Some pet parents may think automatic dog feeders are for “lazy” people or for those who leave their dogs home often. But you do not have to be either of those to benefit from an auto feeder.
These cool machines can help you maintain routine meals even if you have a very “un-routine” life. They can also help manage more than one pooch, stop your pup from eating too fast, and remember to feed your new weaning puppy three times a day.
An auto feeder also gives you the option of staying in bed later on your days off and with those that have Wi-Fi, you can usually feed them from your phone with an app if you happen to get stuck at work.
If you have an anxious dog who gets lonely, you can even record your voice on some of these. We found several that we think are the best automatic dog feeder for you to choose from.
After evaluating more than 30 automatic dog feeders, I chose the “Arf Pets Automatic Feeder” as my favorite because you can set up to four meals a day of 1 – 10 cups each and record your voice so you can call your pup to dinner. And the best thing about this one is that it plugs in so you do not have to buy batteries unless you want the battery backup, which is also a nice bonus.
But I understand you might have different needs, whether you’re looking for an automatic dog feeder gravity-based or for wet food. That is why I prepared a shortlist of our top favorite automatic dog feeders that address different styles & needs.
Before we dive into the review section below, we’ll explain the good and the bad of automatic dog feeder, the types of feeders you can buy online, and what criteria you should use to make the best selection for your needs.
In addition, we’ll answer some common questions from dog parents.
So let’s get started.
The Good & The Bad Of Automatic Dog Feeder
We all love our pets because they are part of the family, and we want to be the most responsible pet parent we can be. But why get an automatic dog feeder if we are going to be with our pet every day? It does not seem like we would need one unless we are going to be gone for days and you cannot leave your pet alone that long. Let’s look at some of the benefits of having an automatic dog feeder.
The Good
Help Manage More than One Dog
If you have several dogs and they are constantly trying to steal each other’s food, an auto feeder could help solve that situation somewhat. You could feed them at different times so they do not have to be in the same room at the same time. For instance, you can feed your sweet little puppy before you leave the house for the day and then set the auto feeder to give your big dog food an hour or two later.
Your Auto Feeder Helps Maintain Routine Meal Times
There are those dogs who have sensitive stomachs or get anxious if they are not fed at the same time every day. You can use your automatic dog feeder to help you by setting it to feed your dog on a schedule in case you forget or have to run out for a while.
Slows Down Your Dog’s Eating
With a feeder that serves your dog a certain portion at a time, you can slow down that dog that loves to inhale his food. Eating too fast has been known to cause digestive issues or bloat, which can be very serious. Just set the timer to feed your pooch a small portion at a time so he has no choice but to eat slowly.
Feed Your Pooch At Normal Times
What happens if you have to leave at the crack of dawn to get to work or you work overnight and sleep during the day? Well, your pup may not mind having to get up before the sun to eat but why do that to him if you do not have to? Set the auto feeder to feed your pup at certain times while you are at work or asleep and he can eat at regular times.
Puppies Need A Special Feeding Schedule
Puppies need to eat three times a day when being weaned from momma until they are about four or six months old. So, setting the feeder to give your new fur baby what he needs at set times is paw-fect. No more running home to feed your puppy on your lunch break, even though it’s fun eating lunch with him every day.
Great for Anxious or Bored Dogs
What about those dogs that get bored or anxious when you leave them home alone? You can hire someone to go and visit your pup every day while you work, but why spend that extra money? Use an automatic feeder set to give him a few treats to break up his lonely day. It is even better if you get one that lets you leave him a voice message. Take a look at our article on puzzle toys or frozen dog treats for an alternative to keep him busy.
Sleep Later on the Weekends
A lot of people like to sleep in on those days that we do not have to work but your dog’s stomach doesn’t know it’s the weekend. So, when you don’t get up and feed him, he will come find you and wake you up. With one of these auto feeders, he can eat while you sleep.
