Best Automatic Dog Feeder: Timed, Smart & Outdoor Food Dispensers

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Are you not a morning person, but your dogs are? Or do you travel a lot or work long days, making it hard to get home to feed the pups? Thanks to automatic dog feeders, you can rest assured Fido is getting the correct amount of food on time regardless of where his humans are. You can also put your dog feeder on a timer to schedule their mealtimes when life gets busy.

At A Glance: Best Automatic Dog Feeder For…

Smart FeederLow-TechMultiple Pets
WOPET SmartFeederPetSafe Healthy Pet Simply FeedSureFlap Sure Petcare SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder
WOPET SmartFeederPetSafe Healthy PetSureFlap Sure

Best Automatic Pet Feeders

We should note that all of these allow you to schedule or manually dish out your dog’s food. And all have the option to operate via battery if your electricity goes out (or your dog chews on cords). Here are our picks for the best automatic pet feeders. We also have some budget-friendly options below.

Best Smart Feeder: WOPET SmartFeeder Review

WOPET SmartFeeder

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The WOPET SmartFeeder lets you remotely schedule your dog’s feedings (from one to six times per day) and check in on him during the day. The feeder stores up to six pounds of food, and you can set each meal for 1 to 39 portions (10 grams per portion). So if your dog likes to wolf down his food, this is a unique feature.

This pet feeder also has a real-time high-definition camera that lets you see and interact with your pet. You can even talk to him using your smartphone app.

ProsCons
Built-in camera via smartphone appNo night vision
Two-way talk via smartphone appRequires 2.4GHz network
Can pre-record a message to play at mealtimes
Can run on batteries or be plugged into power outlet
Remote scheduling and viewing with iOS and Android apps
1-year warranty

Pricing

Our Personal Experience With WOPET SmartFeeder

“I purchased an automatic pet feeder for an extremely persistent pet placed on a diet. She was doing everything possible to pester me into giving her more food. I programmed the automatic feeder to dispense small meals throughout the day in an attempt to keep her satisfied. She learned the schedule and would wait beside the feeder instead of wreaking havoc around the house. A huge win!”

– Tara Maurer, Pet Parent

Best Low-Tech Feeder: PetSafe Healthy Pet Simply Feed Review

PetSafe Healthy Pet Simply Feed

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If you don’t need a smart pet feeder synced to your phone, this PetSafe timed dog feeder is an excellent option. You can schedule up to 12 meals a day with this feeder, so it would work well for multiple pets eating the same food (as long as they don’t steal each other’s servings!). It also works excellently as an outdoor automatic dog feeder since it runs on batteries.

Portions range from 1/8 to 4 cups of dry kibble or semi-moist food. You can even select a “Slow Feed Mode” option, which dispenses the meal over 15 minutes to keep your dog from chowing down too quickly.

ProsCons
Does not require Wifi connection or internetPower adapter must be purchased separately
Holds up to 24 cups of food (dry or semi-moist)Expensive for no smartphone capabilities
Dispenses 1/8 to 4 cups of food per portionNo smartphone app
Runs on batteries (or power adapter purchased separately)
Works with semi-moist foods too
BPA-free
1-year warranty

Pricing

Best For Multiple Pets: SureFlap Sure Petcare SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder Review

SureFlap Sure Petcare SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder

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Do you have multiple pets who are food aggressive? Or a dog who tries to eat the cat food (or vice versa)? Then this smart feeder by SureFlap is for your household. It identifies your pets by microchip ID or by wearing a lightweight RFID collar tag that opens the lid when detected inside the chamber. The bowl doesn’t dispense (like the other feeders), but then you’re not limited to dry kibble and can even mix in fresh food or medicine.

Be sure to check what type of microchip your pet has, as it’s only compatible with a few different options (or you can use the RFID, which comes with the feeder). There’s also the option to purchase colored bowls so you can more easily identify your feeders from each other.

