Looking for an automatic dog feeder but not sure where to start because of the array of different types and brands on offer? Not to worry….
In this guide, we focus on the best automatic dog feeders that can offer you a helping hand with feeding your pet when you are BUSY WORKING during the day.
We spent nearly 30 hours analysing over 40 popular UK models to find an automatic feeder that suits all price ranges in different designs for both big and small dogs.
We also consider models for wet and dry dog food, the size of the kibble the feeder can accommodate, and how much can be stored in the unit.
Below you will see the automatic dog feeder that ticked all the boxes (and a couple to avoid)
Ultimately, the PetSafe Simply Feed Automatic Dog Food Dispenser earned our Editor’s Choice award, scoring highly in all the areas we look for when choosing the best automatic dog feeder.
But if you still want the quality but are more price conscious, the PETLIBRO Automatic Pet Food comes in under £100 and takes our budget pick dog feeder for good reason. More on this model later.
And if our editors and budget pick are not for you? Don’t worry; we’ve picked an assortment of automatic dog feeders to suit all budgets and requirements.
Overview
- PETSAFE Simply Automatic Dog Feeder – [Editors Pick]
- PETLIBRO – [Best Budget Automatic Dog Feeder]
- PAWFIESTA – [Best Automatic Pet Feeders For Wet Food]
- WOPET – [Best Automatic Dog Feeder for Weight Management]
- SKYMEE – [Best Automatic Dog Feeder with Camera]
Best Automatic Dog Feeders [In Order]
#1 PetSafe Simply Feed
Editor’s Pick
Specifications:
- Capacity: 5.6L
- Meal Settings: Up to 50 Portions (12 meals per day)
- Portion Size: 29ml to 940ml
- Allowed Kibble Size: 2 – 15mm
- USB: No
- Feeding Schedule: Yes
- Voice Recorder: No
- Camera: NoBatteries: 4 D batteries required (not included)
Pros:
- Can schedule up to 12 meals per day to ensure your pet is never hungry
- The slow feed option will dispense food over 15 minutes to help prevent gulping or overeating
- BPA-free plastic and dishwasher safe, which make it easy to clean
- Flexible meal options to accommodate your pet’s needs
- Works with most kibble shapes and sizes
- 2-year manufacturer’s warranty for peace of mind for all pet parents
Cons:
- On the expensive side compared to similar products
- Only works with dry or semi-moist food, so not ideal for wet dog (canned food) lovers
The PetSafe Simply Feed is a clear winner for the best automatic feeders. I’ve tried many different products on the market, and this one is by far the easiest to use.
It has a very straightforward design, and the slow feed option is great for preventing overeating (It can’t be only my dog who is greedy, right?).
The design is simple to clean and looks great in any home. You can set it up to dispense up to 12 meals per day, which is excellent if you have a busy schedule and don’t want your pet to go hungry (or simply make them wait longer than 5 pm dinner, god forbid).
It is dishwasher safe; unlike our other models below, it is one of the few I found that doesn’t need to be washed by hand. It also has a 2-year warranty, two big selling points for me.
The only downsides are that it is expensive, especially compared to PetLibro. But, in my opinion, it’s worth the money because it will save you time and hassle in the long run.
It does only work with dry or semi-moist food, so it’s not ideal if you regularly feed your dog wet dog.
But don’t worry, I have found the Pawsfiesta Automatic Pet Dog Feeder. It is perfect for those who want to feed their pet wet food (and it’s a lot cheaper too)
Verdict
Whilst not suitable for wet food, it’s still a great model and our editor’s choice pick for the best automatic pet feeder, and I highly recommend it to all dog owners.
#2 PETLIBRO Pet Food Dispenser
Best Budget Automatic Dog Feeder
Specifications:
- Capacity: 3L
- Meal Settings: Up to 50 Portions (6 meals per day)
- Portion Size: 20ml
- Allowed Kibble Size: 2 – 15mm
- USB: Yes
- Feeding Schedule: Yes
- Voice Recorder: Yes
- Camera: No
- Batteries: 3D batteries (not included)
Pros:
- Triple Preservation for Pet Food which keeps food fresh to prevent spoilage
- Easily set up for portioned meals, great for a diet plan for your pet
- Airtight to keep pests out, essential for warmer climates
- Easy to clean to prevent bacteria growth and keep your pet safe
- Twist and Lock the Lid to avoid spills or tampering
- 24 months warranty to guarantee product quality
Cons:
- Not the best design for larger breeds of dog
- The Voice recorder is pretty quiet
- Batteries not included
As a pet owner, keeping my furry friend healthy and well-fed is essential (a healthy pet means a happy pet). That’s why I always research before buying any pet supplies, and the Petlibro Automatic Pet Feeder is at the top of my list for those on a budget.
