Testing Petzi, The Pet Cam That Shoots Treats

By Derek Ward, Published Aug 14, 2015, 12:00am EDT

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.

*** ***** ******* ** keep ** *** ** their *** *** ***** it, ***** **** *** away **** ****, ***** may ** **********. ** works **** *** ******* in ** **** *** dispensing ******, *** ***** looking *** ******** ******** should **** *********, ** Petzi's **** ** ****** detection ** *** **** of ********* ***** ** unsuitable *** ************.

Market ******

********* **** ** *****, but ****** **** ** just ******* ******* ******* or ******* ***, ** takes * ***** ******** at * ******** *******. We ***** **** ** a **** ******* ************** ** ******, **** would ** **** ** emulate ** ***** *****.

Key ********

***** *** *** *** points **** **** ****:

***** ****** ** **** Pets

*** **** ***** ******* of *** ******, ********** treats *** *** ****** phone ***, ***** ******. Any ***** ***** ***** 1" ****** *** ** used, *** ******** **** via * ****** ** the ***. ***** ** a ***** ** ~*-* seconds ****** *** ****** are "*****", ** ** about *' **** *** camera.

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

***** *** **** ********** the ****** ** * wifi ******* *** ******* creation ***** ~* ******* total. ***** ******* ** the ****** *** **** and *** ****** ******* account ******** *** ******* setup.

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

***** *** **** ** their **** **** ******* the ****** ***** **** the **** ****, *** while *** ***** **** the ****** ** ******* okay, ****'* ****** ***** slightly ****** *** ****** to **** ** **** pets ***** ** ** unstable ** ** **** signal ***** ****** ** choppy ***** ******.

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

**** **** ***** ****** users ** **** ***** social ******* (** "*******", as **** **** **), with ** *** ** opting ***. ******* ** shared ******* **** ********** and ******* ***** ** not **** ****** ** others' ***** *****, **** pet ******** ***** *** manually ******.

*******

***** ***** *** ~$*** *** ******. **** ** ******** lower **** ***** ******** cameras, ********* ****** *** $200 ****.

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

****, ** *********** *** treat ******** ***********. ***** should ****:

  • ******** ******* *-* ****** or ** *** ********* **** time ********* ** *** size ** *** *****.
  • ***** *** *** ****** see *** ****** ** they *** **** **** the ******, ** *** shooting ********* *** ***** the ****** *** *** out ** *** ***.
  • *** ***** ******* ********** the ***** ******** ** ~4 *******, ***** ***** users **** ** *** the ********** ** *** their **** ********* ***** to *** ****** *******.

** *********** **** ******* in **** *****:

Physical ********

** *** ***** *****, we ******** *** ******** construction ** *** ***** treat ******.

** * **** **********, below ** **** *** Petzi *** ****** **** Cam **** ** ****.

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

***** ** ********** *** security ******** *** ******** reasons:

  • ** ***** ****** ********* is ******** ** *** camera.
  • ***** **** *** ****** video ** *** ****, either ******* ** ** the *****. ********* *** be ***** ******** *** mobile ***.
  • *** ****** ** ********* mounted ***** ** *** ground **** **** ******* due ** *** ***** dispensing ********, ****** ** less **** ***** *** security.
  • *** ********** ** ** disabled ** ******* ********, making ********* ***** ********** poor ******** ** ***** consumer ******* **** ******.

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

***** *** ******* ***** features ******* ** ***** found ** ******* ******** cameras, ** ****:

**** *** **** *** Camera

*********, ***** ******** **** one **** ******* *** camera **** ** ******* with ***** *****. ***** says they *** ******* ** allow **** ***** ** access *** ******.

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

***** *** ** ************* or ***** ******** **** users *** ****** **********. After ********** ******** *******, their ***** *** "**** of *** ***** ** ****** settings *** **** ********** beyond **** ** ******* inside *** ***."

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

*********, ***** *** ************* enrolled ** *** ***** ****** network **** ******* ******** and ***** **** ** way ** **** ***. When ** ***** ******** support ***** ****, ***** reply *** "** *** the ***** ****** *******, it ** * **** of *** ******* **** you *** ******** ** as * *******, *'** be **** ** **** along ** *** ********** that *** ****** ** be **** ** **** out *** **** ******* up."

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

***** ** * **** mount **** ***** **** * fixed **** (~**-**°) **** no ********** ******. ***** may **** ** ****** tilt *** **** ******* or ********* ** ****** see ***** **** ********* on ***** *** ****** is ******.

Petzi *****

******* ***** ** ***** and ******, ********* ***** to ******** *** ***** app ** *********** ** tablets, ****** ** *******, and *** *** ****** to ***** *******. ***** this ******* ** ********, the app ****** *** ******** and ***** ***** ** the **** ****. **** process ** ******* ** other ******** ************ ******* such ** *** ****** Nest *** ** *******'* SmartCams.

***** *******

******, ** **** * look ** ***** ******* from *** ***** ******.

** **** *****, ***** quality ** ****, **** no ******* ******.

*******, *** ****'* ********** IR ************ *** ********* disabled **** ** ****** to **** **** **, making *** ***** ***** (about ~*.* *** *****) especially ****. ***** ***** us **** **** ** enable ** ************ ** future ******** ********. ** will ****** ***** *********** if **.

Comments (35)

Avatar

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 ;)

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Luis Carmona

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

Was this the product on Shark Tank?

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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

IPVMU Certified | 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:

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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.

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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

IPVMU Certified | 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

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

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

Avatar

Ethan Ace

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

That's a different camera entirely.

Undisclosed #1

IPVMU Certified | 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?

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Derek Ward

IPVM | 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

IPVMU Certified | 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

IPVMU Certified | 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!

Avatar

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?

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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!

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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.
Avatar

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.

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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!

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