The Bad
Even though auto feeders are pawesome and help you monitor your dog’s feeding, they are not intended to be dog babysitters. You cannot just set the feeder and leave town for a week. What if it stops working? What if the batteries run out? Here are some other things to think about.
Cleaning and Refilling is Your Job
You still have to load the feeder and make sure they are cleaned every day. You do not want your fur baby eating out of a dirty bowl.
Technology is Not Infallible
There are probably going to be times that your machine malfunctions and does not feed your pup on time. These times can make your dog extremely anxious and cause food hoarding.
Some Machines Are Just Scary
If your pooch runs away when he hears the beeping or mechanical noises the feeder makes, he may not be eating properly. You can teach your pup that this noise is what gives him food and eventually he will love hearing it.
Cats and Dogs are Different
This is probably obvious, but that is not what we mean. A cat is happy to be alone and would probably not even miss you if you were gone for a day or two as long as he has food. But a dog needs to see you at least once every six or eight hours or he will get anxious, lonely, and may start acting out.
What About Potty Time?
Dogs have to go out and do their business a few times a day, especially since you are providing them food and water. If you do not have a doggy door for access to the yard, how is your pooch supposed to relieve himself? Most pups have to go to the bathroom after eating so you need to consider this carefully.
Maybe you can take him out before work and then have the feeder set to feed him half an hour before you get home so you can take him out when you get there. Or hire someone to do that for you if you absolutely cannot get there.
The Bonding Process Can Be Lacking
Feeding your pup automatically may be convenient, but do not let it take over too much. You and your fur baby need to have that bonding time when you feed your pooch by hand. Take the time to give your pup a few pieces of kibble or a treat when you are home to make up for not being there at feeding time.
Types Of Automatic Dog Feeders
No two dogs are the same and everyone has a different schedule to deal with. Getting the right kind of feeder that fits you and your fur baby’s needs is im-paw-tant. What you need depends on your reason for getting the feeder. Is it to keep your dog from eating too fast? Making sure your puppy gets three meals a day on time? Or just to help you with your busy schedule? There are two main kinds of dog feeder systems.
Gravity Fed Systems
Gravity feeders are the easiest auto feeders to use and you do not have to worry about system error or power outage with this type of manual feeder. If you have to be away all day or even for a couple of days, this kind of feeder will make sure your dog does not go hungry. The food comes down as he eats to keep his bowl full all the time.
Pros:
- You do not have to worry about your pooch starving if you get stuck out of town or cannot make it home for some reason
- You do not have to program it so it is good for those who are not tech savvy
Cons:
- Your dog can eat as much as he wants and may eat all the food right away so he does not have enough to last several days
- If your pooch eats too fast, he can get sick
Electronic & Smart Pet Feeders
These are the most paw-pular auto feeders because they let you set exactly how much food your pup can eat and what time he can eat it. You can set the feeder for several days worth of food and not have to worry about it.
Pros:
- They are best for controlling how much your dog eats and at what time so he cannot eat too much
- Eating slower and at regular times is good for the digestive system
- You do not have to measure the food since the feeder does it for you
- And the voice recording helps anxious or lonely pups
Cons:
- Some feeders have technical issues that result in overfeeding, underfeeding, or not feeding your pup
- They can be very expensive
16 Rules Of Thumb When Buying an Automatic Dog Feeder:
There are some things you have to consider before buying your pup an automatic dog feeder. You do not want to just rush out and buy the first one you see. Talk to your other pet parent friends and your vet about which would be best for your dog. And consider these 16 rules of thumb.
- Safety: Make sure the dog feeder is safe so he cannot get hurt with it. Some insistent dogs may figure out where the food is coming from and may try to chew off the lid or the piece that keeps the food from coming out. Make sure that cannot happen with your dog because it can lead to an overfed pup or even a choking hazard.
- Durability & Material: The feeder has to be made out of materials that are food-safe and durable enough to keep the hungry dog from breaking in. If you have a dog that likes to chew on things, make sure he cannot chew up any part of the feeder to make it dangerous to him or other pets.