This feeder is impressive because it has triple preservation for pet food. This means that your Dog’s food will stay fresh and prevent spoilage, which is crucial for keeping them HEALTHY.
Additionally, this feeder is easy to set up for portioned meals, which is perfect if you’re trying to stick to a diet plan for your pet.
And finally, the Petlibro Automatic Pet Feeder is airtight to keep pests out, which is essential if you live in a warm home environment or have many other animals.
I ran into a few problems testing this product, first is how quiet the voice recorder is; I had to record it several times to be sure it was loud enough for Milo (my chocolate labrador) to hear it.
The main issue is that the bowl is pretty small for larger dogs to feed; I would say you should only use it to provide small/medium size dogs. If you have a larger dog like me, stick with my editor’s pick Petsafe Simply Feed.
Verdict
Overall, I recommend this product to anyone looking for a budget automatic pet feeder. It’s high quality and has some great features that make feeding your pet a breeze.
#3 Pawsfiesta Automatic Pet Dog Feeder
Best Automatic Pet Feeder For Wet Food
Specifications:
- Capacity: 180ml each compartment
- Meal Settings: Up to 6 Portions (6 meals per day)
- Portion Size: 180 ml
- Allowed Kibble Size: 5 – 15mm wet or dry
- USB: Yes, 1.5m cable
- Feeding Schedule: Yes
- Voice Recorder: No
- Camera: No
- Batteries: 3 C-size batteries (not included)
Pros:
- Built-in programmable timer to ensure your pet is fed on time
- Made of environment-friendly ABS plastic materials that keep food fresh
- The feeding tray is removable and dishwasher safe for easy cleaning
- Pet safety button to prevent your dog from accidentally changing the settings
- The pet feeder is suitable for both wet and dry food
Cons:
- The food hopper is not see-through, so you cannot tell how much food is left.
- No low battery indicator will let you know when it needs charging or replacing the battery.
- No voice recorder to record a message for your pet
I love the Pawsfiesta Automatic Pet Feeder; it may look basic, but that’s the best part about it, it’s really easy to set up and use.
It has a built-in programmable timer that ensures your pet is fed on time, and you can schedule up to 6 meals daily. The portion size is 180ml which is fairly large (perfect for big dogs) compared to all the models I have reviewed so far.
The feeding tray is removable and dishwasher safe for easy cleaning (Winner), and there’s also a pet safety button to prevent your dog from accidentally changing the settings (or, in my case, on purpose, if it’s my dog).
The pet feeder is suitable for wet or dry food, making it a top choice for those who use wet dog food; most dog feeders only work with dry kibble. Plus, it’s made of environment-friendly ABS plastic materials that keep food fresh for your dog on a hot day.
One downside is that the food hopper is not see-through, so you cannot tell how much food is left, unlike the Petsafe Simply Feed, which you can see right through.
I also found it frustrating that there is no low battery indicator that lets you know when it needs charging or replacing the battery. There is no voice recorder to record a personal message for your pet with this feeder (we all know that squeaky voice we use with our pet buddies).
Verdict
Despite a couple of cons, In my view, the Pawsfiesta Automatic Pet Feeder is still one of the best automatic dog feeders on the market for wet dog food.
#4 WOPET Automatic Dog Feeder
Best Automatic Dog Feeder for Weight Management
Specifications:
- Capacity: 6L
- Meal Settings: Up to 50 Portions (15 meals per day)
- Portion Size: 5g
- Allowed Kibble Size: 5 – 15mm
- USB: No – 4G Connection
- Feeding Schedule: Yes
- Voice Recorder: Yes
- Camera: No
- Batteries: 3 D-size batteries (not included)
Pros:
- Perfect for weight management and portion control
- 4G WiFi connectivity for easy programming and meal changes from your phone
- Customisable voice recordings to notify your pet when it’s feeding time
- Dual power operation with batteries as backup in case of a power outage
- Made from food-grade ABS material, making it eco friendly
Cons:
- Not suitable for wet dog food or large food pellets
I love the WOPET automatic feeder because it’s perfect for weight management and food control. It’s also really handy that it has 4G WiFi connectivity, so I can easily program and change meals from my phone (I love this feature, something the above products are missing).
The voice recorder is excellent, and it was easy to set up automated messages to notify my dog when it was feeding time. And the best part is that it’s made from food-grade ABS material, making it eco-friendly.
The only downside is that it’s not suitable for wet food or large food pellets but don’t worry; just head back up to the Pawsfiesta Auto Feeders review; it’s perfect for dogs who eat wet food over dry food.
Verdict
Overall, I think the WOPET automatic feeder is a great product. I recommend it to anyone looking for an easy way to portion out their pet’s meals.
