Quick answer: For dogs, prioritize a wide-angle lens (130° or more), clear two-way audio, and motion detection with adjustable zones to track activity while you're away.
Dogs move around constantly. A narrow-angle camera misses most of their activity. Look for 130° to 180° field of view to cover most of a room. Pan-tilt cameras that rotate remotely via app are useful for larger spaces or apartments with multiple rooms.
Speaking to your dog through the camera can calm separation anxiety in some dogs — or make it worse in others. Test your dog's reaction while you're home first. Some dogs become more anxious hearing your voice without being able to locate you. Know your dog before relying on it.
Alert zones let you designate specific areas to monitor. Set sensitivity to medium initially — too high causes constant alerts from shadows and air vents. Cameras with AI that distinguish between pets and people significantly reduce false alerts in shared living spaces.
For dogs, wide-angle or pan-tilt with two-way audio covers most monitoring needs. The treat dispenser add-on is useful for interaction but not essential for monitoring.