Testing Petzi, The Pet Cam That Shoots Treats

Author: Derek Ward, Published on Aug 14, 2015

Do you love dogs?

Do you love the Internet of Things?

Then we have a product for you.

Half camera, half remote-controlled pet treat dispenser, Petzi lets you shoot treats at your dog. That's my dog going for a Petzi treat:

After doubling their IndieGogo goals in 2013, Petzi has finally hit the market, promising users an easy way to look in on, talk to, and best of all, shoot treats at their pets.

We bought one of these cameras to see how well it worked.

** *** **** ****?

** *** **** *** ******** ** ******?

**** ** **** * ******* *** ***.

**** ******, **** ******-********** *** ***** *********, ********* *** ***** ****** ** **** ***. ****'* ** *** going *** * ***** *****:

************* ***** ********* ***** ** ****, ***** *** ******* *** *** ******, ********* ***** ** easy *** ** **** ** **, **** **, *** **** of ***, ***** ****** ** ***** ****.

** ****** *** ** ***** ******* ** *** *** **** it ******.

[***************]

***************

*** ***** ******* ** **** ** *** ** ***** *** and ***** **, ***** **** *** **** **** ****, ***** may ** **********. ** ***** **** *** ******* ** ** pets *** ********** ******, *** ***** ******* *** ******** ******** should **** *********, ** *****'* **** ** ****** ********* ** any **** ** ********* ***** ** ********** *** ************.

Market ******

********* **** ** *****, *** ****** **** ** **** ******* Dropcam ******* ** ******* ***, ** ***** * ***** ******** at * ******** *******. ** ***** **** ** * **** example ************** ** ******, **** ***** ** **** ** ******* ** other *****.

Key ********

***** *** *** *** ****** **** **** ****:

***** ****** ** **** ****

*** **** ***** ******* ** *** ******, ********** ****** *** the ****** ***** ***, ***** ******. *** ***** ***** ***** 1" ****** *** ** ****, *** ******** **** *** * button ** *** ***. ***** ** * ***** ** ~*-* seconds ****** *** ****** *** "*****", ** ** ***** *' from *** ******.

****** ***** *******

***** *** **** ********** *** ****** ** * **** ******* and ******* ******** ***** ~* ******* *****. ***** ******* ** the ****** *** **** *** *** ****** ******* ******* ******** and ******* *****.

*****-** *******

***** *** **** ** ***** **** **** ******* *** ****** right **** *** **** ****, *** ***** *** ***** **** the ****** ** ******* ****, ****'* ****** ***** ******** ****** and ****** ** **** ** **** **** ***** ** ** unstable ** ** **** ****** ***** ****** ** ****** ***** output.

****** ******* ******

**** **** ***** ****** ***** ** **** ***** ****** ******* (or "*******", ** **** **** **), **** ** *** ** opting ***. ******* ** ****** ******* **** ********** *** ******* users ** *** **** ****** ** ******' ***** *****, **** pet ******** ***** *** ******** ******.

*******

***** ***** *** ~$*** *** ******. **** ** ******** ***** **** ***** ******** *******, ********* around *** $*** ****.

Treat ******** *************

****, ** *********** *** ***** ******** ***********. ***** ****** ****:

  • ******** ******* *-* ****** ** ** *** ********* **** **** ********* on *** **** ** *** *****.
  • ***** *** *** ****** *** *** ****** ** **** *** shot **** *** ******, ** *** ******** ********* *** ***** the ****** *** *** *** ** *** ***.
  • *** ***** ******* ********** *** ***** ******** ** ~* *******, which ***** ***** **** ** *** *** ********** ** *** their **** ********* ***** ** *** ****** *******.

** *********** **** ******* ** **** *****:

Physical ********

** *** ***** *****, ** ******** *** ******** ************ ** the ***** ***** ******.

** * **** **********, ***** ** **** *** ***** *** Google **** *** **** ** ****.

Not ******** *** ********

***** ** ********** *** ******** ******** *** ******** *******:

  • ** ***** ****** ********* ** ******** ** *** ******.
  • ***** **** *** ****** ***** ** *** ****, ****** ******* or ** *** *****. ********* *** ** ***** ******** *** mobile ***.
  • *** ****** ** ********* ******* ***** ** *** ****** **** most ******* *** ** *** ***** ********** ********, ****** ** less **** ***** *** ********.
  • *** ********** ** ** ******** ** ******* ********, ****** ********* video ********** **** ******** ** ***** ******** ******* **** ******.

