The Best Automatic Dog Feeders To Keep Your Pet Fed On Time

The Best Automatic Dog Feeders To Keep Your Pet Fed On Time

Does your dog make it clear if you’re even slightly late serving their dinner? Some dogs can be quite particular about their meal schedules. If you have an unpredictable timetable, the best automatic dog feeders can be a lifesaver. These feeders are designed to dispense food to your pet based on a predetermined schedule, ensuring that mealtime is always punctual. Our top pick for 2023 is the Petlibro Automatic Dog Feeder, which holds up to 24 cups of dog food and has a twist-lock lid to prevent curious pups from breaking in.

The Petlibro Automatic Feeder is designed to ensure your dog gets every meal right on time.

Illustration: Forbes/ Photo: Retailers

“Programmable dog feeders allow you to set a feeding schedule for your pet, giving you peace of mind in case you aren’t home when it’s mealtime,” explains Darris Cooper, CPDT-KA, FFCP, national dog training manager at Petco. “Scheduling morning meals may even allow you to sleep in rather than being woken up by your hungry pet.” While automatic feeders are handy on days when you work late, they are also a useful tool for weight management: “Automatic feeders assist in managing portion control to help maintain a healthy weight,” says Dr. Jennifer Frione, DVM, owner and veterinarian at Lakeside Animal Hospital in Davie, Florida.

When selecting an automatic dog feeder, you’ll want to consider the type of food it can be used with—most are designed to dispense kibble, but certain models can be used with wet dog food, too. Other important factors include the feeder’s capacity, ease of scheduling and durability, especially if you think your dog may try to break into it.

If you’re ready to automate your pet’s feeding routine, here are the best automatic dog feeders to ensure your beloved pet never misses a meal.

Amazon

PETLIBRO Automatic Dog Feeder

Capacity: 24 cups | Dimensions: 7.95 x 13.78 x 14.06 inches | Weight: 3.97 pounds | Food type: Dry food between 2-15mm | Meals per day: Up to 6

The Petlibro Automatic Feeder will ensure your dog gets every meal right on time. This feeder is designed to be used with dry kibble, and it can accommodate most kibble sizes, as long as the pieces are less than 15 millimeters (roughly 0.5 inches) in diameter. It has a basic control panel on the front of the feeder where you can program up to six meals per day and easily adjust the portion size, as well. 

The hopper on this feeder can hold up to 6 liters, or 24 cups, of your dog’s food, and it’s secured by a twist-lock lid to prevent your pup from breaking into it. The feeder has an anti-jam design that minimizes the risk of kibble getting stuck in the chute, and it even has an optional battery backup that will make sure your pet is fed, even if the power goes out. 

The only downside of this feeder is that the included bowl is on the smaller side—if you have a larger dog, you may want to swap in another larger bowl so they have enough room to eat comfortably. 

Pros:

  • Can be used with most dry dog food
  • Easy to program using the digital control panel
  • Backup batteries in case of power loss
  • The twist-lock lid prevents pets from breaking into the hopper

Cons: 

  • Bowl may be too small for larger dogs

Amazon

Cat Mate C200 Automatic Pet Feeder

Capacity: Two 14-ounce servings | Dimensions: 10 x 8.27 x 2.95 inches | Weight: 1.82 pounds | Food type: Wet food | Meals per day: 2

If your dog eats wet food, you’ll need an automatic feeder like the Cat Mate C200. It has a simple two compartment design, and each section has its own 48-hour timer, controlled by an easy-to-use dial. The feeder comes with reusable ice packs that keep wet dog food fresh, and each bowl can hold up to 14 ounces of food. The bowls that come with the feeder are dishwasher-safe plastic, but stainless steel inserts are sold separately, if you prefer.

This automatic feeder runs on a AA battery (not included), so you don’t have to worry about the power going out. The lids on the compartments are tightly sealed to prevent your pet or any pests from getting inside, but particularly eager animals may push the whole unit around trying to get at their food—in this case, the brand recommends fastening it to a board for more stability.

