Top 10 Best Automatic Dog Feeders
When feeding your dog only the best products will do, from dog food to dog bowls—and, if you do mealtimes remotely, you’ll want the best automatic dog feeders too. As is often the case with pet gadgets, not all models are created equal: Where some pet food dispensers simply deposit kibble so many times a day, others come with fancy extras like Wi-Fi connectivity, cameras, and mobile apps. And shopping for an automatic pet feeder doesn’t stop at what type of feeder you like—it’s also a matter of finding one that suits your furry friend, from their size to their eating habits. Here, we spoke with Carly Fox, DVM, senior veterinarian at Schwarzman Animal Medical Center-NYC, and Gabrielle Fadl, DVM, medical director of Bond Vet, to find out more about automatic feeders for dogs for pet parents who want to learn.
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Are automatic dog feeders safe?
Both Dr. Fox and Dr. Fadl state that, in most cases, automatic feeders are generally safe for dogs to use. “Any dog can potentially learn to use an automatic feeder.” Dr. Fadl says. The key is to select the right one for your particular pup. “It should be the right size for your pet and sturdy enough that your pet can’t ‘break in’ to it and steal extra food,” Dr. Fadl says. If your dog is big, strong, or just flat-out motivated enough to knock over a feeder and get to the food storage reservoir, you may need to stick to traditional feeding methods. “This would defeat the point of having an automatic feeder in the first place and might result in a dog gaining weight, having stomach upset, or developing bloat,” Dr. Fadl explains.
When are automatic dog feeders useful?
- Dr. Fox explains that automatic feeders tend to be popular among people who have unpredictable schedules, work late, or wake up after their pet. In addition to the convenience factor, Dr. Fadl points out that they can also come in handy if your dog has specific needs when it comes to portion control: “They may be very helpful in some cases, such as feeding the right amount of food for a dog that needs to maintain their weight or preventing one dog from stealing another dog’s food.”
- If your dog’s dietary needs are very specific (say, they eat prescription food) or you live in a home with multiple pets, an advanced feeder that dispenses food based on your pets’ microchips can simplify feeding time, Dr. Fadl says: “This allows the feeder to open for one pet, but close if another pet tries to use it.”
- While automatic feeders are extremely helpful in certain homes, they aren’t a quick fix for any and all schedule changes—especially when it comes to leaving your pet alone for extended periods of time. “Although auto feeders are appealing gadgets and have many great use cases, they are not substitutes for hiring a pet sitter or putting your dog in day care or boarding while you take a vacation,” Dr. Fox says. She adds that no device is perfect and if your feeder were to jam, lose its Wi-Fi connection, or otherwise malfunction, you’d want to be nearby to address the issue and make sure your pooch gets their dinner.
How do automatic dog feeders work?
- Generally, automatic dog feeders dispense food on a programmed feeding schedule that you set for your pup. Depending on the model, you can customize portion sizes, timing, and frequency. Usually, they’re designed to work only with dry food, but some are also compatible with semi-moist varieties of dog food too.
- As we mentioned above, these devices can get pretty fancy—and those bells and whistles can have some potential advantages. “If you are tech savvy, having a dedicated app that allows you to program feeding schedules on the go, make real-time changes, and see if your pet has eaten their meal increases the effectiveness and safety of automatic feeders,” Dr. Fox explains. She adds, however, that even the less techy options will “do a relatively good job at feeding your pet.”
Should you buy an automatic dog feeder?
- In the same way that certain dogs have needs that’ll be well-served by food dispensers, others have needs that could potentially make feeders unsafe. Dr. Fox specifically names dogs with swallowing disorders, ones who mainly eat wet food, and dogs who tend to gorge themselves probably shouldn’t use an automatic feeder. (Those who eat like they’re racing the clock should, instead, dine out of a slow feed bowl.)
- Also, larger-size dogs that eat similarly large portions (over one cup of food in a sitting, Dr. Fox says) may have appetites that most feeders can’t keep up with. Rather than having to refill the dry kibble canister at a constant clip, you may prefer to feed them conventionally.
- And finally, if you don’t have a problem with traditional feeding methods, there’s no need to change things up. Dr. Fox and Dr. Fadl say feeding your dog if your schedule allows can be a great bonding opportunity.
- Hopefully at this point, with the help of our experts, you have a better idea of whether your dear dog would benefit from an automatic feeder. Here, we’ve selected some of the internet’s top picks for the best automatic dog feeders.
The 10 Best Automatic Dog Feeders
PetSafe Eatwell 5-Meal Automatic Dog Feeder – Best Value
Number of cups: | 5 cups |
Remotely accessible?: | No |
Type of food: | Dry, freeze-dried |
Color: | Tan |
The PetSafe Eatwell 5-Meal Automatic Feeder is the best automatic dog feeder for the money. This affordable feeder can hold up to five cups of dry or freeze-dried food split into five 1-cup portions. The food trays are dishwasher safe for easy cleaning, and you can set the feeder to feed up to five meals per day. Only one meal is accessible to your pet at a time, keeping them from overeating in one sitting. It requires four D-cell batteries, which can last up to 12 months with daily use. This feeder is not as pet-proof as most of the feeders on the list, so if your dog is extra sneaky about food, this might not be the best option.
ORSDA Wet Food Automatic Dog Feeder – Best for Puppies
Number of cups: | 7 cups |
Remotely accessible?: | No |
Type of food: | Any |
Color: | Navy |
The ORSDA Wet Food Automatic Feeder is the top pick if you have a puppy to feed. This feeder can feed any type of food, including wet, and holds up to seven cups of food in five portions. You can create a personalized voice recording to call your puppy to meals. The cover and food bowl are removable and dishwasher safe for easy cleaning. It runs on electrical power but also takes three AAA batteries to provide a battery backup in case of a power outage. Although this is intended for wet food, it does not keep food cold, so wet food should be replaced once or twice daily to keep it fresh.
