Automatic Dog Feeders: The Top Three Types
Dogs need to eat twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. But if you’re at work or away from home at feeding time, automatic dog feeders are very useful. These dispensers provide food automatically, either by electronic programming or by the action of gravity.
We analyzed dozens of automatic feeders in order to find the top 3 for reliability, durability, and quality. We took into account factors such as quality of materials, ranking on internet sales sites, and prices.
The 3 best automatic dog feeders
These devices provide a certain amount of food for our pet according to the time we choose. The automatic feeder needs to be pre-programmed and have enough battery life to work at the right time. There are even some state-of-the-art ones that you can control through your cell phone.
Large capacity automatic feeder
If you’re looking for a reliable automatic feeder that will stand the test of time, the large capacity ones fit the bill. These feeders feature a digital timer that can program up to 12 meals each day. The large reservoir can hold up to 24 cups of feed.
The unique feeding system features a jam-proof conveyor belt that dispenses all sizes of dry and wet kibble. These models typically offer two types of feed distribution.
- The slow feeding mode, which dispenses meals over a 15-minute time span to prevent your dog from swallowing the food too quickly.
- Immediate feeding mode, which dispenses the entire programmed amount at once.
With a feeder like this one, you won’t have to worry about your dog’s food when you’re not at home because they always work. These models include a dishwasher-safe stainless steel plate and have an average battery life of one year.
Voice recorder feeders
These feed dispensers are less expensive than the previous ones, but have a big impact. They feature a built-in voice recorder and a small speaker. You can record 10 seconds of your voice to warn your pet that it’s time to eat.
They’re ideal for dogs that are easily distracted or tend to nap during meal times. This feeder is programmable to dispense up to four meals per day. Each portion of food dispensed weighs about 350 grams (14 oz).
One drawback of this device is that it doesn’t work with large kibble, but it has an infrared sensor that prevents the device from dispensing food when there are still leftovers in the bowl. This prevents overflows or the system from jamming. It has a sleek design, is easy to program, set up, and clean, and comes with a long battery life.
Gravity feeders and drinkers
The best option for a low budget are automatic gravity feeders. They’re ideal for pet owners who don’t want to sacrifice quality for price. They usually come with a gravity feeder and a drinker, which doubles the value at half the price.
They hold up to five kilograms of feed and come in all shapes and sizes. They’re made of clear PET plastic so you can easily see when to refill the container. The device is completely hand washable with soap and water.
These types of automatic feeders usually have side handles that make them easy to grip for easy repositioning if necessary. They come with non-slip feet to avoid accidental spills while the dog is feeding. They have no moving parts, so it’ll never be necessary to replace any parts during the life of the device.
Important features to consider
Automatic dog feeders should be safe, airtight,, and made of quality materials. Consider the following recommendations when selecting your food dispenser:
- Safety: Poorly constructed food dispensers can let your dog have access to the food before the appropriate time. To prevent that, look for feeders made of quality materials.
- Airtight food tanks: Keeping air out of the tank will keep the food fresher for longer and prevent it from going rancid.
- Long-lasting batteries: If you chose one that runs on batteries, make sure it has a long-lasting one fitted. Many of these appliances come with very interesting features, but they consume excessive battery life.
- Easy to clean: Since you’ll need to clean them often, removable, dishwasher-safe models are more convenient.
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