Pros:

  • Feeder includes ice packs to keep wet food fresh
  • Dial-style timers are easy to program
  • Operates for up to 12 months on a single battery

Cons: 

  • Stainless steel bowl inserts are sold separately
  • May need to be fastened to a board for stability

Amazon

Amazon Basics Automatic Electronic Timed Pet Feeder

Capacity: Six servings | Dimensions: 12 x 12 x 2.59 inches | Weight: 2.17 pounds | Food type: Dry or semi-moist | Meals per day: Up to 5

Some automatic feeders are challenging to program, but this model from Amazon Basics is straightforward and easy to operate thanks to its digital timer. The rotating design has six total compartments, allowing you to store up to five meals for your pet, and there’s a digital control panel in the center for scheduling. It operates using a countdown timer, so you can set it to rotate, for instance, every 6 hours—or whatever frequency works best for your pet. It even runs on batteries, so you don’t have to worry about plugging it into an outlet.

While this feeder is easy to program and use, keep in mind that its compartments are quite small. It’s a good option for cats and small dogs, but larger animals may have trouble eating from it. 

Pros:

  • Easy to program using digital timer
  • Holds up to six portions of food
  • Runs on AA batteries

Cons: 

  • Scheduling must be at consistent intervals 
  • Too small for large dog breeds

Amazon

WOPET Automatic Dog Feeder

Capacity: 29 cups | Dimensions: 10 x 12 x 15 inches | Weight: 5.67 pounds | Food type: Dry food between 2-15mm | Meals per day: Up to 5

The Wopet Automatic Dog Feeder is a top-selling model on Amazon, and it’s suitable for pets of all sizes. The feeder has a large 29-cup hopper, and you can program it to dispense up to five meals per day for your dog. It can be used with dry kibble up to 15 millimeters in diameter, and you can easily adjust the portion size, as well. 

This feeder has a digital control panel under its lid, which is see-through so you can monitor the food levels in the hopper, but it can be a bit tedious to program. A built-in microphone lets you record a message for your pet, calling them to eat at mealtimes, and the unit has a battery backup in case of a power outage, ensuring your pet is always fed on time.

Pros:

  • Can be used with most dry kibble
  • Hopper and bowl are large enough for bigger dogs
  • Battery backup in case of power loss

Cons: 

  • Control panel isn’t the most user-friendly

Amazon

PetSafe 5-Meal Dog Food Dispenser

Capacity: Five 1-cup servings | Dimensions: 12.63 x 4.44 x 16 inches | Weight: 3.96 pounds | Food type: Dry or semi-moist | Meals per day: Up to 5

For smaller dogs, the PetSafe Eatwell Automatic Feeder is an easy way to schedule their daily meals. This rotating feeder has a total of five compartments, each of which can hold up to a single cup of food. It operates on a timer, advancing to the next bowl after a set number of hours, and the design is ideal for pets who need more frequent meals or even daily medication. 

This feeder is more compact than many other options, and it has a tightly locking lid to keep pets from helping themselves to more food. The inner tray can even be put in the dishwasher for hands-off cleaning. The only downside of this feeder is that it needs to be refilled on a daily basis, as it’s designed to be used on a 24-hour cycle. 

Pros:

  • More compact than many other feeders
  • Lid locks tightly to keep pets out
  • Inner tray is dishwasher safe

Cons: 

  • Only able to schedule one day at a time

Petco

Gamma Nano Automated Feeder

Capacity: 7.5 pounds | Dimensions: 8 x 18.1 x 12.5 inches | Weight: 4.7 pounds | Food type: Dry food smaller than ½-inch | Meals per day: Up to 6

Many automatic feeders are too small for large dogs to use, and if you have a pooch over 50 pounds, you’ll likely want a model like the Gamma Nano. This oversized feed comes with a spacious bowl that can hold several cups of food at a time, and it gives your dog plenty of space to chow down. Its hopper can also hold up to 7.5 pounds of your dog’s kibble (so long as the pieces are less than 0.5 inches in diameter), so it can go longer between refills. 

You can program this feeder to dispense up to six meals per day, and the portion size can be adjusted, as well. There’s even a slow feed option that dispenses the kibble in small amounts—handy if your dog tends to eat their food in huge gulps. The unit has a battery backup in case you ever lose power, and the lid locks tightly to stop pets from helping themselves to an extra meal. 

