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I'd figured I'd be specific in the thread title. I figure if I just put "webcams" you'd wonder if I was starting a live porn show or something.
I'm trying to glean as much information as I can, because I'm thinking of installing one in the dog room this fall if I breed Jake and Ciara. This will let me monitor Ciara so I can alert a nearby neighbor and make it home from work when she starts to go in labor. It will also let me watch the puppies when they are young to make sure they aren't in distress.
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what are you using as a webcam? do you plan on getting a network camera (which cost a lot) or getting a cheap one that's connected to the USB on a computer? actually setting it up so you can watch the webcam online isn't hard...it's the logistics of getting it there... Satyagraha
Posts: 1986 | Registered: Apr 2001
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This sounds silly, but we use our Lego cam. It's not too expensive (I can't remember exactly how much) and there is a program that comes with it that detects motion, records it, and can set off an alarm. It's nifty.
Posts: 6367 | Registered: Aug 2003
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I'm guessing they actually need to do video though, because the dogs will move no matter what, they need to actually be able to watch and see if/when the dog is going into labor. Satyagraha
Posts: 1986 | Registered: Apr 2001
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I don't know as far as the USB or network cam, that's why I'm asking you guys!
PSI, I would like more than just a motion sensor cam I think, though I love LEGO!
I'd like continual updates say every 20-30 seconds or so, though I guess it doesn't have to be a totally live feed. The room I'm considering doing this in (to give you a feeling for size) is a single car carport that has been closed in to become a utility room.
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No, it does the video feed and everything. It does it all as far as I know. It won't alert her to the pups being born, but... It's good for what she needs I think.
Here at work, we use Axis cameras for simple things like our outdoor web cam (to check the weather, because our building has no windows) and just view it from the web.
A local doggy day care group has their own Web Cam so that owners can "check" on their dogs from work via web.
So -- I don't have any real life experience in this, nor advice to give -- but I think it is a cool idea.
Farmgirl (Who monitors the Peregrine Falcon page each spring to watch the baby birds grow up!)
Posts: 9538 | Registered: Aug 2003
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How much are you willing to spend? I"m guessing the room is longer than wide (single car port you said?), depending on the camera...you may be able to get away with two cameras (one in front and back). Network and wireless cameras tend to be rather expensive (anything is expensive to me though...i got my USB camera for free). For actually having the camera send feed online, Zevlag has a beautiful program for that, I'm not sure if it'll work with multiple cameras, but it sends a frame every n seconds (depending what you want) to a ftp server of your choice, which aren't that hard to set up in of themselves. I'm guessing you have a broadband connection? Do you get a dedicated IP? Satyagraha
Posts: 1986 | Registered: Apr 2001
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I'm not sure if we get a dedicated IP or a rotating IP, though since the main computer is always online I'm guessing we wouldn't lose it, unless there was a power outage. I'm definitely thinking like $500 or under for the system whatever it is.
Sam's club has some packaged options but I don't know if you need additional software to download to the internet.
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I just went to radioshack here in Beloit Wisconsin, and they had a wireless camera kit for 120, and it looked like it could expand a few more cameras...I didn't see the price for extra cameras though, but it might be worth looking into. Satyagraha
Posts: 1986 | Registered: Apr 2001
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Just a FYI for you from a dog breeder. If you know when she goes into heat, you can calculate almost to the day the delivery date. Gestation is 60 to 64 days. 9 weeks. The teats will develope milk and drop approximately 1 week before delivery. The 'nesting' instinct also kicks in around this time as well. Calculate the delivery time 1 week after the hbeat cycle starts as she's not really 'ready' for the male for that long 'usually'. On rare occasions, heat will last 3 weeks but normally it only last for 2.
Hope this helps some. Any questions, mail me at vendragnborn AT sbcglobal DOT net
Posts: 986 | Registered: Jul 2001
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posted
Bookwyrm, I know all that. I've been involved with dogs forever. However I work and I'm going to be paranoid, since this will be my first litter, so I was thinking the webcam would be a good idea. Also after the puppies are born so that I can watch from work and make sure they aren't in any distress. I have two wonderful neighbors who could come over if it was urgent, but they won't know unless I tell them!
I've done obedience for over 10 years and gotten into showing in breed the last 3 years. What breed do you have? I have Cardigan Welsh corgis.
Ciara my female actually just went in season. However I'm not breeding her this time because I want to finish her before she loses coat from a litter. My male stud dog Jake has been ranked in the top10 Cardigans in the country in obedience and top 20 for breed (all breed points) in 2002. Didn't do much showing last year since we bought a house, but I'm going to be having a handler take them both out for a while to see if we can get Ciara finished, and get Jake back out for some face time as a Special.
I got lucky in that they actually do compliment each other. Ciara isn't as nice a dog as Jake but she is strong in the rear which is Jake's big weakness. Also she is a black tri which is totally recessive in Cardigans color gentics, so we will be able to use it as a test breeding to see what colors Jake carries.
<grin> Did I mention he got three group 3s in 6 shows the last time I had him out?
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It's good for what she needs I think.![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
