Most people I know have dog feeders so their dog can get a midday snack while they're at work, but if you're also someone who travels frequently, or who occasionally goes away for the weekend, you may be looking for a reliable and foolproof way to keep your dog well fed without hiring someone to feed him for you.
As a dog owner and dog lover, my goal is to help you find the best automatic dog feeder for your specific needs, save money and ensure that your dog is being fed regularly while you're at work, on the golf course or away for the weekend with your grandparents.
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Why Should You Get An Automatic Dog Feeder?
I've owned dogs that range from 30 pounds to 120 pounds - yes, I really mean 120 pounds. Feeding a dog that size is a challenge for anyone, but it's just as difficult to keep a chihuahua or a teacup poodle well fed when they're home alone.
Dogs are social animals and it's not fair or appropriate to leave dogs for long periods of time (two days or more) without social contact or the company of another dog.
But even if you have a friend, neighbor or professional dog sitter come by and walk your dog, having an automatic dog feeder allows you to rest assured that your dog is being fed regularly. .
What Is An Automatic Dog Feeder?
As the name suggests, an automatic dog feeder is a food dispenser for your dog that removes the need for you to manually feed him. They typically comprise of a bowl with a storage container sitting that drops dry food down into the bowl.
Veterinarians recommend that dogs are fed at approximately the same time each day, so one advantage to a timed food delivery system is that the dog is being fed on a regular basis.
Choosing An Automatic Dog Feeder
There are several questions to ask and consider before choosing an automatic dog feeder that is suitable for your needs. Here are a few points to consider before picking one.
Is your dog on a diet?
You have the option of buying analog gravity dog feeders, which drop food into your dog's bowl when the bowl is emptied; or you can get electronic dog feeders, which allow you to set timers and regulate your dog's portion sizes.
Of these two types of dog feeders, electronic dog feeders are the most popular because they don't allow dogs to overeat. For this reason, I will focus on electronic dog feeders throughout the reviews.
Power function
Most electronic dog feeders are battery powered or use an AC adapter. If you decide to buy a battery-powered food dispenser, make sure you get reusable batteries - this will save you time and a lot of money.
How long will you be away?
Automatic dog feeders come with various capacities. Some only dispense a few meals, while others can hold enough food to last a couple of weeks.
Since your dog shouldn't be left alone for extended periods of time, it may be worth getting a feeder with a smaller capacity that can be refilled.
Automatic pet dispensers have incorporated modern, smart technology making them perfectly suited for 21st century pet feedings - many of them can be remotely accessed using your smart phone.
Quick Tips
- Remember, not all feeders are designed to be outside and will not withstand rain.
- If you select a feeder that is suitable for use outside, member to bring it inside at night with your dog. The reason? You don't want to attract unwanted night time visitors.
- Depending on where you live, raccoons, opossum, rats, mice, voles, bears, etcetera, will all be attracted by the smell of dog food, and may attempt to chew their way into your, and your dog's, new precious food dispenser.
- Also, don't wait until the last minute before you go away to test the timer; you will need at least 24 hours to make sure the device functions properly.
Top 5 Best Automatic Dog Feeders
When we've reviewed these products, I've eliminated any that are too good to be true. I've looked at many different dog feeders, and if they seem too good to be true, or if they seem shoddily made or require unusual batteries, I've eliminated them.
I've looked for the ones that appear to be most reliable, are well-built and rugged enough to stand up to medium and large sized dogs pushing them around the room with their noses as they eat.
Product
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Our Rating
**Below, you'll find our more detailed reviews, but you can also click the links above to see current prices or read customer reviews on Amazon.
This is a great option for dog owners who spend a lot of time away from home and wish to feed their dog (or dogs) remotely - but you need a smart phone. All you need to do is download the app, and you're able to set the schedule and portions for your canine friend up to four times a day.
The SmartFeeder WOpet dispenser includes a high quality camera with a 120 degree field of view so you can make sure your dog is eating properly no matter where you are in the world. All you need do is make sure your dog's dining room is well lit and that the dispenser is within range of yourWiFi signal.
It comes with an AC power adaptor, but you can also power it with three D batteries, which are not included but can be bought on Amazon alongside the feeder. If you choose to use batteries, I recommend buying rechargeable D batteries.
The size of your dry food pellets must be between 0.2-0.59 inches (0.5 to1.5cm) in order to easily pass through the 4.3 liter (18.18 cups) dispenser and into the dog bowl, but that shouldn't be a problem. This device allows you to feed your dog up to ten 24ml (.10 cups) servings of dry food per day.
