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Last Updated on October 29, 2023
When it comes to feeding our dogs, we are spoilt for choices in terms of the options that we have. From dog bowls to interactive dog feeders, there is so much for us to choose from. However, if you are looking at feeding your dog in the most fuss-free manner when you are not home, then the above few options won’t serve your needs. For problems like this, all you need is the automatic dog feeder with timer!
What Is An Automatic Dog Feeder With Timer
An automatic dog feeder with a timer is a useful tool for dog owners who want to ensure that their dog is fed on a regular schedule, even when they are not home. These automatic dog feeders use a timer to dispense a predetermined amount of food at specific intervals, allowing owners to set their dog’s feeding routine and allow the automatic feeder to dispense food out. Automatic dog feeders can be particularly helpful for people who work long hours, have unpredictable schedules, or are planning to be away from home for an extended period of time. They can also be useful for dogs with medical conditions that require them to eat on a specific schedule. Overall, an automatic dog feeder with a timer can help ensure that a dog is properly fed and cared for, even when their owner is not able to physically be there to do it themselves.
Do You Need An Automatic Dog Feeder With Timer?
I wouldn’t say that everyone will need the automatic dog feeder. Rather, the automatic dog feeder can be a godsend to people who needs to feed their dogs on a scheduled basis but they cannot be home in time to feed their dog. It can also be particularly useful for owners that need to dispense medication to their dogs on a regular basis, even when they are not at home. Just think about it, having the ability to care for your dog even when you are having a night out, or even when you are overseas for work or for holiday. Imagine having the ability to provide timely medication for your dog, allowing you to be away from home for periods of time!
Is The Automatic Dog Feeder Safe?
Definitely! Automatic dog feeders are safe for you and your dog to use. Of course, this is assuming that you do not expose your dog to exposed wires or food that are toxic, otherwise, the automatic dog feeder is completely safe. Just remember to put in the correct dog food or medicine before you head out. If you can, do a test run of the setup before you head out of the house.
Is The Automatic Dog Feeder Better Than The Mechanical Variant?
This is of course! There are mechanical feeders out there, but the problem is that they are unable to keep the dog food fresh. The mechanical dog food feeder might not have the ability to dispense food or medicine in real-time too. So yes, the automatic dog feeder is definitely better than the mechanical variant. I mean, who doesn’t like a device that is able to dispense food or even medication to your dog, all by using a timer or even via the Smart Phone?
With that let us look at the top 5 automatic dog feeder with timer reviews so that you can have your work cut out for you.
Top 5 Automatic Dog Feeder
#1 PETLIBRO Automatic Dog Feeder
#2 PETLIBRO Automatic Dpg Feeder, 2.4G WiFi
#3 WOPET 6L Automatic Dog Feeder
#4 PETLIBRO Automatic Feeder for Two Dogs
#5 PetSafe 6 Meal Programmable Pet Food Dispenser
PETLIBRO Automatic Dog Feeder
The PETLIBRO automatic dog feeder is one of the highly rated pet feeders in Amazon. Most owners love the simplicity of this dog feeder as well as the 6L food capacity that it can hold. Indeed, the 6L capacity is perfect for most dogs’ needs and the twist lock lid ensures that the food stays fresh and doesn’t spill out.
The programming is simple and easy to use, with options for multiple feedings throughout the day. There is also the low food alarm feature, which alerts you when it’s time to refill the feeder.
One of the best features of this feeder is that it has a built-in portion control feature, which will allow you to set the exact amount of food to be dispensed for each meal. This helps me make sure that my dogs are getting the proper amount of food and not overeating. In terms of aesthetics, the design of this metal automatic feeder with timer is sleek and modern, and it can blend in well with your kitchen decor. It’s also easy to clean and the removable tray makes it easy to wash and dry.
This automatic pet feeder with timer serves only dry kibbles, and it can be powered by the main lines, or you can use 3 alkaline D-cell batteries, hence making it one of the best portable automatic dog feeder with timer that you can find. Indeed, due to the structure and buid, you can treat this as an outdoor automatic dog feeder with timer too!
Pros: Clean aesthetic. Comes with a timer. The lid can help to keep kibbles fresh.
Cons: No wifi function. Dry kibbles only. More suitable for small or medium-sized dogs.
Our Rating: [usr 4.8]
PETLIBRO Automatic Dog Feeder, 2.4G WiFi
The PETLIBRO Automatic Dog Feeder, 2.4G WiFi is an upgraded version of the previously reviewed metal automatic dog feeder. For owners that prefer Smart Devices, then the PETLIBRO Automatic dog feeder will be a great investment for you.
The 2.4G WiFi enabled smart food dispenser allows you to schedule meals for your dog, even when you’re away from home. This means you don’t have to worry about leaving your dog without food for an extended period of time. Apart from this, the rest of the features are as similar to the previous version.
As for the app itself, it is actually very easy to set up and use. The instructions are clear and easy to follow, and the app’s control is simple to navigate. You can schedule up to four meals per day and set the portion size for each meal.
Pros: Clean aesthetic. Comes with a timer. The lid can help to keep kibbles fresh. Comes with Wifi.
Cons: Dry kibbles only. More suitable for small or medium-sized dogs.
Our Rating: [usr 4.9]
WOPET 6L Automatic Dog Feeder
When it comes to heavy duty automatic dog feeder, one of the most widely purchased automatic feeder is the WOPET 6L Automatic Dog Feeder. This heavy duty feeder is well-constructed and it is made with high-quality materials that are extremely durable.
