Make Your Life Easy With the Best Automatic Dog Feeder

Buying Guide to Automatic Dog Feeders

Are Automatic Feeders Good for Dogs?

The fundamental purpose of automatic dog feeders is to make pet parents’ lives easier. These automated devices pour out specific portions of the meal as instructed by you.

As a result, you don’t have to rush several times a day to feed your pup. It takes away the stress and worries associated with dog feeding. You can rest assured that your fur baby is not starving while you work. Automatic pet feeders can also be used for cat food.

But, what is the impact of automatic feeders on dogs? Is it good for them? Well, yes!

Here Are Some Benefits of an Automatic Dog Food Dispenser:

• Diet requirements

It is easy to meet your pup’s diet requirements when you have one breed. But, keeping up with the dietary needs of multiple different fur babies can be difficult.

And, a bad diet leads to the health deterioration of your pets. This is where an automatic dog feeder comes into use.

You can pour in the required dog food beforehand so that the machine will serve your pets. You can even adjust the settings to provide different feeds at different times. Hence, it helps keep your pup healthy and keeps up their eating habits.

• Weight management

Along the same lines, an automatic feeder also monitors your dog’s food consumption. It prevents overfeeding and underfeeding so your fur kid gets the appropriate amount.

• Discipline

Some dogs have disciplinary issues. They ask for food multiple times a day whenever they like. And, as a pet parent, it can be difficult to say no to your cuddly puppy.

An automatic dog food dispenser takes this responsibility and teaches your pup discipline without compromising their health.

Types of Automatic Dog Feeders

Identifying the automatic feeder type that you want for your pup is very crucial. It determines your overall experience quality and ease of use.

Fundamentally, there are four types of automatic feeders that you will find in the market. These include:

Gravity automatic feeders

These automatic dog feeders use a gravity system to refill the pet bowl with dog food. It uses no electricity or batteries. Instead, it lets the filled feed out slowly as your pet finishes the portion in the bowl.

Although it is an affordable and eco-friendly option, you do not have much command over the functionality.

While you’re trying to decide on a more permanent, high-tech option, you can make a DIY gravity automatic feeder with this video from Animal Wised:

Programmable automatic feeders

Programmable automatic feeders come with timers and digital screens. These let you optimize the settings as per your preferences. You can decide how much and how many times the feeder should fill the bowl with your dog’s food.

Programmable plate automatic feeders

These programmable feeders are an advanced version with several compartments. Using these, you can divide the food and gain better control over the quantity.

Smart automatic feeders

Smart feeders offer you complete command over the functionality. You can use a remote to adjust the settings, such as quantity, time, and much more. The feeder may come with a dedicated remote or maybe an app for your smartphone.

Features to Consider in the Best Automatic Dog Feeder

The selection of the automatic dog food dispenser type is not the only factor that you should be considering at the time of purchase. Although it is the most significant one, there are several other essential factors.

Without evaluating them all, your purchase won’t be a satisfactory and wise one.  Hence, be vigilant about each of these factors that include:

Corded vs. cordless

Automatic dog feeders either get their power from batteries (cordless) or through an electric power outlet (corded).

• Corded automatic feeders offer consistent performance. But, you can only keep them near power sockets.
• Cordless ones are highly portable and safe. But, you need to purchase and replace batteries every time they get used up.

Feeder capacity

If you’ve got multiple fur babies or your pup simply eats more, then you will require an automatic feeder with a large capacity.

Opting for a small one will create hassle as you will find yourself constantly refilling the unit. Also, when choosing a large dog feeder, look for features that preserve the freshness of the food.

Number of meals & portion size

The frequency of a feeder to dispense dry food determines its usability to you. Some feeders dispense food up to 20 times a day, whereas some only do it 5 times a day. Hence, you should consider the difference and select one that meets your pet’s dietary requirements.

Other than this, evaluate how many grams of dry dog food the feeder provides to your dog in each meal. Knowing this will help you maintain your furry pal’s health and prevent overfeeding.

Build quality

It doesn’t matter what product you purchase; considering the build quality is equally important in all. Or else, you get stuck in an endless loop of buying.

In build quality, you should examine the materials used in the composition. The better the material used, the more sturdy and premium your feeder will become.

Generally, a high-quality feeder has a heavy-duty plastic and stainless steel build. These feeders exhibit good resistance against damage and scratches. Many of them offer plastic that is BPA free.

Maintenance

Cleaning the automatic feeder can be hectic, especially when it has so many compartments. Thus, choose a feeder that has an easy-to-clean, dishwasher-friendly design.

How Much Is an Automatic Feeder?

The cost of an automatic feeder depends on a variety of factors. These include:

• Type – Basic automatic feeders, such as gravity feeders, cost less than advanced smart versions.
• Capacity – A large automatic feeder with the capacity to feed more than one pet will come at a much more premium price than a small one.
• Features – No two products are the same, and so, you should expect to pay more for innovative design features, such as a timer, camera, and voice recorder.
• Brand – Reputable manufacturers tend to charge you more for the quality and brand name. Meanwhile, more unknown companies will sell you at a cheap price.

Generally, automatic dog feeders can cost anywhere from $10 to $180. Although some products may sound too expensive, never settle on something due to affordability. Instead, do research and opt for a product that offers good value for your money.