For busy pet parents, keeping their precious furry companion fed on time is a constant challenge. There are many times you’d need to work late or be away traveling, with little help at hand to keep your dog’s food bowl filled.
But irregular feeding times and long periods of starvation could lead to serious health issues in the long term. And setting aside an extra bowl is not usually an option either. Chances are, your doggo will gobble it up within a few minutes, if not seconds.
But now, there’s a solution to this common challenge—automatic dog feeders. With automated features, they’ve become a lifesaver for many pet owners. But are they really worth the money? Should you get one for your doggy companion, too? And what are the best options available on the market? Let’s take a look.
Are automatic dog feeders worth it?
Automatic dog feeders are designed to dispense doggy meals at pre-scheduled times. Needless to say, this has many benefits.
To begin with, you wouldn’t need to be physically present to fill up your canine’s food bowl at each mealtime. So, it’s perfect for busy pet parents and even those with limited mobility due to old age or an illness.
In addition, with scheduled meals, automatic feeders can help train your pup to move away from erratic eating habits. It’s even perfect for controlling portion sizes and preventing overeating.
How to choose a dog feeder for your pet
Today, automatic dog feeders come in many shapes and sizes. So, how do you select what’s right for you and your pet?
One important factor to check is the meal size or the individual dispenser capacity. If you have a bigger dog breed, you’ll need an automatic feeder with a higher capacity.
Another important feature is the number of meals it can store and dispense. The more meals it can store, the fewer the refill frequency.
Then, some feeders come with a cord. This could be a safety hazard if your dog’s a chewer. So, you’ll need a feeder with a durable cord, or just opt for a cordless one.
Easy cleaning is also essential to ensure hygiene and safety. Durability, quality, and safety are, of course, important, too. Selecting a reputed brand and checking warranties are crucial in this regard.
Best automatic dog feeders for your money
1. WOPET SmartFeeder
This is a feature-packed automatic feeder by WOPET that’s super easy to operate, too.
Its 7-liter (29 cups) capacity allows you to set up 1 to 6 meals a day and up to 20 dry food portions per meal. So, you’ll have a lot of flexibility to adjust portion sizes and meal frequency to suit your pet’s needs. The larger capacity also means you get to easily set up enough food while you’re away from home, whether on holiday or a business trip.
But what really made this device stand out for us is its voice recorder, speaker, and HD camera. So, for instance, you can record voice messages to remind your doggo to have its meals. And with the 1200 wide-angle lens HD camera, you get to check up on it from wherever you are. Now, those are super cool features to assure peace of mind for any concerned pet parent.
You can configure this feeder with your phone or computer for remote access using the WOPET app. It also comes with a power adapter and a battery power function for backup. Of course, you’ll need to purchase three D batteries separately.
2. Pet Food and Water Gravity Automatic Dispenser Set by Funlula
Having automatic dog feeders for both food and water could add some extra convenience for both you and your furry companion. That’s why Funlula has come up with this gravity self-dispensing set with matching designs.
They are sleek and stylish and made of safe and odorless PP resin material. The water feeder has a 1-gallon capacity, and the food feeder can store dry food up to 4.63 pounds. So, it’s best for a small to medium-sized dog.
Both units are easy to take apart and clean, which is another plus. But keep in mind that these are gravity feeders. So, they’re best for canines who have already mastered some self-regulation when it comes to eating.
3. PETLIBRO Automatic Pet Dry Food Dispenser
With a 4-liter (6.9-cup) capacity, this feeder is made for smaller breeds and pups. But despite its small size, it comes with some awesome features for your convenience.
You can pre-program it to dispense 1-4 meals per day with 9 portions per meal. There’s even a replaceable desiccant bag to keep your pet’s food fresh.
You can power it with the 5V DC adapter provided and also with 3 alkaline D-cell batteries purchased separately. The battery power option is a nice addition to ensure your doggo is fed even if there’s a power outage.
The voice recorder allows you to set up 10-second meal reminder recordings. There’s even an LCD screen to make program configuration easier.
4. PetSafe 5 Meal Automatic Pet Feeder
This PetSafe product is a simple automatic feeder that’s ideal for smaller dogs. It’s got 5 compartments that could hold 1 cup of dry or semi-moist food. Just fill it up, serve the first meal and program the rest to serve on a schedule. You can even use it to stock up treats or break down meals into smaller portions for large- or medium-sized canines.
The food serving removable tray is made of BPA-free plastic, and it’s dishwasher safe on the top rack. There’s also an LCD screen and digital clock to set it up effortlessly. And the compact design makes storing it super easy.
This automatic feeder works on 4 D batteries. So, it’s easy to move around, and you wouldn’t need to worry about cord-related safety hazards for hyperactive pets.
5. PETLIBRO 6L Automatic Feeder
The design and functionality of this Petlibro feeder make it a great buy to control food portions and schedule meals for your beloved canine.
It’s got a 6L capacity storage unit for dry food with a twist lock to keep meals fresh and flavorful.
The large LCD screen on the front makes programming easy to read and set up. You can program it to dispense 1 to 6 meals daily with up to 50 portions. And when the food runs low, there’s a sensor to alert you to refill. There’s also a 10-second voice recorder, which is a great addition to train your pet to take scheduled meals.
This automatic dispenser works with an in-built adapter with battery operation available as a backup.
6. PetSafe Healthy Pet Automatic Feeder
Now, the design of this automatic feeder might look a bit retro. But it’s packed with some amazing features for modern-day pet parents.
It can hold up to 24 cups of dry food and serve up to 12 meals a day in portions that are best for small- to medium-sized dogs. But remember to fill it up with kibbles of up to 3/4 inch in diameter to ensure they’re dispensed without getting stuck.
Overall, this is a pretty small unit, which a hyperactive canine could easily topple. But with more disciplined pets, it shouldn’t be a worry. Plus, according to PetSafe, it’s completely pet-proofed, so there’s no chance of your doggo stealing a snack.
We also liked that this device works both with a power adapter and 4 D alkaline batteries. But keep in mind that the packaging doesn’t include either. So, if you’re ordering this feeder, remember to order batteries or an adapter, too.
7. PetSafe Smart Feed Automatic Pet Feeder
Here’s an award-winning automatic dog feeder that’s super sleek and stylish. And it’s also packed with features to keep small-sized pets fed on a schedule.
It can dispense up to 12 meals a day with ⅛ to 4 cups per meal. And there’s even a Slow Meal setting that could release food in small portions over 15 minutes. This is an excellent feature to train fast eaters to slow down.
But what we loved best were the high-tech features. This PetSafe feeder is Wi-Fi-enabled. So, you can set it up with a range of devices like Alexa and many of the newer models of iPhones and Android smartphones. This allows you to power up a range of features like remote monitoring and notifications on low-running food. You can even ask Alexa to feed your doggo.
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