6 of the best automatic dog feeders to keep your BFF fed on time
As much as we all love our dogs, there are times when we unfortunately have to leave them home alone. Whether you have to stay late at work one night, or your dog walker calls in sick, it can be tough on both you and your dog to be apart for very long. But there is one thing that we can do to help make life a little bit better for them: can get them on a regular feeding schedule.Â
Not only is eating at the same time every day just healthy for your dog, but it can also make your life easier as well. After all, a dog that eats on a schedule poops on a schedule â meaning youâre less likely to come home to an accident. Regular eating also helps you notice if something is wrong with your dogâs health because often the first sign that your pup is sick is a lack of appetite.Â
This is where automatic feeders come in handy. They will allow you to set up a routine that keeps your dog fed at the same time everyday â regardless of whether youâre home or not. Plus, some feeders come with a whole host of other perks to make being apart easier for both of you â from video cameras, to phone status updates, to fun food games that keep your dog entertained.
So whether youâre just looking for help to keep your dog fed everyday or you want something special that delivers more, here are seven of the best automatic dog feeders to fit different household needs.

1. Petnet SmartFeeder Automatic Feeder
The ultimate smart-home pet feeder for pet parents who want to stay in-the-know and be worry-free about their petâs habits and health.- Features: Smart Feeder, Pairs with app, Amazon-echo compatible
- Capacity: 5 - 7 pounds of food depending on kibble size
- Portion: 1/16 - 1/12 cups
- Max programmable meals per day: Unlimited
- Requires: Built-in rechargeable battery powered by USB; compatible smartphone (iOS or Android), standard WiFi connection of 2.4 GHz.
But itâs not just the fancy smart features that are great. This feeder  has a durable food lid that locks so your dog canât break into it for extra snacks. Amazon customer jhender85 writes:
âI've tried all manner of pet feeders [....] with each one, my 20lb dog figured out how to destroy it and hit the kibble jackpot anywhere from a few hours to just a few days. Â [...] He couldn't crack this one. Try as he might (and he tried) it stood strong. Now, to hedge my bets after his first few attempts, I did use some bungee cords to secure the top and secure it to the wall, but I'm confident he wouldn't have gotten in even without it. The app is great, it gives piece of mind the feedings were happening and let me know when something went wrong. I did hear of people complaining about jams with non-round food, but I ordered the free inclined base and never have any issues.âThe Petnet is also incredibly easy to keep clean, with a detachable, dishwasher safe food bowl and a food container that can also be removed for cleaning.Â

2. PetSafe Healthy Pet Simply Feed Automatic Feeder
With custom portion sizes and a slow-feed function, this is the perfect feeder for dogs that like to gobble their food a little too much.- Features: LCD screen with 5-button navigation, digital timer, Pause function
- Capacity: 24 cups
- Portion: Programmable from â cup to 4 cups
- Max programmable meals per day: 12
- Requires: 4 D-cell alkaline batteries (not included) or power adapter (sold separately)
In addition, this feeder allows you to set portion sizes to help manage your dogâs weight, set a consistent routine and even pause that routine without losing everything youâve programmed. PetSafe reviewer Katy writes:
âGreat for dogs with medical issues too! I have one Pug with medical issues and it is best for him to eat smaller meals more frequently which is close to impossible with my work schedule. This automatic pet feeder fits the bill. Thank you!âNot sure the best schedule for feeding your pet? This feeder offers a quick preset to get you up and running without much futzing around. Plus, it comes with a dishwasher-safe, stainless steel, 5-cup bowl that is detachable, hygienic and easy to clean.Â