***** ******** *******

***** *** ******* ***** ******** ******* ** ***** ***** ** typical ******** *******, ** ****:

**** *** **** *** ******

*********, ***** ******** **** *** **** ******* *** ****** **** no ******* **** ***** *****. ***** **** **** *** ******* ** allow **** ***** ** ****** *** ******.

** ************* ********

***** *** ** ************* ** ***** ******** **** ***** *** change **********. ***** ********** ******** *******, ***** ***** *** "**** of *** ***** ** ****** ******** *** **** ********** ****** **** is ******* ****** *** ***."

****** ****** *******

*********, ***** *** ************* ******** ** *** ***** ****** ******* **** account ******** *** ***** **** ** *** ** **** ***. When ** ***** ******** ******* ***** ****, ***** ***** *** "As *** *** ***** ****** *******, ** ** * **** of *** ******* **** *** *** ******** ** ** * default, *'** ** **** ** **** ***** ** *** ********** that *** ****** ** ** **** ** **** *** *** been ******* **."

******* ******* *****

***** ** * **** ***** **** ***** **** * ***** **** (~80-90°) **** ** ********** ******. ***** *** **** ** ****** tilt *** **** ******* ** ********* ** ****** *** ***** pets ********* ** ***** *** ****** ** ******.

Petzi *****

******* ***** ** ***** *** ******, ********* ***** ** ******** the ***** *** ** *********** ** *******, ****** ** *******, and *** *** ****** ** ***** *******. ***** **** ******* is ********, *** *** ****** *** ******** *** ***** ***** ** the **** ****. **** ******* ** ******* ** ***** ******** surveillance ******* **** ** *** ****** **** *** ** *******'* SmartCams.

***** *******

******, ** **** * **** ** ***** ******* **** *** Petzi ******.

** **** *****, ***** ******* ** ****, **** ** ******* issues.

*******, *** ****'* ********** ** ************ *** ********* ******** **** no ****** ** **** **** **, ****** *** ***** ***** (about ~*.* *** *****) ********** ****. ***** ***** ** **** plan ** ****** ** ************ ** ****** ******** ********. ** will ****** ***** *********** ** **.

Comments (35)

Thumbnail untitled

Tony Darland

IPVMU Certified | 08/14/15 12:01pm

Ross. When is Zeke's Birthday?

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Tony Darland | 08/14/15 12:02pm

No word on Lenel integration status ;)

Thumbnail usa shield

Luis Carmona

IPVMU Certified | 08/14/15 12:05pm

Was this the product on Shark Tank?

Thumbnail usa shield

Luis Carmona

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Luis Carmona | 08/14/15 01:34pm

Ok, found the one I was thinking of.

iCPooch

A similar concept product, but this one uses a tablet that you provide with two way video on a treat dispenser.

Michael Miller

08/14/15 12:49pm

I think IPVM offically jumped the shark with this review.

Matt Bode

08/14/15 03:24pm

Does it come with a GoDogPro camera too for tracking where your dog is snooping while you're gone?

Josh King

IPVMU Certified | 08/14/15 03:57pm

Looks like these guys saw this on the Ben Heck Show and ran with it.

Undisclosed #1

08/14/15 04:17pm

Finally a real solution for those not home on Halloween!

John Honovich

IPVM | 08/14/15 05:39pm

Cat Facial Recognition Feeder - CatFi:

Thumbnail pp 5

Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | In reply to John Honovich | 08/14/15 05:43pm

Raccoons and possums will hate this.

Undisclosed Integrator #2

08/14/15 06:20pm

Is it possible to intercept the stream?

I have three dogs so something like this could be great, if for no other reason than to have a way to calm them down when the neighbors call to complain about howling and we are not home. Distraction works wonders. Unfortunately, the lack of functional IR and recording is disappointing. Those two oversights made me put away my credit card.

Thumbnail profile pic

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #2 | 08/14/15 07:13pm

What do you mean by intercept the stream? As in can someone hack it? Or as in can it be streamed to another recorder?

The answer to the latter is no, there's no RTSP stream. Video is sent to the cloud with no local viewing option.

The answer to the former is trickier. Petzi doesn't mention what sort of encryption they use on their communications. We did not Wireshark it but I suspect they some sort of standard encryption.

Pat Villerot

In reply to Ethan Ace | 08/14/15 09:00pm

Sorry, RTSP. That option is a no-go then.