Dogness Mini Programmable Automatic Dog Feeder – Best Overall
Number of cups: | 3 cups |
Remotely accessible?: | No |
Type of food: | Dry, freeze-dried |
Color: | White, pink, green |
The Dogness Mini Programmable Automatic Feeder is the best overall automatic dog feeder. This feeder is available in three colors and holds over eight cups of dry or freeze-dried food. It’s fully programmable, allowing you to set up to four meals at any time of the day or night. It also has a voice recording feature, allowing you to leave a message that calls your dog to meal times. It runs via USB but includes a built-in battery backup in case of a power outage. The feeding tray is stainless steel and can be removed easily for cleaning. There is no way to remove the storage hopper for proper cleaning, so it may be difficult for some to clean.
Pawple Automatic Feeder for Dogs
Number of cups: | 20 cups |
Remotely accessible?: | No |
Type of food: | Dry, freeze-dried |
Color: | White |
The Pawple Automatic Feeder holds up to 20 cups of dry or freeze-dried food. It can be set to feed up to four meals per day and has a voice recording option to call your dog to meals. The locking lid keeps food fresh and secure, and it runs on USB power or D-cell batteries. The feeding tray is dishwasher safe for easy cleaning. It can be set to feed anywhere from two teaspoons to four and a half cups per feeding, making it a good pick for dogs of any size. The hopper can only be cleaned with a damp cloth, making it difficult to keep properly clean.
SureFeed Microchip Dog Feeder
Number of cups: | 6 cups |
Remotely accessible?: | No |
Type of food: | Any |
Color: | White |
The SureFeed Microchip Feeder is a wonderful option if you have multiple pets and want to avoid food stealing. This feeder can feed up to two meals per day or be set to feed when approached by your dog, and it can be used with any type of food. It can be programmed to identify up to 32 microchips, allowing you to set it for as many or as few of your pets as you choose. It will keep food fresh and free of pests, like ants. It automatically opens and closes only when approached by a pet with a programmed microchip, keeping other pets and strays out of your dog’s food. This feeder sells for a premium price and requires C-cell batteries to operate.
Cat Mate C500 Digital 5-Meal Automatic Dog Feeder
Number of cups: | 5 cups |
Remotely accessible?: | No |
Type of food: | Any |
Color: | Off-white |
The Cat Mate C500 Digital 5-Meal Automatic Feeder holds over seven cups of any type of food, separated into five compartments. It can be set to feed up to five meals per day and contains ice packs to keep wet food cold and fresh. The lid and bowl are dishwasher safe, and the lid is tamper-proof, keeping your dog out of the food when it isn’t mealtime. The LCD display is easy to see and use, making this feeder easy to program. Since ice packs are the only way this feeder keeps food cold, you may need to order extras so the feeder stays cold round the clock. It requires three AA batteries for operation.
Gamma2 Nano Automated Dog Feeder
Number of cups: | 30 cups |
Remotely accessible?: | No |
Type of food: | Dry, freeze-dried |
Color: | Black |
The Gamma2 Nano Automated Feeder holds up to 30 cups of food and can be programmed to feed up to six meals per day. It uses electrical power and can take batteries to serve as a battery backup. After a power outage, it will reset to factory defaults. It detects and prevents food jams in the hopper, ensuring your dog doesn’t miss meals. The hopper doesn’t seem to empty evenly, which may cause the feeder to alert you that it needs food added to it, even when there is still food in the hopper. It has a small door that closes over the food dispensing chute to keep your pets out of the food in the hopper between meals. Some people report this feeder being noisier than most.
SereneLife Automatic Dog Feeder & Voice Recorder
Number of cups: | 25 cups |
Remotely accessible?: | No |
Type of food: | Dry, freeze-dried |
Color: | White |
The SereneLife Automatic Pet Feeder & Voice Recorder can hold up to 25 cups of dry or freeze-dried food, and it can be programmed to feed up to four meals per day. It has a voice recorder function to allow you to set your voice to call your dog to meals. It uses electrical power and has an option for battery backup. It helps prevent food spills with infrared technology, keeping things clean around the food bowl. Without the addition of batteries, this feeder is completely reset to default after a power outage. The built-in clock may run fast or slow, making it difficult to set specific feeding times, especially if you are attempting to sync two feeders.
Buying Guide: How to Select the Best Automatic Feeder for Your Dog
To choose the right automatic feeder, you first need to evaluate what type of food your dog eats. Most automatic feeders don’t allow for wet food, so that limits your options. If you have a large breed dog that requires large quantities of food per meal, then you’ll need to choose a feeder that can keep up with those feeding needs.
You should also pick an automatic feeder that holds enough food for your needs. If you are planning to go out of town for a few days and need an automatic feeder to take care of the meals for your dog between pet sitter visits, then make sure to select a feeder that will hold and dispense enough food. If you have a small dog, your total holding capacity needs will differ from those of a large breed dog.
Also, consider your dog’s age and personality when selecting a feeder. Nervous dogs may not like a feeder with noticeable movement or significant noise. Puppies may need a simplified feeder they can be trained to use, while an older dog may be more accepting of any type of feeder.
Conclusion
For these reviews, we selected the best of the best in the world of automatic feeders. The Dogness Mini Programmable Automatic Feeder is the best overall pick, which works beautifully and comes in multiple colors. The PetSafe Eatwell 5-Meal Automatic Feeder is the more budget-friendly pick, which can feed up to five meals per day and is one of the more simplified feeders available. For a premium pick, try the Whisker Feeder-Robot, which has Wi-Fi capabilities and is reliable.