#5 SKYMEE WiFi Pet Feeder
Best Automatic Dog Feeder with Camera
Specifications:
- Capacity: 12L
- Meal Settings: Custom (Up to 8 meals a day)
- Portion Size: 10g up to 300g
- Allowed Kibble Size: Under 15mm
- USB: Yes
- Feeding Schedule: Yes
- Voice Recorder: Yes
- Camera: Yes 1080P HD camera batteries: 3 D-size batteries (not included)
Pros:
- It has a large visualised food container with timed and customised feeding.
- Has a built-in 1080P HD camera with night vision allows you to monitor your pet day and night
- The high-quality 2-way microphone without noise allows you to listen/speak to your pet anytime, anywhere.
- Controlled feeding via an app can schedule healthy feeding plans for your pet.
- Skymee will alert you when it detects dog movements or food running low.
Cons:
- Most expensive compared to similar automatic feeders
- The camera is low down, so you may not get a good view of your pet
I loved this product when testing it out at home. The camera quality is reasonable, and it’s great to see my dog at feeding times, even when working in the office. However, sometimes I could only see a big ball of fur as the camera was pretty low down.
The built-in microphone ensures that you can always hear your pet. With a 2-way microphone, you can even talk to them when you’re at work – an excellent feature for those who worry about leaving their furry friend home alone.
The feeding schedule is easy to set up and allows you to set up HEALTHY feeding plans.
I also like that the Skymee will alert you if it detects your dog moving around or if the food is running low – meaning that you can always be sure that your dog is consistently being well-fed (not that you would forget to feed your dog, it’s just a GREAT reminder).
Verdict
The only downside to this product is the price; if that’s a deal breaker for you, then our budget pick, Pet Libro Dog Feeder, works almost as well(minus the video camera). However, given the array of features on offer, I LOVE it.
How Did I Choose The Best Automatic Dog Feeder?
I created this list by reading reviews and soliciting customer feedback. I also took into account my own experiences, as well as input from experts like breeders, vets, and retailers., I chose the products that performed best in key areas like features, price, dishwasher safety etc.
Size/Capacity
One of the most IMPORTANT things I think you need to consider is how much food it can hold at once.
Ensure that it’s big enough to accommodate your pet’s meals but not so big that it takes up too much space (I know how much my dog takes up).
I have found automatic dog feeders on the market that can hold anywhere from 5g dachshund-sized meals to 300g of kibble (that’s a lot of food). Of course, the SIZE you need will depend on the size of your dog and how OFTEN they need to be fed.
Ease of Use
Another important consideration is how EASY the automatic dog feeder is to use. You’ll want something that’s straightforward and easy to set up with no fiddling.
Some automatic dog feeders come with complex instruction manuals, while others can be set up in just a few minutes. I prefer the latter since it’s less of a hassle (who has time to read manuals anyways?).
Additionally, you’ll want to consider how easy it is to program the feeder. Some feeders can be programmed using an app on your phone, while others need to be programmed manually.
I prefer automatic dog feeders that can be controlled via an app since it’s more convenient (I’m all about that tech life).
Price
Of course, you’ll also want to consider the PRICE when choosing an automatic dog feeder. These devices can range in price from around £30 to £200, and don’t forget to factor in the cost of refills and batteries if applicable (batteries are rarely included in the price).
Camera/Audio
Some higher-end automatic dog feeders come with cameras and audio capabilities, which can be USEFUL if you’re away from home for extended periods of time. These features let you check in on your pet and ensure they’re doing okay and keeping out of mischief.
Dishwasher Safe
I prefer automatic dog feeders that are DISHWASHER SAFE because it’s less of a hassle (I’m all about that easy life).
Size of Dog Suited For
You will want to consider the SIZE of the DOG it’s suited for. Some feeders are designed for small dogs, while others can accommodate larger breeds.
I prefer automatic dog feeders that are suitable for all sizes of dogs because they’re more versatile (I have a large dog and a small dog, so I need something that can accommodate both).
Number of Bowls
Some automatic dog feeders come with multiple bowls, which is USEFUL if you have more than one pet. This is a great feature to have; I love that my dogs can eat from their own bowls without sharing (and eating each other’s food).
Frequently Asked Questions
In Closing
That should cover everything you need to know to make an educated decision on your journey to purchasing your furry friend the best automatic dog feeder.
In summary – My pick would be the Petsafe Simply Feed because it offers a good combination of features, quality and price. Still, if this one is outside your budget, check out the Petlibro Automatic Feeder as a good alternative.
If you found an option that we didn’t cover, please drop us a line in the comments below!
For over a decade, Adrienne has been a freelance content writer and blogger who’s passion lies in anything related to dogs. Growing up, dogs were a very important part of family life in the Hardwick household. Now, Adrienne is the proud parent to two Swedish Vallhunds called Moose and Pumpkin.