ProsCons
BPA-free plasticBatteries not included
Holds up to 13.5 fl oz of wet or dry foodOnly feed one meal portion at a time
Various colors available (sold separately) Pricy
Can pre-record a message to play at mealtimesNo two-way interaction or power adapter
Wireless
Best for homes with multiple pets
3-year warranty

Pricing

Budget-Friendly Dog Food Dispensers

Although these automatic dog food dispensers didn’t make our top picks, you may find one of these is a better fit for your needs or budget as they are a bit more affordable than our top picks.

Arf Pets Automatic Dog Feeder Review

Arf Pets Automatic Dog Feeder

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The Arf Pets automatic dog food dispenser is another smart, WiFi-enabled feeder. This timed pet feeder allows you to remotely set up to four feedings per day and control portion sizes from 1 to 10 portions per meal (each portion is 24ml). It has a tamper-proof lid, and the kibble chamber and feeding tray are dishwasher safe. 

This feeder also has a built-in microphone that allows you to pre-record up to 10 seconds of audio, allowing pet owners to “call” their pet when it’s time to eat.

ProsCons
Holds 16 cups of dry kibbleBatteries not included
Variety of portioning optionsSome complaints that the feeding schedule settings aren’t reliable
Can pre-record a message to play at mealtimes
Battery operated or wall plugin
Remote scheduling with iOS and Android apps
1-year warranty

Pricing

Iseebiz Hopper Review

Iseebiz Hopper

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Iseebiz’s Automatic Pet Feeder allows you to customize your pet’s feeding portion from 1 to 39 portions per meal. If your dog or cat has problems with portion control or you have problems with feeding them the proper amount, this smart dog feeder may be the solution. The feeder also features a built-in infrared detector to prevent overflow or clogging.

ProsCons
Audio recording microphone built in to pre-record up to 10 secondsNo two-way audio
Holds 3 pounds of kibbleProgramming is more manual than other feeders
Backup batteries to use wirelessly or AC adapter
Made from BPA-free plastic

Pricing

Pawple Automatic Pet Feeder Review

Pawple Automatic Pet Feeder

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The Pawple automatic food dispenser for dogs and cats is an excellent value for its reliability and ease of use, and it gets excellent customer reviews. You can set up to four meals per day through its automatic timer and portion your dog’s food from two teaspoons up to four-and-a-half cups per feeding.

While you can’t link it to your smartphone, you can record a voice message to call your dog for mealtime. It runs on USB power and three D batteries (not included). The food tray is also dishwasher-safe for easy cleaning.

ProsCons
BPA-free plasticBatteries not included
Holds 20 cups of dry kibbleA few customers reported that the portion control sizes weren’t accurate
Wide variety of portioning options
Can pre-record a message to play at mealtimes
USB powered (or run on batteries)
Customer reviews for reliability and customer service
1-year warranty

Pricing

CleverPet Review

Sally with CleverPet hub (caption: Clever Pet Review)

The original CleverPet Hub is no longer available, but a CleverPet V2 has been announced. We will update this article when that version is released.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are automatic feeders good for dogs?

The benefits of an automatic dog feeder aren’t only for convenience but also for portion control.

Tip About Food Capacity Limits

You probably noticed that these auto pet feeders have food capacity limits. You probably won’t run into any issues if you have a younger pup or a smaller breed pup, but if you have a medium to large breed, you could be pushing it. Be sure to measure your dog’s kibble before purchasing one of these pet feeders to ensure it will work for your dog’s feedings.

Keeping Your Dog Hydrated When You’re Away

In addition to feeding your dog while you’re not at home, you want to make sure he’s staying hydrated with clean, fresh water. See our reviews of the best dog water fountains, from basic, battery-operated options to large-capacity water dispensers, outdoor drinking fountains, and more. A dog water bottle could also prove beneficial when you’re on the go. Also, if you’re super busy, you might consider a dog food delivery service to have your dog’s food delivered to your door regularly.

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The information provided through this website should not be used to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease; it is not intended to offer any legal opinion or advice or a substitute for professional safety advice or professional care. Please consult your health care provider, attorney, or product manual for professional advice. Products and services reviewed are provided by third parties; we are not responsible in any way for them, nor do we guarantee their functionality, utility, safety, or reliability. Our content is for educational purposes only.

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