- Number of Dogs: (how many dogs are going to eat from the feeder?) Certain feeders are good for multiple dogs and even have partitions so your pups cannot even see each other as they eat. Others only allow one pup to eat from the feeder. If you have more than one dog and need a multiple dog feeder, make sure you check that out before buying.
- Capacity (Hopper Size and Food Bowl): For those large dogs that eat more than a cup of food per meal, you may have to set it to feed your dog every five minutes or so to make up for the fact that it only puts out a cup each time. There are some that will put out more but most are made for up to one cup per serving. And if the hopper only holds four cups and your pooch eats two cups a meal, you can only be gone for one day.
- Kibble Size: Make sure that the feeder you buy can handle the size of kibble you use. Some of the smaller feeders only put out those tiny pieces of food so your dog’s food will get stuck in the machine and your pup won’t eat.
- Type Of Food (Wet or Dry): A lot of feeders are only for dry food for one reason. That is because wet food is typically only good for a few hours after being served. If you plan on giving your dog wet food, make sure you get one that can handle that.
- Feeding Modes: If you want to set your dog’s feeding schedule for the day, make sure the feeder you choose has that option. Also, check to see if it works with your phone and Wi-Fi if that is something you want.
- Portion Control: If your dog is an inhaler, get a feeder that will allow you to feed him many small portions over a period of time. Although most feeders allow for portion control, many do not serve small enough portions to allow this type of feeding.
- Anti-Jam Properties: Whichever automatic feeder you get, make sure it has an anti-jam mechanism so your dog will not be waiting for food that does not come. This is really important for those dogs who rely on the feeder on a daily basis.
- Air-tight food reservoirs: Even though none of the feeders are able to keep the food completely sealed to keep it fresh, some are better than others. The better models are able to maintain a tighter seal than others and will keep your pup’s food from getting stale. This is really im-paw-tant in those big gravity feeders.
- Battery Life: The worst thing that can happen is that your dog will not get fed and battery life is one of the main causes of this issue. You want your pup to eat when he is supposed to eat so make sure you get a feeder with the longest battery life.
- Ease of cleaning: For those electronic feeders, try to get one with a removable hopper and feeding dish. Being able to throw these in the dishwasher or at least submerge them in water makes cleaning a lot easier.
- Smart Features: If you have a lonely or anxious dog, those automatic feeders that record your voice can be a blessing for him. And having a camera to check on your dog is a blessing for you. Wi-Fi is also cool to have for those who want to have Alexa feed the dog or to use an app to feed the dog.
- Installation & Ease of Use: For those who are tech-savvy, setting up the feeder may be simple. But if you still have trouble with your VCR (who still has a VCR?), you want one that is easy to figure out and use. You do not want to have to rely on your kids to do it for you.
- Warranty: If a company stands behind its product, they are more than likely the type of company you want to buy from. Those who do not are probably not sure their feeders will work and you should not count on that for your dog’s feeding.
- Made In The USA: The US has to follow strict guidelines with their pet products so they are usually the best ones to go with because other countries do not have to. This is not to say that all pet products made in other countries are not good. It just means that you should check them out a little more.
Our 2024 Top Best 12 Automatic Dog Feeders
After reviewing more than 30 automatic dog feeders using the criteria mentioned above, we chose 12 that we think are the best for you and your dog:
Arf Pets Automatic Dog Feeder 16-cup
- Material: Plastic
- Type Of Feeder: Electronic
- Hopper Capacity: 16 cups
- Kibble Size: Any size
- Type Of Food: Dry
- Scheduling Capabilities: Yes
- Portion Control: Yes
- Warranty: Yes, for a year
- Made in the USA: No
- Smart Features: No
- Best for: overall our top pick
You can set up to four meals a day for your fur baby that puts out one to 10 cups per meal with this auto feeder. This is another one that lets you record a greeting to call your pup to mealtime. And this one has a plug-in so you do not have to buy a bunch of batteries and worry about them failing while you are gone.