3. PetSafe EatWell 5-Meal Automatic Pet Feeder
An easy-to-use, 5 portion feeder thatâs perfect for smaller pups.- Features: Digital clock, LCD screen, dishwasher safe
- Capacity: 2.5 pounds of food (i.e. 5 cups)
- Portion: 1 cup
- Max programmable meals per day: 4
- Requires: 4 D-cell batteries (not included)
With a built-in digital clock, this BPA-free plastic feeder is a reliable and durable, which is probably why the  overwhelming number of customer reviews for it online are positive. In fact, 93 percent of Chewy customers say theyâd recommend it. Once you program it, using its simple, user-friendly interface, the feeding wheel will slide open at your designated time to give a perfectionally portioned meal. You can feed your dog up to 5 meals in one day, or you can use this to space out feedings over a few days.  Chewy customer BettyJean writes:
âOur frenchie boy has allergies and needs a midnight snack of his prescribed kibble...we loathed waking up at 3 am for our babies mid night snacks... but if we didn't, he would throw up that stomach acid foam from hunger. We didn't want that! This feeder is easy to program, we fill it with his food, set it for 3 am and leave it. It's AMAZING! No more alarms on our phones or wondering if the baby got fed his snacks while we were out of town!âBecause each triangular slot on this feeder holds 1 full cup of kibble, it will keep your dog from overeating. However, given the portion size, this feeder is best only for small to medium-sized dogs. The feeding tray also comes out for easy washing and it can be put right in the dishwasher with no problem.

4. Aspen Pet LeBistro Portion Control Programmable Pet Feeder by Petmate
Store up to 10 pound of kibble in this portion-controlled, automatic feeder perfect for dogs of all sizes.- Features: Removable bowl, top-loading, portion-control, LCD screen
- Capacity: 10 pounds
- Portion: Programmable from ¼ cup to 3 cups
- Max programmable meals per day: 3
- Requires: 3 D-cell batteries (not included)
âI love this product; no more rushing home to feed our dog! Should have got one years ago. It is accurate in the amount of food I program and the times. I've only had it a month so I don't know how long the batteries will last but so far so good. And our dog loves it, she'll either hear the food dispense and come running or she sits and waits for it at feeding time, hahahahah.âBest of all, the food bowl is large enough to suit bigger dogs without overflowing  and it detaches for easy cleaning in the dishwasher.Â

5. WESTLINK 6L Automatic Pet Feeder Food Dispenser
Leave your pup a personal 10 second message calling them to mealtime.- Features: Built-in voice recorder and speaker, infrared detection, low power consumption, customized portions
- Capacity: 6 liters
- Portion: 10-12 grams, but you can dispense 1-39 portions a meal
- Max programmable meals per day: 4
- Requires: 3 D batteries or USB Power
Amazon reviewer Bryan writes:
âWe bought the unit as a gift for a dog-owning family member with increasing memory issues, and has worked out extremely well. The dog was a little suspicious at the start but decided that anything that dispenses food must be OK! It is a great relief to us, because now we know the dog will not be under- or over-fed. Also, the fact that the power cord uses a USB connection cable is a nice touch...â

6. Petcube Bites
While not really a pet feeder but instead a treat feeder, Petcube Bites allows you check in on your pet remotely via video, talk to them, and toss them yummy treats.- Features: Treat dispenser, 2-way audio, night vision, 1080p HD Video with 138 degree angle view and zoom, Alexa compatibility, detachable treat container
- Capacity: 2 pounds
- Portion: Tosses 1- 5 treats, depending on their size
- Max programmable meals per day: Unlimited
- Requires: Compatible phone (iOS 9/3 + or Android 5.1); 2.4GHz Wifi; Power-plugin
Amazon reviewer, Chris, writes:
âMy wife and I love this machine! We have three dogs that come running at the sound of our voices through the speaker. I am very impressed with the camera and how clear the picture is. Occasionally it does toss a couple extra treats but since the dogs are greedy it's never an issue. Circular shaped treats seem to work best and we've now started filling it with the dogs' normal kibbleâ¦.âBecause the PetCube Bite is wall-mounted, you can rest-assured that your dog wonât break into it and treat themselves without your ok.  You can also buy it in three colors â black, silver, and white â to fit your home decor.