Arlo is watching

We have never really felt the need for a security system. Our canine deterrent, consisting of approximately 10 dogs, including several German Shepherds, always alert us when anyone comes anywhere near the house, or even comes down the road. If anyone approaches the house, they are met with a deafening chorus of barking that sounds positively ferocious. Most of them are mostly friendly, some are not, but you can't tell by looking at or listening to them which is which. Consequently, we have never felt the need to have an electronic security system, until now.

The cameras are small and produce
really good quality recordings, both
video and audio.

We recently purchased the Arlo Pro 2, but not to monitor the outside of the house, our cameras are set up inside to monitor the dogs. We know Maya does bad stuff in the kitchen whenever we leave. We don't know if she's the only culprit however, and that's one thing we'd like to discover. But mostly we want to figure out who has been peeing in the kitchen. We've got two old dogs, Vince and Jackie, and we've been unable to figure out who is doing what. Jackie has definitely had an increase in her  urination lately and I took a sample into the vet this morning because I'm afraid her UTI has returned. We also have the feeling that some of this is coming from Vince, although he can hold it all night in the bedroom, I think he's been responsible for some of the kitchen wetness that happens when we are away.

We have them operating wirelessly,
on either side of the doorway that
divides the kitchen from the hallway.

The cameras produce 15 second video recordings whenever motion is detected. I've turned off the audio because it was nothing but dog barking. It sends notices to our cell phones when motion is detected and the recordings can be viewed on the phone away from home or on the computer when we get back home. It all happens through the magic that is wifi.

Sometimes I forget to turn the system on when we leave, so we've missed some of the action, but it's fun to play with and we have learned a few things about what happens when we are away. Here are just a few recent recordings. You will probably have to make the videos full screen size to see anything. If you're viewing on a phone, get a real computer.

Take a look at the lower left portion of the frame. Maya has just knocked over the trash can. That's one of her go-to moves and it probably happens shortly after we've left the house. She is immediately joined by Trooper, and later TJ, sniffing around to see what's inside. On this occasion we had remembered to empty the trash before leaving so they don't find anything.

The rest of these were taken Friday afternoon when I was out for a hike with Maya and Tennessee. This first one doesn't show anything bad happening, just Vince, Jackie, and TJ running around in the kitchen.

In these next two, look at at the new stove. On the back side of it you will see TJ. He's standing on a bench checking out what's on top of the stove and counter. This is his route to the countertop. We have seen husky footprints on the smooth glass stovetop.

Vince, Jackie, and TJ milling around, then, wait for it, TJ lifts his leg on "the spot." This spot, the corner of the cabinet, is the place every male dog who ever entered this house lifts his leg on at least once.

Vince is the culprit here, he lifts his leg and pees on the tile.  I love having a tile floor in the kitchen. I wish the entire house was covered in it.

Vince and Jackie again, at the end of it you see Jackie walk around the island and then squat and pee in front of the sink.

We learned that not all the pee is coming from Jackie, but enough of it is that I'm still concerned about the return of a UTI.