To make you feel even more secure, the machine holds three D batteries if the electricity goes out. The LCD clock makes it easy to set the feedings and the magnetic lock lid keeps your pup from getting into the food between meals.
What We Like:
- The plug-in feature is great
- It has an alarm that tells you when the hopper is running low
What Dogs Love about it?
- Food comes out at regular times
- He can hear you call him for dinner
What We Don’t like:
- It does not have an app to hook to your phone
Frisco Gravity Refill Pet Feeder
- Material: 100% recyclable PET plastic
- Type Of Feeder: Gravity
- Hopper Capacity: 48 cups
- Kibble Size: Any size
- Type Of Food: Dry
- Scheduling Capabilities: No
- Portion Control: No
- Warranty: Yes, for 30 days
- Made in the USA: Yes
- Smart Features: No
- Best for: Affordable automatic feeder
You do not have to worry about Fido running out of food with this huge feeder. And if you are not tech-savvy, this one is definitely for you. Just fill it up and you’re done. It holds 48 cups of dry kibble of any size, which is about 12 days of food for the average dog.
This one has the same problem as the one above though. It has no portion control so your pooch can eat it all as fast as he wants. Hopefully, once he realizes he has enough food to last for days, he will stop trying to eat it all in one sitting.
What We Like:
- It holds a lot of food
- It is easy to clean and the bowl is dishwasher safe
What Dogs Love about it?
- They have an endless supply of food
What We Don’t like:
- Your dog can overeat or eat too fast, leading to obesity or digestive problems
Petmate Pet Café Feeder
- Material: BPA-free plastic
- Type Of Feeder: Gravity
- Hopper Capacity: 3 to 12 pounds
- Kibble Size: Any size
- Type Of Food: Dry
- Scheduling Capabilities: No
- Portion Control: No
- Warranty: Yes, for 30 days
- Made in the USA: Yes
- Smart Features: No
- Best for: gravity automatic feeder
For busy pet parents who just need a way to keep their fur babies fed while they are gone for a day, this gravity feeder is pawfect. It comes in three sizes: 3, 6, and 12 pounds for dogs from tiny to giant. And it also comes in four colors: white, silver, blue, and tan. Just fill the food dispenser and let it do its job for as long as you need it to.
The only problem with this is that if you have an inhaler or a pup that does not know his limits, he can sit there and eat all of the food in one sitting, which can cause digestive issues including bloat. And although it can work for multiple dogs, if you have one that likes to eat more than the others, he may be the only one getting fed.
What We Like:
- It holds a lot of food
- You do not need batteries
What Dogs Love about it?
- They can eat whenever they want to
What We Don’t like:
- Chow hounds and inhalers can eat too fast
- In multiple dog homes, some dogs may not get any food
Sure Petcare -SureFlap – Microchip Pet Feeder
- Material: Plastic
- Type Of Feeder: Electronic
- Hopper Capacity: Bowl holds 13.5 ounces
- Kibble Size: Any size
- Type Of Food: Wet & Dry
- Scheduling Capabilities: No
- Portion Control: Yes
- Warranty: Yes, for three years
- Made in the USA: No
- Smart Features: No
- Best for: Automatic dog feeder for wet food
Easy to set and use by putting a tag on your dog’s collar or using the number on his microchip. The bowl opens when he sticks his head under there and closes when he leaves. And it keeps the food fresh for hours with a tight seal. However, there are some issues.
This is a great idea but the design is a bit flawed. It works okay for some but those persistent pets will find a way to get into the bowl from the back or from sticking a paw in underneath. Also, the microchip reader bar makes some dogs nervous being above their head like that.
What We Like:
- It keeps the food fresh
- It works well for dogs that are not frightened by it
What Dogs Love about it?
