There are different kinds of dog feeders as there are different kinds of dogs.
And when it comes to automatic dog feeders, the best ones vary according to what you need as a pet owner. Here are five of the best dog feeders for you to choose from:
Option #1 ” Keeping it Simple” – Ergo Auto Pet Feeder
The Ergo Auto Pet Feeder may not look much when it comes to design as it resembles a miniature water dispenser, but it is a great way to keep your dogs fed when you are out of the house.
What makes the Ergo Auto Pet Feeder attractive is that it keeps things simple. It comes in three different sizes, making it easier for you to choose a feeder according to the size of your dog. The small-sized feeder, which can hold five pounds of pellets, is perfect for dogs that weigh up to 10 pounds.  The medium-sized feeder, meanwhile, is great for dogs weighing 10 to 25 pounds as it can hold 10 pounds of pellets.  Then you have the large-sized feeder, which can easily store 20 pounds of dry food and is perfect for bigger dogs weighing more than 25 pounds.
The Ergo Auto Pet Feeder can feed your dog for up to eight times a day and you can set different food quantities for each feeding. The digital timer allows you to easily schedule your dog’s feedings and you do not have to worry about daylight savings. If you have a dog on a diet, you can now feed him the right amount of food every time. In addition, the timer can be set up to the last second and has a secondary outlet that allows you to use the same timer to dispense water along with pet feed.
This feeder is well-designed. It uses a self-lubricating nylon material combined with metal that helps you avoid jams and that ensures smooth operation and reliable feeding. It also has a thick power cord that keeps it safe from your dog’s chewing.
Overall, this pet feeder helps you feed dogs with certain conditions such as obesity, diabetes and reflux diseases. However, if you are one of those people who do not like to spend a lot of time cleaning up their pet feeder, this might not be for you. For one, you would need to take the whole thing apart in order to clean it. Plus, setting it up takes quite some time.
The Ergo Auto Pet Feeder is available for purchase at this listing.
Option #2 “Best for Dry Food” – QPet Feeder
The QPet Automatic Feeder 4 Meals AF 200 is perfect for those who give their pets both wet and dry dog food. It works like the other usual automatic feeders out there. The food bowl rotates so that the specific food that you prepared is exposed at your pre-set time.
You can prepare four feedings in a day. If you feed your dog wet dog food, it has an ice chamber that keeps it fresh even after a few hours. If you only feed dry dog food, you can remove the ice chamber and use it as a water dish.
The QPet Automatic Feeder 4 Meals AF 200 has an LCD display that allows you to program the feedings easily. This display can show the time in either 12-hour or 24-hour format. You can also record six-second messages to call your pets during meal time.
This dog feeder is perfect for dog owners who hate trays and need their dogs to form a habit when it comes to eating. Unlike other automatic feeders, this one does not open. It has a cover that slides over the food compartments, opening only during your scheduled feedings. It is not prone to being pried open by a curious pet, which is a problem with other pet feeders that open using a latch.
QPet Automatic Feeder is available here for purchase.
Option #3 “Best Value Simple Feeder” –Â Aspen Pet Lebistro
We get it, times are rough! If you are looking for an automatic dog feeder that is heavy on features but light on the wallet, look no further than the Aspen Pet Lebistro Programmable Food Dispenser. It sells for great price here on Amazon.
It may be very affordable, but it has all the features you need in an automatic dog feeder. You can finally give your dog portion-controlled meals at specific feeding times. What’s more, it has a big LCD screen and an embedded meal counter that makes programming easier.
The Aspen Pet Lebistro Programmable Food Dispenser also has a great-looking design.  Its wider base, along with its locked-in bowl, makes it stable. It also has a baffle added to its dispensing mechanism to avoid jams. Further, it is a breeze to clean; just put the bowl in the dishwasher and it is good to go.
This is also ideal for those who have several pets and would want their dogs to have their own food dispenser. The Aspen Pet can deliver up to three meals daily.
However, this might not be for crafty and curious pets as there are complaints of pets being able to get more feeds by sticking their paws up the chute. Â Nevertheless, it is a good dispenser for its price.
Option #4 “Best Connected Feeder for Dogs” – Feed and Go
Feed and Go Feeder is Wi-Fi-enabled, allowing you to feed your dog wherever you are. You can schedule the feedings using your smartphone and then watch your dog as he eats his hearty meal with the embedded webcam. Aside from your smartphone, you can schedule and feed your dog using any computer.
