Are you a dog parent who spends time away from their fur baby?
If you are, then you need to look into buying a timed dog feeder and dispenser.
In this review post, you can find out important information about timed dog feeders and dispensers available on the market. From automatic feeders with different food storage capacities, different technologies to control the feeder, to different materials, this article has it all covered. Keep reading to learn about the advantages and disadvantages of timed dog feeders and check out the list of the best five timed dog feeders currently available to purchase on the market.
Important Information About Timed Dog Feeders & Dispensers
What Is A Timed Dog Feeder & Dispenser?
Dog food timers and feeders are recently popular thanks to the advance in technology. These products usually feature a food storage hopper, a bowl where the food is dispensed and some kind of timing the food dispensing, usually with the help of an LCD screen or a smartphone app connection. They help out a lot when you can’t always be next to your dog for mealtime because they can dispense food at the times you set and you can also choose how big the portion will be. If you have a busy schedule, timed dog feeders could help you maintain a healthy eating habit for your dog.
What Features To Look For In Timed Dog Feeders?
When you are choosing timed dog feeders and dispensers, it is important to have your dog’s size in mind. According to this parameter, you can decide which timed dog feeder best suits your dog. If your dog is bigger, you should opt for products that can store more food and dispense bigger portions. In case your dog eats too fast and suffers from bloating, choose a product that enables slow feeding. When it comes to the material of these feeders, make sure it is non-toxic and hygienic so you can provide the best and the healthiest experience to your four-legged friend.
Advantages & Disadvantages Of Timed Dog Feeders & Dispensers
If you are a dog owner who spends time away from home, timed dog feeders and dispensers will help you provide meals for your dog so they don’t miss out on their usual feeding times. They are perfect for maintaining regular mealtimes and keeping your dog from becoming obese because they are not gonna have an endless supply of food in their bowl all the time, but will be provided with limited portions of food at times. However, it is not suggested you always opt to feed your dog through the timed dog feeder and dispenser because dogs still need your attention and mealtime is a great opportunity to bond with your pooch. Likewise, you will still need to spend time cleaning the feeding station and refilling the food container. All in all, this technological product can help you with your pet, but cannot replace you for longer periods.
Best 5 Timed Dog Feeders & Dispensers Reviews
Best Automatic Dog Feeder With Timer
PetSafe Healthy Pet Simply Feed Automatic Dog Feeder
Anti-Jam Prevention
This automatic dog feeder with a timer features a food container, an LCD screen, and a stainless steel bowl. It is a convenient way of storing and dispensing food through the timer and designed so it can fit into all house environments, thanks to the black color and the clean look. The food dispenser features anti-jam prevention and is suitable for storing and dispensing dry and semi-moist food. The hopper can hold up to 24 cups of food.
Schedule 12 Meals (1/8-4 Cup Size Portions)
This automatic feeder with a timer is suitable for small to medium-sized dogs. It allows scheduling up to 12 meals in advance and can dispense portions between 1/8 cup to 4 cups at once, so you can tailor it to your dog’s needs. The clear lid on the hopper allows you to see when you have to refill the food. Both the plastic hopper and the stainless steel bowl are dishwasher safe and can go on the top rack of your dishwasher. The food container keeps the food fresh and away from pets so they can’t access the food whenever they want.
Three Different Feeding Modes
The LCD screen and buttons allow scheduling the right amounts of food at wanted times. This prevents your dog from eating too much and growing obese. This automatic dog feeder with timer features three different modes: slow feeding, immediate and pause feeding. The slow feeding is great if your dog suffers from digestion problems and bloating. Immediate feeding dispenses small treats straight away and the pause option lets you stop the food dispensing while memorizing your food schedule and times. If you can’t be home for every mealtime, this will help you feed your dog automatically by simply setting up the timer.
- LCD screen for scheduling meals
- stainless steel bowl
- 24-cup plastic hopper
- dishwasher safe
- three settings
Best Automatic Large Dog Feeder With Timer
WOPET Automatic Pet Feeder Food Dispenser
Schedule 4 Meals Per Day
This timed dog food dispenser comes in white color and features a hopper, a food tray, an LCD screen and a lock that keeps the hopper lid closed securely. The food tray is black and this product also has some other black details. The two timeless colors make it fit into home decor easily. The hopper is suitable for dry food and has a capacity of 20 cups. It can easily be removed for cleaning and refilling. The food tray is dishwasher safe. This model can dispense portions sized anywhere between 2 teaspoons and 4.5 cups of food. This timed dog feeder and dispenser can schedule 4 meals per day and they can all be individually sized to provide your dog with the best feeding experience.
Suitable For Large Dogs
By programming the timer you give your dog food portions tailored to his/her needs. The 7-liter capacity and two modes available mean this model can be suited even to large dog’s needs. The model L unit is suitable for medium and large dogs because it can dispense meals of 390 grams, and the model S unit is better for smaller dogs that need smaller portions (up to 159 grams). You can also record a voice message that can be played at mealtimes to encourage your dog to eat.
Dog-Proof LCD Screen
The LCD screen buttons are dog-proof because you can lock them so only you can use them, without worrying about your mischievous dogs. The food container also has a lock button so your dog can’t sneak any extra food. This model lets you set regular feeding times for your dogs which can be healthy for your pooch. This timed feeder can work with the help of batteries and adapter power as well so you can always be sure food can be dispensed even if there is a power shortage.