Undisclosed #1

08/14/15 06:40pm

Unfortunately, the lack of functional IR...

The IR was disabled to prevent possible pet injuries caused by a non-technical owner innocently launching a delicious treat at a hungry dog in a pitch-black room.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 08/14/15 06:43pm

Petzi 2.0 to include remote controllable white light....

Undisclosed #1

In reply to John Honovich | 08/14/15 06:46pm

Throw in a laser pointer and the fun never ends...

Thumbnail profile pic

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 08/14/15 07:03pm

That's a different camera entirely.

Undisclosed #1

In reply to Ethan Ace | 11/29/16 06:05am

Finally, treat dispenser and laser fun in one!

Pat Villerot

In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 08/14/15 06:47pm

With how much force are these treats ejected from the dispenser?

Derek Ward

In reply to Pat Villerot | 08/14/15 06:58pm

With enough force to send treats ~3' or so on a table, but it's not enough force to actually hurt someone (unless you put your eyes directly in front of the dispenser.) Here is a gif showing treats being shot out:

Undisclosed #1

In reply to Pat Villerot | 08/14/15 07:38pm

Not too much:

Undisclosed End User #4

In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 08/18/15 03:09am

I dont get what you are saying?? are you syaing you would like to hurt mans best friend with your LMS array of weapons?

Undisclosed #1

In reply to Undisclosed End User #4 | 08/18/15 03:57am

...are you saying you would like to hurt mans best friend with your LMS array of weapons?

0.006 Joules is about as much energy as a fly farting.

Undisclosed End User #4

In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 08/18/15 04:17am

Ha! Ok get it!! :)

Chris Hammond

08/14/15 09:51pm

This is taking camera shootout to a whole other level.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #3

08/14/15 10:04pm

I can't help but keep visualizing this product after being attacked by a persistent, strong jawed pooch that is driven by food. What is the IP rating for drool under pressure anyway?

Chris Dearing

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #3 | 08/14/15 10:06pm

IK-9

Undisclosed Manufacturer #3

In reply to Chris Dearing | 08/14/15 10:09pm

Well played!

Thumbnail profile pic

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Chris Dearing | 08/14/15 10:13pm

Undisclosed End User #4

08/18/15 03:16am

Great review and as always in depth factual!!

Unfortunately this would be no good for me…… I have two Beagles.. and as anyone who has owned or owns one will tell you this great dogs undoing is FOOD! The last shots you’d see this camera putting out at my place is being ripped off its mount and swallowed once the treats ran out!! J

Maybe play the sound of cats fighting would be a be an option to attract our best friends into the FOV?

Thumbnail img 2122 ppb

Meghan Uhl

08/18/15 03:09pm

My grand daughter is starting a new job that won't allow her to come home at lunch to spend time with her beloved dog - this is just the ticket for her!

Thumbnail headshot1

Sagy Amit

08/18/15 05:00pm
Thanks for this review guys! What I would love to see is a combination of this product with a collar cam that produces a vibration/shock. This way I can use the carrot and the stick to correct behavior.
Thumbnail img 2122 ppb

Meghan Uhl

08/18/15 06:18pm

I'd like it to detect motion so when I'm not there and my dog heads into the family room where he LOVES to leave me "surprises" it would detect & shoot treats across the room leading him away from the potty spot! This product has infinite possibility :)

Steve Mitchell

08/21/15 05:54pm

Has anybody used this for guard tours? When the guard's scheduled to tour the facility the system both throws treats to them and documents their tour? Just a thought.

Thumbnail img 2122 ppb

Meghan Uhl

09/01/15 04:14pm

I see it as a better human kids toy/game. Parent loads it up with small candy treats, kids (minimum age probably 4 or 5) put on safety goggles and stand back 10 feet then parent sits & watches thier favorite TV Show or catches up on Facebook while shooting treats out to the kids. The kids will love the game, parents will get some uninterupted time - its a win/win! Of course caution should be excersized to only use this game in the morning so they have the day to get the sugar out of their systems; not a good pre-bedtime game!

Login to read this IPVM report.
Why do I need to log in?
IPVM conducts unique testing and research funded by member's payments enabling us to offer the most independent, accurate and in-depth information.