- They can eat their own food when they want to
- They do not have to worry that their pet friends will eat it
What We Don’t like:
- The back is too open
- It is very expensive
PetSafe Smart Feed Automatic Dog Wi-Fi Enabled for Smartphones
- Material: Plastic hopper and stainless steel bowl
- Type Of Feeder: Electronic
- Hopper Capacity: 24 cups
- Kibble Size: Small or medium
- Type Of Food: Dry
- Scheduling Capabilities: Yes
- Portion Control: Yes
- Warranty: Yes, for one year
- Made in the USA: Yes
- Smart Features: Yes
- Best for: Large-sized Kibble
You can feed your pup with your smartphone or send a message to Alexa to tell the feeder to feed him no matter where you are. It works with an app as long as you have an iPhone, iPod, Android 6.0 or later, or iOS 9.0 or later. And you can schedule up to 12 meals for your dog with flexible portions.
The slow feed option lets you dispense the food over a 15-minute timer to slow your speed eater down. This is better for his digestive system as well as his weight. Also, it lets you put in batteries so if the Wi-Fi drops your pup still gets to eat.
What We Like:
- It is dishwasher safe
- The smartphone and Alexa access is pawesome
What Dogs Love about it?
- They get fed whether you are home or not
- You can also give them treats with your phone
What We Don’t like:
- It is very expensive
- It only holds small and medium kibble
WOPET 6L Smart Pet Feeder with Portion Control, Distribution Alarms and Voice Recorder
- Material: Plastic
- Type Of Feeder: Electronic
- Hopper Capacity: 25 cups
- Kibble Size: Small and medium
- Type Of Food: Dry
- Scheduling Capabilities: Yes
- Portion Control: Yes
- Warranty: Yes, for one year
- Made in the USA: Yes
- Smart Features: Yes
- Best for: Electronic feeder
This one is really cool and it works with your phone as the other one only at a better price. And with this one, you can record a message for your pet that starts when the food comes out. You have to have an iOS 9.0 or later or a compatible Android smartphone 4.4 or later. Also, your home Wi-Fi network needs to be a 2.4GHz frequency.
It also has an infrared sensor to tell the machine when the bowl is full so it can stop it from overfilling. In fact, the sensor can even tell you when the hopper is low so you can fill it up. The tray and lid are removable so you can clean it easier too.
What We Like:
- Being able to record your voice for mealtime
- It is a better price for all the features
What Dogs Love about it?
- They can hear your voice at mealtime
- You can feed them on demand from anywhere
What We Don’t like:
- It only feeds small and medium kibble
Little Giant Galvanized Steel Chow Hound Dog Feeder
- Material: Galvanized steel
- Type Of Feeder: Gravity
- Hopper Capacity: 25 pounds but they sell a 50-pound too
- Kibble Size: Any size
- Type Of Food: Dry
- Scheduling Capabilities: No
- Portion Control: No
- Warranty: Yes, for a year
- Made in the USA: Yes
- Smart Features: No
The galvanized steel makes it pawfect for feeding dogs outside. And it holds up to 25 pounds of food so you do not have to fill it too often. The metal keeps the food dry and safe from pests like possums and raccoons that may be looking for a free meal. It also keeps your pooch from getting to the food in the hopper.
The magnet door is easy to open once you teach your dog how to do it. This also keeps the pests out as well as other dogs and cats. But, it does mean that your dog can eat as much as he wants whenever he wants, which does not work well for some pups.
What We Like:
- It is weather proof and pest proof
- It holds a lot of food
What Dogs Love about it?
- They get to eat whenever they are hungry
What We Don’t like:
- Your pooch can eat as much as he wants whenever he wants to
Aspen Pet LeBistro Portion Control Programmable Feeder
- Material: Plastic
- Type Of Feeder: Gravity and electronic
- Hopper Capacity: 18 cups
- Kibble Size: Small and medium
- Type Of Food: Dry
- Scheduling Capabilities: Yes
- Portion Control: Yes
- Warranty: Yes, for one year
- Made in the USA: Yes
- Smart Features: No
This automatic feeder uses both gravity and electronic technology to make it better than either of these alone. With the timer, it can let the kibble out at set times, and the food refills as your dog eats until he has eaten the amount you want him to have. This saves energy and time.
