy video

If you've got a particularly boisterous dog, wall mounting is safer than a shelf or table where the camera could get knocked over.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can pet cameras help with separation anxiety?

Pet cameras can be a useful tool for managing separation anxiety, but they won't cure it on their own. The main benefit is monitoring—you can see exactly what your dog does when you leave, which helps identify triggers and patterns. Hearing your voice and getting a treat might provide short-term comfort, but serious separation anxiety needs proper behavioural work, ideally with a qualified behaviourist.

The RSPCA notes that around 8 out of 10 dogs struggle when left alone, though many don't show obvious signs.[1] A camera helps you see what's really going on.

Do I need a subscription for these cameras to work?

Not necessarily. All the cameras we've covered work without a subscription for basic features—live video, two-way audio, and treat tossing. Subscriptions unlock extras like cloud video recording, advanced alerts, and video history.

Furbo's AI-powered bark alerts and activity monitoring require the Dog Nanny subscription. Petcube Care adds video history and smart alerts. But cameras like SKYMEE, Closer Pets TreatView, and LUSIMPO offer full functionality without any monthly fees.

What treats work best in treat-dispensing cameras?

Small, dry, firm, uniformly-shaped treats work best. Most cameras recommend treats around 1-1.5cm in diameter. Avoid soft, moist, or crumbly treats—they can jam the mechanism. Standard training treats from pet shops are usually fine. Always check your specific camera's requirements, as sizes vary between models.

Is Furbo worth the extra money compared to cheaper options?

It depends on what matters to you. Furbo's 360° rotation and auto-tracking are genuine advantages if you have a large room or want to follow your dog around. The AI-powered bark alerts are useful if you need to know when your dog is barking. The colour night vision is noticeably better than standard night vision.

If you mainly want to check on your dog and toss the occasional treat, a Petcube Bites 2 Lite or even a LUSIMPO will do the job for much less money.

Can I use these cameras for cats too?

Yes, most of these cameras work for cats too. Petcube markets theirs as pet cameras rather than dog-specific. The treat dispensing works with small dry treats regardless of which pet catches them. Furbo is marketed specifically for dogs, but there's nothing stopping you using it for cats—the features work the same way.

Final Recommendations

Here's how to choose:

  • Want the best features and don't mind paying for them? Go for the Furbo 360° with the Dog Nanny subscription. The 360° coverage, auto-tracking, and smart alerts make it the most complete package.
  • Want solid performance at a reasonable price? The Petcube Bites 2 Lite hits the sweet spot. It does everything most people need without the premium pricing.
  • Want pan/tilt without subscriptions? Look at the SKYMEE Petalk AI II. It's not as polished as Furbo, but it gives you rotation without ongoing costs.
  • Value UK support and warranties? The Closer Pets TreatView offers a 3-year guarantee and UK-based customer service.
  • On a tight budget? The LUSIMPO gets the job done for under £50. It's basic, but it works.

Whichever you choose, remember that a camera is just one piece of the puzzle. It won't replace proper training, exercise, or working on separation anxiety if that's an issue for your dog. But it can give you peace of mind—and your dog a few extra treats—while you're out. If you want even more freedom for your pet while you're away, consider pairing your camera with a smart microchip dog door for secure, autonomous access to the garden.

If you're working on your dog's anxiety or grooming routine, you might find our guides to puppy training classes in Folkestone, Hythe and Dover and what to expect at your dog's first groom helpful. A well-trained, well-groomed dog is often a calmer dog—and that makes life easier for everyone.

References

Sources used in this guide:

Find Professional Dog Groomers in Folkestone

Browse our directory of qualified, reviewed dog groomers in Folkestone. Compare services, prices, and availability for expert coat care.

Find Local Groomers

Related Articles

Discover more helpful tips and guides for your pet grooming needs