Related Reports

Axis ~$100 Camera Tested on Jul 17, 2018
Axis has released their lowest cost camera ever, the Companion Eye Mini L, setting their sights on a market dominated by Hikvision and Dahua. Can...
Digital Watchdog Low Cost 4MP Camera Tested on Jul 02, 2018
Based on member 4MP testing requests, we bought and tested Digital Watchdog's low-cost 4MP DWC-MTT4Wi to see how it performs in real world scenes,...
Panoramic Fisheye Camera Shootout - Avigilon, Axis, Dahua, Hanwha, Hikvision, Oncam And Vivotek on Jun 27, 2018
IPVM tested Avigilon, Axis, Dahua, Hanwha, Hikvision, Oncam And Vivotek 12MP panoramic fisheye cameras head to head, as shown in the test setup...
Hikvision ColorVu Integrated Visible Light Cameras Examined on Jun 22, 2018
When it comes to low light, infrared light has become the defacto standard in surveillance. But IR is limited to monochrome images, making colors...
IFSEC 2018 Final Show Report on Jun 20, 2018
IPVM attended the IFSEC show for the first time this year. The Chinese took over the show, centered on Hikvision, flanked by Dahua, Huawei and a...
Mobotix Releases 'Move' Into 21st Century on Jun 20, 2018
For years, Mobotix stood resolutely against, well, every other manufacturer, selling it as a virtue: MOBOTIX equipment is designed with no...
Hikvision 12MP Fisheye Camera Tested (DS-2CD63C2F-IV) on Jun 14, 2018
Hikvision's DS-2CD63C2F-IV is their flagship panoramic camera, with a 12MP imager, 15m integrated IR, smart codec, and more. We tested the 63C2 in...
Avigilon H4 Multi-Sensor Adds 32MP, H.265, Analytics on Jun 13, 2018
Avigilon has announced the H4 Multisensor, the successor to their repositionable multi imager line, adding features like H.265, integrated IR,...
Introducing Effective PPF (ePPF) - Improving Video Surveillance Designs on Jun 11, 2018
Pixel density (PPF / PPM) is the best metric the industry has to define and project video quality. It allows simple communication of estimated...
Hanwha Low-Cost 4MP Camera Tested (QNV-7010R) on Jun 11, 2018
4MP usage is increasing noticeably, as IPVM 2018 resolution statistics show. And low-cost, fixed focal cameras, are popular for budget...

Most Recent Industry Reports

AI Startup Anyvision Raises $28 Million Led By Bosch on Jul 20, 2018
Anyvision is the most ambitious heavy-spending video surveillance startup in many years. And, now, the startup has raised $28 million led by...
Fail: Dahua "Didn't Check The Lux Levels but It Was Dark" on Jul 20, 2018
Dahua UK has been promoting their camera quality on LinkedIn: I, and others, asked what the lux level of the scene was. (background: Lux Rating...
Free 100+ Manufacturer-Customized Camera Calculator Released on Jul 19, 2018
Now, any manufacturer has a customized IPVM Camera Calculator, free. The goal is to make it easier for companies to help their customers better...
Improved Security And Surveillance Bidding - 2018 MasterFormat Divisions Examined) on Jul 19, 2018
Navigating the world of system specifications and bidding work can be complex and confusing, but a standard format exists, and understanding it...
Last Chance - Security Sales Course Summer 2018 on Jul 19, 2018
Today is the last day to register. Based on member's interest, IPVM is offering a security sales course this summer. Register Now - IPVM Security...
Directory of Video Surveillance Startups on Jul 18, 2018
This directory provides a list of video surveillance startups to help you see and research what companies are new or not yet broadly known entity...
Ladder Lockdown and Ladder Levelizer Tested on Jul 18, 2018
Ladders are a daily necessity for surveillance and security installers, but working on an unstable surface can be extremely dangerous. In addition...
FST Fails on Jul 17, 2018
FST was one of the hottest startups of the decade, selected as the best new product at ISC West 2011 and backed with tens of millions in...
Axis ~$100 Camera Tested on Jul 17, 2018
Axis has released their lowest cost camera ever, the Companion Eye Mini L, setting their sights on a market dominated by Hikvision and Dahua. Can...
Amazon Ring Alarm System Tested on Jul 16, 2018
Amazon Ring is going to hurt traditional dealers, and especially ADT, new IPVM test results of Ring's Alarm system underscore. IPVM found that...

The world's leading video surveillance information source, IPVM provides the best reporting, testing and training for 10,000+ members globally. Dedicated to independent and objective information, we uniquely refuse any and all advertisements, sponsorship and consulting from manufacturers.

About | FAQ | Contact