What we love about this feeder is its ability to program multiple feeding times throughout the day. This is perfect, especially when you need to be away from home for an extended period of time as you can ensure that your dog will be fed on schedule. The heavy-duty automatic dog feeder also has a built-in voice recording feature, which will allow you to record a voice message for your dog to hear when it’s time for her to eat. Many owners commented that this is an important feature since most of their pets respond to their voices.
The feeder’s 6-liter capacity is also a major plus since it allows you to be away for an extended period of time without needing to return and refill it. The transparent design also makes it easy to see when the feeder needs refilling, so I never have to worry about running out of food. It also comes with a dual-powered capability, hence making this heavy-duty automatic dog feeder portable!
Pros: Comes with wifi. Can portion up to 15 meals a day. Portable.
Cons: Dry kibbles only. More suitable for small or medium-sized dogs.
Our Rating: [usr 4.9]
PETLIBRO Automatic Feeder for Two Dogs
If you have two dogs at home and you wish to feed them at the same time, then the PETLIBRO Automatic Feeder for Two Dogs will be optimal. The functions of this dual pet automatic feeder are almost identical to its predecessors, but the main difference here is that this pet feeder allows you to feed up to two dogs at the same time.
It comes with a meal splitter that allows you to configure and dispense the correct amount of food each time. This is important, especially so if your dogs have different meal requirements.
If you have two dogs that you want to feed on-time while you are away, then the PETLIBRO Automatic Feeder for Two Dogs will be the top choice for you.
Pros: Comes with wifi. Can portion up to 15 meals a day. Portable. Best for two dogs
Cons: Dry kibbles only. More suitable for small or medium-sized dogs.
Our Rating: [usr 4.9]
PetSafe 6 Meal Programmable Pet Food Dispenser
If you are looking at providing your dog with wet or most food on a timely basis, then the PetSafe 6 Meal Programmable Pet Food Dispenser should be the top choice for you. Also, if you intend to bring your pet outdoors, you can bring this along to dispense food on a timely basis for your dogs too.
The PetSafe 6 Meal Programmable Pet Food Dispenser is a great option for dog owners who need to portion out meals for their pets throughout the day. The dispenser has six compartments, each of which can hold up to 1 cup of dry or moist food. The meals can be programmed in advance, so the dispenser can dispense food at the same time each day. However, since it only has 6 compartments, this pet feeder is useful only if you are having a night out.
One of the great features of this dispenser is that it is easy to use. The compartments are labeled with the meal time, so it’s easy to see when the next meal is scheduled. Setting the meal times is also straightforward, and can be done with the touch of a button. The dispenser also has a built-in clock, so you can be sure that the meals will be dispensed at the correct time.
The dispenser is made of durable materials and seems well-constructed. The compartments are easy to clean, and the dispenser can be wiped down with a damp cloth. The pet food dispenser also comes with an LCD display for easy navigation, a Power supply option with batteries or an adaptor, and on top of that, It also features an audio recording and playback option, to call pets for meals with a recorded message.
Overall, the PetSafe 6 Meal Programmable Pet Food Dispenser is a great option for pet owners who want to ensure that their pets are getting the right amount of food at the right time. It’s easy to use, well-constructed and can make mealtime a lot more convenient for both pet and owner. Given its size and build, there are several owners that regard this as the best automatic dog feeder for kennels too.
Pros: Can use moist kibbles
Cons: More suitable for small dogs. Only 6 meals possible
Our Rating: [usr 4.9]
What To Consider Before Buying Automatic Dog Feeder With Timer
With so many choices that you have in Amazon, it will be good for you to consider some of the factors that should influence your decision.
- Capacity Of Automatic Dog Feeder: The size of the feeder is important for your consideration as it will determine how many portions you can give to your dog and hence how many days can you afford to be out of the house.
- Ease of usage: We advocate for devices that can solve problems in our life, but the device itself should be easy for us to use. Hence, for your choice of the automatic dog feeder with a timer, you will need to determine if the feeder itself is easy to program. It should also have a display so as to allow you to configure the settings as well as the feeding schedule.
- Types Of Food Allowed: Some automatic dog feeders allow you to hold dry food and not wet food, hence you will need to decide on the type of feeder that you prefer based on the type of food it allows!
- Ease of Cleaning: The ease of cleaning should be one of the considerations that you have before you purchase the automatic dog feeder with timer. Look for a model that allows you to clean and dry effectively.
- Durability: The durability of the automatic dog feeder will be important if your dog is known for knocking things over. If this is the case, then we will advise you to get the heavy duty automatic dog feeder with timer.
Are automatic dog feeders good for dogs?
Automatic dog feeders can be a helpful tool for dog owners, but whether they are “good” for dogs depends on how they are used and the specific needs of the dog. Of course, while it has been proven to be mostly beneficial to dogs (as well as the owners), it can still be detrimental for some. Here are some of the reasons why this is so:
- Lack of Interaction: Automatic feeders do not replace the need for social interaction between you and your dog. Feeding time is an opportunity for bonding, and relying solely on an automatic feeder could deprive your dog of this important connection.
- Technical Issues: Automatic feeders are machines, and they can malfunction. If the feeder were to stop working or dispense the wrong amount of food, it could lead to health issues for your dog.
- Limited to Dry Food: Many automatic feeders are designed for dry kibble, which may not be suitable for all dogs. If your dog requires a wet or raw diet, an automatic feeder may not be the best choice.
- Power Outages: In the event of a power outage, the automatic feeder may not function, potentially leaving your dog without food.
In conclusion, automatic dog feeders can be a useful tool for some dog owners, especially when used thoughtfully and in conjunction with other forms of care and attention. They can help maintain a consistent feeding schedule and portion control, but they should not replace the social interaction and care that dogs need from their owners. Always consider your dog’s individual needs and consult with a veterinarian or professional dog trainer if you have concerns about using an automatic feeder.