Pros:

  • Large bowl can hold multiple cups of food
  • Optional slow feed setting
  • Battery backup in case of power outage 

Cons: 

  • Time-consuming to program

MOST POPULAR

Chewy

PortionPro Rx Automated RFID Dog & Cat Feeder

Capacity: 32 cups | Dimensions: 14.3 x 12.2 x 13.4 inches | Weight: 7 pounds | Food type: Dry food | Meals per day: Up to 6

If you have multiple pets and want to prevent them from eating each other’s food, the PortionPro Rx feeder offers a high-tech solution. This feeder comes with an RFID tag that you attach to your dog’s collar, and the bowl will only open when the wearer is in front of the feeder. This prevents other pets from eating the food, and it’s especially useful if one of your dogs has a special prescription diet or just eats more slowly. 

The PortionPro feeder can be programmed to dispense up to six meals per day, and its maximum serving size is 2 cups, making it suitable for larger dogs. It also has a large-capacity hopper that holds up to 32 cups of kibble, so you won’t have to refill it as frequently.  

Pros:

  • RFID collar used to open feeder
  • Suitable for dogs of all sizes
  • Extra-large hopper capacity

Cons: 

  • Stainless steel bowl isn’t dishwasher safe

Amazon

Yakry Automatic Dog Feeder

Capacity: 33 cups | Dimensions: 8.1 x 7.8 x 14.8 inches | Weight: 4.4 pounds | Food type: Dry food between 2-12mm | Meals per day: Up to 7

The Yakry Automatic Feeder has a large 8-liter hopper that can hold around 33 cups of dry kibble. It’s ideal for larger dogs who eat big servings, as you won’t need to constantly refill the feeder—in fact, the brand claims that most people will only have to refill the hopper once a month. Plus, the food tank even has a compartment where you can place a desiccant pack to keep the food fresh. 

This automatic feeder can be scheduled with up to seven meals per day, and it has a battery backup that uses three D batteries. You can even record a personalized message to call your pet to their meals if you want. 

Pros:

  • Extra-large hopper holds 33 cups of food
  • Bowl is large enough for big dogs
  • Slot for desiccant pack to keep food fresh

Cons: 

  • Slightly complicated to program

Whisker

Whisker Feeder-Robot Dog & Cat Feeder

Capacity: 25 cups | Dimensions: 13 x 12.5 x 15 inches | Weight: 9 pounds | Food type: Dry food | Meals per day: Up to 8

The Whisker Feeder-Robot is a worthwhile splurge if you want an automatic feeder that’s high-tech and easy to operate. The smart gadget connects to your phone via Wi-Fi, making it quick and easy to create feeding schedules and adjust portion sizes for your pet. It has a 25-cup hopper that can hold kibble up to 0.625 inches in diameter, and if you feed your dog smaller kibble, you can even remove the hopper insert, increasing its capacity to 32 cups. 

In addition to being extremely user-friendly, this smart feeder has a variety of thoughtful design features. The hopper lid automatically locks to keep pets out, and it has a large indicator light that lets you know if the feeder is jammed or running low on food. The power cord is even covered with a nylon braid to prevent pets from chewing on it, and the feeder has a unique “gravity mode” that keeps the bowl full at all times, in case your dog likes to graze throughout the day. 

Pros:

  • Syncs to your smartphone for easy programming
  • Optional “Gravity Mode” keeps bowl full
  • Large status indicator light lets you know when hopper is low
  • Chew-resistant power cord

Cons: 

  • Battery backup is sold separately
  • More expensive than most other models

Amazon

PetSafe Smart Feed Electronic Pet Feeder

Capacity: 24 cups | Dimensions: 13.27 x 10.28 x 15.8 inches | Weight: 7.4 pounds | Food type: Dry food up to 0.75-inch | Meals per day: Up to 12

The PetSafe Smart Feed Electronic Pet Feeder is a moderately priced option if you’re looking for a Wi-Fi-connected model. It connects to your smartphone, making it easy to program a feeding schedule and set portion sizes, and it’s one of the better options if your pet needs to eat frequently, as it can dispense up to 12 meals per day. 

