Big Brother Doggy Style

16 Dec 07

Michael Gravette, a successful entrepreneur and ex-Air Force Intelligence, reported in September 2007 about a technique used by some two-leggeds to keep an eye on their housebound hounds. And Gravette should know what he’s talking about, being that he is the founder and president of Safety Technology, the largest provider of wholesale hidden cameras and spy gear.

Gravette used the case of Bobby Jo and her four unruly rescue dogs to illustrate the advantages of using spywear to keep an eye on your favourite four-legged. Bobby Jo is a big fan of her four dogs, and rescued all of them from certain death. In fact, in addition to the dogs she adopted, she also saved another forty by getting other folks to adopt them.

Though Bobby Jo had saved these dogs and solved most of their issues, she still often came home to a mess. Big messes. Four-dog-powered messes.

She felt if she looked in from time to time, she could see who the troublemaker. Since the dogs were only allowed in certain areas of the house, she opted for a four channel system wireless surveillance system. This type of surveillance system allows you to install up to 4 wireless cameras to digitally record all activity.

The DVR has full networking capability and uses a GeoVision DVR card which allows Bobby Jo to view live video on the Internet. This type of video recording system is perfect for smaller areas like a home. Bobby Jo’s system took only a couple of hours to install.

On the first day back to work after the initial installation Bobby Jo opened up her laptop and took her first look at what was going at Doggywood. All four of her pack were busy power-napping — not a whisker or tail stirred. After lunch she dialled-in again, and this time they were in the kitchen. The biggest, Bork was in the process of tipping over the trash can. The three others were waiting anxiously for it to happen.

When Bork tipped the can over, Brad, the smallest dog, went straight into the can. All you could see of him was his tail, which was wagging heartily. The other dogs didn’t like this, and started nipping at him, trying to get him out, but he wasn’t budging. Bork jumped on the can, and this did move Brad out. Then there was a big hullabaloo.

That night she child proofed the lock on that cabinet door, so they couldn’t get in. They next day she looked in, and Bork was in the kitchen, and try as he might, he couldn’t get that door open. Since there was no prospect of getting food, the other three weren’t interested, and had retired to their quarters.

Another check found them all snoring in the afternoon. Bobby Jo checks her hounds every few hours. Even though they have no idea that she can see them, she has managed to control them very well by observing them, and then making changes that thwart some of their most unruly aspects.

Which makes for increased happiness all around. Bobby Jo gets to watch her beloved hounds, and the frustrating part of the dogs’ lives have gradually been eliminated, leaving calmer, more contented dogs in the house alone. And I have to say, this is the best explanation of the positive benefits of CCTV that I’ve ever heard!

Awoof! Archie