- 7-liter (20 cups) of food storage
- dishwasher safe food tray
- LCD screen for programming food times
- 4 timed meals per day
- suitable for large dogs
Best Electronic Dog Feeder With Timer
BELOPEZZ 6Liters Smart Pet Automatic Feeder
Dispenses Up To Four Portions Of Dry Food A Day
This automatic feeder with a timer is white and has some bronze color details and thanks to its modern look can fit into any house decor. The hopper can hold up to 6 liters (around 6.5 pounds) of dry food. You can program up to 4 meals per day, each one with individual portion sizes. It is made out of non-toxic plastic that is healthy for your dog. The hopper and the food tray are both easy to remove and dishwasher safe. The centerpiece where the LCD screen with buttons is installed can be cleaned with a damp cloth.
Plays A Recorded Voice Message With Meals
After scheduling different portions of food timed for dispensing at different times in the day, you can even record a voice message to be played with the meal to make this a fun eating experience for your pooch. The meal sizes can be tailored to all dog breeds and sizes. This electronic dog feeder with a timer has a dual power supply, so you can use it with battery power as well as adapter power.
Food Detector Prevents Food Spillage And Waste
This durable model features a food detector that detects if there is too much food in the tray so it won’t dispense more food which will prevent spillage and food wasting. This is very helpful if your dog doesn’t eat the whole portion of the previous meal.
- non-toxic durable plastic
- 6 liter of food capacity
- schedules up to 4 meals per day
Best Metal Automatic Dog Feeder With Timer
HoneyGuaridan A36 Automatic Food Dispenser
13 Cups Of Dry Food Storage
This HoneyGuardian product consists of a food container, an LCD screen, and a removable stainless steel food bowl. The white and metallic gray two-color combination of this product makes it fit into any house design easily. The food container can fit up to 13 cups of dry food while the stainless steel bowl can hold up to 3 cups of food. The compartments of this timed dog feeder and dispenser are easy to remove so they can be maintained clean and provide your dog with a healthy feeding environment.
Features A Low Food Level Alarm
You can schedule up to 6 meals a day, each can be sized with 1 to 80 portions of 0.28 ounces. The lid on the container has a lock that prevents your pet from stealing any extra food. There is also an alarm that detects when the food level is low so you can refill it by flashing the light in blue color. The bottom of the timed feeder is anti-slippery so dogs won’t be able to turn it over. There is an infrared detector that will warn you when the bowl is full of food by turning the HG logo red.
Healthy Metal Material
Record a 10-second long voice message that can be played when the food is dispensed to attract your dog to come and enjoy his/her food. There is also an infrared detector that will turn the HG logo red to warn you that the food bowl is full. Since this is a metal bowl made out of stainless steel that is dishwasher safe, you can be sure that your dog will always eat food in a healthy environment.
- 13 cup dry food storage
- schedules 6 meals per day
- stainless steel bowl
Best Smartphone WiFi Timed Dog Feeder & Dispenser
PetSafe Smart Feed Automatic Wi-Fi Enabled Pet Feeder
Schedules Up To 12 Meals
Unlike the rest of the timed dog feeders on this list, this model is controlled through a smartphone app. It is black and has some gray details which make it a pleasant addition to your home design. It is compatible with both iPhone and Android users. This smart WiFi timed dog feeder can schedule 12 meals for your pet in advance and is made out of non-toxic plastic, while the food bowl is made out of stainless steel. The food bowl, bowl holder, the hopper and its lid are all dishwasher safe so you don’t have to put in too much effort to keep it clean.
Connect It To Your Phone Through WiFi
By connecting your smartphone to this timed dog feeder through an app you can schedule and dispense food for your dog at home even from a remote location so you can always make sure your dog eats even if you are away from home. The capacity of the hopper is 24 cups of dry food. The food portion can be sized between 1/8 cup to 4 cups of food, so you can optimize it to your dog’s needs. The lid on top of the container prevents your dog from sneaking any additional food so you don’t have to worry about your dog getting obese.
Slow Eating Setting
In case your dog gets easily bored when eating or eats too fast, there is a slow eating setting on this smart timed dog feeder that will prevent your dog from eating too fast. This setting slowly dispenses food in 15 minutes so your dog doesn’t upset his/her stomach by eating too much food in little time. This reduces bloating and improves digestion in dogs.
- smart WiFi automatic dog feeder with timer
- dishwasher safe
- iPhone and Android compatible
- slow feeding option
Conclusion: Which Timed Dog Feeders & Dispensers Should You Buy?
I would like to recommend one of the following two timed dog feeders and dispensers for purchase: the Wopet automatic feeder and the PetSafe smart automatic feeder. The Wopet model can dispense portions of different sizes and can schedule 4 meals per day. It is suitable for different dog breeds, including large dogs, thanks to the two model units. The PetSafe model is different from the first ones because of its smartphone feature. You can schedule and time up to 12 meals through an app on your phone. It also includes a stainless steel bowl, while the Wopet model has a plastic food tray included.
While you are here, you can learn more about automatic dog feeders in general by reading this post. Also, to find out more about the best dog feeding stations, read this review post I wrote. If you are interested in slow feeders, read this review I wrote about the best dog slow feeders.