You can also record your voice so that your dog can hear you call them to eat. In addition, if you inadvertently forgot to schedule a feeding, do not fret as you can feed your dog using the Feed Now feature.
Moreover, you can use dry and wet food with this feeder. There is no ice chamber for wet food, but the feeder is designed so that only one compartment is exposed during feeding time, helping keep the wet dog food fresh.
What’s more, you can use it as a treat and medicine dispenser as well. The Feed and Go Feeder is also very eye-catching with a modern design. It is also very convenient as it has a removable food tray, making it very easy to clean.
And if you have questions, you would appreciate the fast support that they provide when you log onto the customer portal.
This feeder is perfect for those who work or are away for a short period as the feeder can only accommodate up to six feedings.
The feeder sells online at this listing.
Option #5 “Best Value Connected Feeder”- PetNet SmartFeeder
The PetNet SmartFeeder is available at an attractive price here. However, it offers you a lot of features aside from being a great automatic feeder. NOTE: You can read the full in depth review I did, right here.
It is also connected to your smartphone, giving you an easy way to schedule your dog’s feedings, adjust portions, and monitor your pet’s eating habits. The PetNet SmartFeeder can hold up to 7 pounds of food and can automatically dispense 1/16th of a cup to 1.5 cups of food.
It comes with a rechargeable built-in battery, making it easy to place it just about anywhere. It also has a removable tray that makes it easier to clean and dispense dry food.
Some features you would like include the analytics you get from the mobile application that allows you to compute the ideal portion size for your dog, get recommendations on the types of food to feed your dog, and get real time notifications when you need to replenish the dog food and when your dog has finished eating. It will also send you notifications when the battery runs low or when the feeder gets disconnected from your Internet network. The mobile app also allows you to order more dog food.
A side by side comparison between the two Wi-Fi connected automatic feeders would allow you to see which features are present for the PetNet SmartFeeder and the Feed and Go:
Petnet vs Feed and Go – Connected Feeder Comparison
| Â | Petnet SmartFeeder | Feed and Go |
| Dimensions (d x w x h, inches) | 15.3 x 9.2 x 15.3 | 20.4 x 16.1 x 2.7 |
| 7Wi-Fi enabled | Yes | Yes |
| Number of compartments of feeding tray | 1 | 6 |
| Removable tray? | Yes | Yes |
| Dispenses dry food? | Yes | Yes |
| Dispenses wet food? | No | Yes |
| Dispenses treats? | No | Yes |
| Dispenses medicines? | Yes | Yes |
| Capacity of feeder | 7 lbs. | 4 lbs. |
| Amount of dispensed food per feeding | 1.5 lbs. | 8 oz. |
| Voice recording | No | Yes |
| On-board camera | No | Yes |
| Scheduling | Yes | Yes |
| Manual feeding? | Yes | Yes |
| Recommend food type | Yes | No |
| Computes portion sizes | Yes | No |
| Can control dispenser speed? | Yes | No |
| Real-time notifications | Yes | Yes |
| Mulitple pets support | No | Yes |
| Built-in battery | Yes | No |
| Locking mechanism | Yes | Yes |
| Color | Black | White |
| Warranty | 2 years | 1 year |
Final word on the best automatic feeders
For their price, features and reliability in making sure that your dogs are fed at the right time, the Ergo Auto Pet Feeder, QPet Automatic Feeder 4 Meals AF 105, Aspen Pet Lebistro Programmable Food Dispenser, PetNet SmartFeeder, and Feed and Go Feeder are your best choices.
For Something Simple:Â The Ergo Auto Pet Feeder is for those pet parents who do not want the fuss and the hassle of keeping their dogs fed at the right time.
For Something Simple (w/Wet Food):Â Meanwhile, the QPET Automatic Feeder AF 200 is for those whose furry pals eat both dry and wet food. The Aspen Lebistro Programmable Food Dispenser, on the other hand, gives you the chance to conveniently feed your dogs without going broke.
For the Smart Home: Then there are two Wi-Fi-enabled automatic feeders to choose from if you want to be able to monitor your pet’s feedings even while you’re out of the house. You can go for the Feed and Go Feeder, which has a smorgasbord of practical features allowing you to bond more with your pets even when you are away. Or you can get the cheaper PetNet SmartFeeder, which allows you to learn more about your dog’s eating habits and allows you to feed him from anywhere in the world.
My Personal Favorite:Â I would honestly go with the Petnet Smartfeeder available here. It’s the most “hands off” system that is also more “intelligent” than the competition. But, I’m a geek, so I have some bias towards smart tech…
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