Pros
- Remote access compatible with modern iOS and Android
- Easy portion configuration
- Great for dieting dogs
- Includes a camera
Cons
- On the pricier side of the spectrum
- Requires internet connections
- Fixed portion size of 24ml (.10 cups)
Dog owners who won't be gone for more than six of their dog's consecutive feeding sessions will find that this is a very practical and convenient food dispenser. It also makes sense for dog owners who can administer some but not all of their doggy's daily meals.
Available in three snazzy hues of blue, pink and yellow, this product contains six trays that can each hold 330ml (1.40 cups) of food that are covered by a latched lid that rotates to allow your dog access to his food.
This product has a small LCD screen and control panel that allow you to set the lid's rotation intervals, and also allows you to record your voice so that your dog doesn't miss you too much!.
The PYRUS Automatic Pet Feeder's six compartments will need to be refilled nice empty.
You will need to buy four C batteries to power it, and the LCD screen let's you know when its power is running low. Some customers complain that their batteries are drained too quickly, so I recommend buying rechargeable C batteries with this product.
Whether you are frequently away from home or you just want to roll with the times, it's worth considering a Feed and Go Automatic Pet Feeder.
This product is somewhat of a hybrid between the PYRUS Automatic pet feeder and the WOpet SmartFeeder. Like the PYRUS, this product has six food compartments for that can house either dry and/or wet food underneath a rotating lid.
Like the WOpet SmartFeeder, the Feed and Go connects to your home's wifi can be accessed by its corresponding mobile app on all of your devices. It also includes a built in webcam that can be accessed from your mobile app.
Each of the easy-to-clean six compartments can hold up to 8oz (1 cup) of pet food.
If you have more than one pet and decide to buy more than one of the Feed and Go Pet Feeders, you can link all of them up to the same device.
Cons
- Requires internet connection
- Needs to be refilled after six feedings
- On the pricer side of the spectrum
This dog feeder has a very practical yet integral design, with a sturdy ABS plastic build and a large LCD screen. Configuration dials are on the rear of the 5.5 liter (23.25 cups) storage container. Your dog's dry food that can be dispensed in various portions up to three times a day.
This large Fitiger automatic food dispenser is one of the best value for money options available - while also saving your money on a petsitter. It's battery operated ( three D batteries, not included), and weathertight enough that the manufacturer says you can use it outside.
The storage container is easy to refill; just untwist it from the bowl, open the lid and pour or scoop in your dog's food.
This product also allows you to record a ten second greeting for your pooch that plays when dinner is served so your dog will know it's time to eat, even if he's not in his dining room. You can assemble and configure this product in less than five minutes.
Pros
- Reasonably priced
- Voice recorder
- Large food container
- Takes less than 5 minutes to set it up
Another product suited for appreciators of smart technology, the PetSafe food dispenser is an automatic dog feeder that you can control from anywhere in the world as long as you have a smart phone and internet access.
This product's storage container can hold up to 7lbs (1.28kg) of dry food, and dispenses portion sizes between 0.063 and 1.5 cups (15-355ml).
The kibble you put in this machine should ideally be round with a diameter between 3.18 and 16 milliliters (0.125 - 0.625 inches).
It comes with a built-in rechargeable battery, a chew-resistant USB cable and a US AC adapter, so you don't need to worry about buying extra batteries but still have the option of detaching the dispenser from a power source.
The app is very comprehensive; not only can you use it to set your dog's portions and feeding schedules, but you can also keep track of how much your dog is eating and how much food is left in the container. You can even set up automatic food deliveries when you're running low.
If you're ever confused about how much and what type of food you should give to your pooch, this product's app can make a smart guess when you enter your doggy's age, weight and activity levels.
On the down side, many customers have reported that this contraption's internal rubber lining has broken and fallen into their pet's food, so make sure to frequently examine the condition of the rubber lining if you decide to buy this product.
Pros
- Cheaper than other smart feeders
- Customized serving size suggestions
- Easy configuration
- USB charge
Cons
- Rubber seal potentially faulty
- Requires internet connection
- Some say it's too good to be true
Conclusion
It should now be easy to imagine yourself sitting on the beach, 50 miles from your house knowing that your dog is being well fed at the regular time, and that somebody will be along later to walk him.
While all of these options are great, I recommend the PYRUS automatic dog feeder because its practical design makes it more likely that it you will get a long life out of it. If you want a dispenser that can be accessed remotely, I recommend the Feed and Go Automatic Pet Feeder.
For a dog lover like me, this allows me to enjoy my vacation a lot more and not worry about Roscoe going hungry.