This feeder holds up to 24 cups of dry dog food in its hopper, and it can accommodate kibble up to 0.75 inches in diameter. There’s a slow feed option for dogs who wolf down their food, and you can even control the feeder via voice commands using Amazon Alexa. 

Pros:

  • Connects to smartphone for easy programming
  • Slow feed setting available for fast eaters
  • Dishwasher-safe components are easy to clean

Cons: 

  • Bowl doesn’t stay in place well

What To Look For In Automatic Dog Feeders

Food Type

Most automatic dog feeders are designed to be used with dry kibble, which can be stored inside a hopper for longer periods of time. To find a feeder that will work with your pet’s food, be sure to measure the kibble size to ensure it’s compatible with the model you choose—if the pieces are too large, they may get stuck in the chute and cause jams.

If your pet eats wet food, you’ll need an automatic feeder like the Cat Mate C200. This style of feeder comes with reusable ice packs that will keep wet food fresh, and they generally need to be refilled on a daily basis.

Capacity

As you compare different feeders, you’ll want to consider both the overall capacity, as well as portion sizes and meal frequency options. “Portion and food reservoir sizes should align with your dog’s unique nutritional needs,” recommends Cooper. “This will ensure that your dog is getting the correct amount of food each time, and a properly sized reservoir won’t require refills as frequently.” Some feeders are able to store several weeks worth of food, while others must be refilled on a daily basis.

Ease Of Use

One common problem with automatic pet feeders is that they can be complicated or confusing to program. The best feeders have clear digital displays that are intuitive to operate and adjust, but if you’re not tech-savvy, you may want to look for a model that uses a simple dial to set its timer.

If you’re concerned about being able to program a feeder properly, smart automatic feeders are often some of the easiest to use, as you can adjust them through an app on your phone. However, these Wi-Fi-connected models tend to be more expensive than basic versions.

Features

In addition to standard scheduling options, some automatic feeders have additional features that may be useful for you and your pet. “There are a variety of additional features that may be helpful depending on your needs, such as the option to split food into multiple bowls for multi-pet households, recording capabilities so your pet can hear you call them to eat, multiple power sources (power outlet, battery or both), app connectivity, and slow feed options for quick eaters,” says Cooper.

If you have multiple pets and don’t want them to eat each other’s food, products like the PortionPro Rx Automated RFID Dog & Cat Feeder can be programmed to only open when a pet’s microchip or RFID tag is nearby. This can be an especially useful feature if one of your pets eats a prescription diet.

Cleaning

It’s important to regularly clean both the bowl and hopper of an automatic pet feeder to prevent bacteria from forming on the surface. As you shop, you may want to look for a model that has removable components, or even better, pieces that can be put in the dishwasher for easy and thorough cleaning.


Is It Worth Getting An Automatic Dog Feeder?

There are several reasons why you may want to get an automatic dog feeder for your pet. If your pet likes to be fed at the same time every day, an automatic feeder will save you from having to feed them by hand, and it also ensures they’re fed on time if you’re not home. It can also be a useful solution if your pet wakes you up early in the morning in anticipation of eating.

Automatic dog feeders are also useful if your dog needs to maintain or lose weight, as they dispense a consistent amount of food every time. “Automatic dog feeders are great for portion control,” explains Cooper. “This is especially important for pets that are on a weight management program, but you should consult your veterinarian to see if an automatic feeder would be the right option for your dog.”

What Are The Downsides To Getting An Automatic Dog Feeder?

While automatic dog feeders are useful for scheduled feedings, you shouldn’t leave your dog alone for long periods of time, as they aren’t 100% reliable.

“Automatic feeders should never be a replacement for you when you’re out of town,” says Cooper. “Because they could break or malfunction without warning, it’s important to be able to troubleshoot or feed your pet traditionally should anything go awry. If you do have to go out of town, it’s important to find a trusted pet sitter or pet boarding option.”

Are Raised Feeders Better For Dogs?

While raised dog food bowls have gained popularity in recent years, there isn’t currently any evidence that elevated feeders offer any benefits to dogs. In fact, some of the limited research done on the topic has shown that raised feeders may actually increase the risk of bloat, a dangerous condition that often affects large breed dogs. So unless your veterinarian specifically recommends a raised feeder for your dog, it’s best to use a traditional bowl on the ground.

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