It holds a lot of food but can only hold small and medium kibble or it may get clogged up. The bowl locks securely in place and has a locking lid for freshness. But the bowl is hand-wash only so there’s that. It runs on three D batteries, no electricity is required.
What We Like:
- The gravity feed function saves battery juice
- It controls portions
What Dogs Love about it?
- They get to eat whether you are there or not
What We Don’t like:
- The batteries are expensive
PetSafe Healthy Pre-Portioned Automatic Food Dispenser
- Material: BPA-free plastic feeder and stainless steel bowl
- Type Of Feeder: Electronic
- Hopper Capacity: 24 cups
- Kibble Size: Any size
- Type Of Food: Dry and semi-moist
- Scheduling Capabilities: Schedule up to 12 meals per day
- Portion Control: Portions of ⅛ cup to four cups per meal or slow feed options
- Warranty: Yes, for one year
- Made in the USA: No
- Smart Features: No
This electronic feeder is easy to set and can feed your pup small portions by only putting out ⅛ cup every 15 minutes per meal up to 12 times a day. The locking lid keeps your pooch as well as the air out so the food stays fresh. If you have two pets, you can get the meal splitter to keep them from eyeballing each other.
The large hopper is great and it is pet resistant so you can keep your pooch from stealing meals. The slow-feed option is perfect for dogs that do not know when to stop.
What We Like:
- The see-through lid means you don’t have to open it to see how full it is
- The hopper and dish are dishwasher safe for easy cleaning
- Your pooch will eat slower with the slow-feed option
What Dogs Love about it?
- The dish is big enough to hold plenty of food
- He gets to eat even when you sleep in or work late
What We Don’t like:
- It takes D batteries that do not last long
- It is kind of expensive
PetSafe 5 Meal Automatic Pet Feeder with Digital Clock & Portion Control
- Material: BPA-free plastic
- Type Of Feeder: Electronic
- Hopper Capacity: Five containers of one cup each
- Kibble Size: Any size
- Type Of Food: Wet and dry
- Scheduling Capabilities: Schedule four meals down to the minute
- Portion Control: Yes, they can only have however much you put in each container
- Warranty: Yes, for one year
- Made in the USA: No
- Smart Features: No
This is a great product for pet parents who need to feed their pup a few meals while they are away. But it only has five compartments and one is always open so you can really only program for four meals. This is fine if your dog only eats one cup per meal. But if you have a big dog that needs four cups of food, it is only good for one meal.
However, most people are only gone for one meal so this is pawfect for a big dog that needs to slow down his eating. You can set it to open one compartment every half-hour so your pup is only able to eat a little at a time. The compartments are good for dry or canned food and it is dishwasher safe so that is a big plus.
What We Like:
- The price is really good
- It is easy to clean
What Dogs Love about it?
- They can eat when the boss is away
- It serves dry and wet food
What We Don’t like:
- It makes a loud noise when it switches compartments
- The batteries do not last and are expensive
PetSafe Automatic 2 Meal Feeder
- Material: BPA-free plastic
- Type Of Feeder: Electronic
- Hopper Capacity: Each food tray holds 1.5 cups
- Kibble Size: Any size
- Type Of Food: Wet & Dry
- Scheduling Capabilities: Yes
- Portion Control: Yes
- Warranty: Yes, for one year
- Made in the USA: Yes
- Smart Features: No
This one is paw-fect for those who are not tech-savvy but do not want to use the gravity feeder. The dial timers are set by hand up to 48 hours in advance and you can schedule two pre-made meals, wet or dry for your fur baby to eat while you are not around. You can set it for two small meals or one large meal spread out over two days.
You can also put a few treats in one of the trays if you want. And it is dishwasher safe so you don’t have to worry about getting that smelly canned dog food out of there.
What We Like:
- Great for those who are not tech-savvy
- Dishwasher safe
What Dogs Love about it?
- They get to eat on time whether you are home or not
What We Don’t like:
- The batteries do not last long
Amazon Basics Gravity Pet Food Feeder and Water Dispensers
- Material: Plastic
- Type Of Feeder: Gravity
- Hopper Capacity: 12 pounds
- Kibble Size: Any size
- Type Of Food: Dry
- Scheduling Capabilities: No
- Portion Control: No
- Warranty: Yes, for 30 days
- Made in the USA: Yes
- Smart Features: No
This is a great product for a dog that knows when to quit. Otherwise, your dog can eat and eat as much as he wants, which can be dangerous for him. This can cause digestive issues and bloat in your dog if he eats too fast. The transparent hopper lets you know when to refill so you can always make sure he has something to eat when you are busy.
The large opening makes it easy for any size kibble to get through and there are less chances for the food to get jammed up. It even has non-skid rubber feet and easy grab handles.
What We Like:
- It holds a lot of food
- You can use any size kibble
What Dogs Love about it?
- They can eat whenever they want
What We Don’t like:
- Your pup can eat as much as he wants, which can be dangerous
Common Questions from Dog Parents
How do I program a smart automatic feeder?
A smart automatic feeder usually has an app to use for this purpose. Depending on the feeder, you can either use your smartphone, tablet, or even your Alexa if you have one. On most of them, you can also set them manually.
How do I train my dog to use an automatic feeder?
Dogs are very smart animals that can learn pretty quickly how to do just about anything. But if your dog seems overwhelmed or even scared, you may have to show him that it benefits him by giving him food or treats. Leave the new feeder out by his regular food bowl for a week or two to get used to it. Gradually move his food from the old bowl to the new feeder until he sees what it does.
Do automatic dog feeders work?
Yes, for the most part, automatic dog feeders work for almost any pet. With all of the different styles and sizes, you should be able to find the one that is right for your pooch. The best bet for those with dogs who eat too fast or need to lose a few pounds is the electronic feeder that can schedule his meals for him.
Are automatic pet feeders hard to clean?
Many of the auto feeders have dishwasher-safe bowls and hoppers and others are able to be cleaned in the sink just like a large pot or pan. Just make sure to check the manufacturer’s instructions before you buy one if you want one that is safe to put in the dishwasher. Not only is it easier, but it also sanitizes the feeder.
How does an automatic pet feeder work?
The gravity feeder is just a large container that holds kibble with a bowl connected underneath. The food comes out as your dog eats so he always has a full dish. But these cannot help with portion control or schedule. An electronic feeder can be set to serve your dog several times a day and has the option of slow feed for those inhalers.
Can you put wet food in an automatic feeder?
While many auto feeders only do kibble and treats, there are some on the market that can hold wet food too. But since wet food does not stay fresh as long as it dry, this is only an option if your dog will be eating it within a few hours.
How many times a day should you feed your dog?
Most pet parents feed their dogs once or twice a day. For those fast eaters, they may get fed smaller meals several times a day. It is best to feed your pooch between eight and 12 hours apart. Just split the suggested food amount on the bag between the number of times you feed your pup.
The Final Woof
After reviewing all of these pawesome pet feeders, we decided on the best automatic dog feeder Arf Pets Automatic Feeder. This one is the top pick because it does just about everything the others do and then some like quantity and portion control as well as being easy to clean. And it costs less than most of the electronic feeders so it is a good deal too.
With the Arf, you can set up to four meals a day of 1 – 10 cups each and record your voice so you can call your pup to dinner. And the best thing about this one is that it plugs in so you do not have to buy batteries unless you want the battery backup, which is also a nice bonus. Although it does not have Wi-Fi or an app, the company sells an upgraded version with smartphone capabilities too and it is under $100!
