Automatic dog feeders: types and principle of operation

Today, almost every family has a pet that is loved by all family members. Most often it is a cat or dog. Households want him to be comfortable, he was always happy, giving his love to others. Given that family members are often at work or school for most of the day, the question arises of providing the animal with food throughout the day. This will help such a device as an automatic feeder.

If we say what an auto-feeder is, then this is a device consisting of several containers, as well as a mechanism that makes it possible to dispense food to the animal in portions. In more technological options, there is also a timer. It can be set to a specific time when the dog will receive food.

Depending on the type of device, containers of various sizes can be installed in it. Some are for dry food, while others are like a bowl with a lid.

Such devices will run on batteries or rechargeable batteries.

As already mentioned, the main function of the auto feeder will be that the dog should be fed due to feeding according to certain portion rates in the allotted time. The owner of the animal sets the required program manually, and the automatic feeder simply performs it by dispensing the dog food. This solution will be convenient if the owner is unable to feed the pet.

Whatever the design of this device, the principle of operation will be the same:

• first, dry food or canned food is poured into a special container;
• from there, the food in the required amount in a strictly defined time period is moved to the tray;
• when needed, the animal will have access to the litter box.

Note that the automation will clearly determine the norm for the dog and it simply will not be able to eat more than it should. It should be said here that manufacturers produce such models in which the program can be set to different dosages of food depending on the type of food and time of day. Some models are additionally equipped with a voice recording function, which is periodically turned on so that the animal itself is not bored.

If we talk about the advantages of automatic dog feeders, then we should name the following:

• the ability to control portions and regulation of the animal's diet every day;
• the owner can be absent for some time without worrying about the condition of the animal;
• you can organize fractional meals on the recommendation of a veterinarian;
• if necessary, you can organize a dosed intake of drugs through the feeder;
• the possibility of feeding both dry and canned food;
• the ability to attract an animal by the sound of food or the voice of the owner in models equipped with a voice recording function.

But such devices also have certain disadvantages. For example, a “smart” feeder is not suitable for placing canned food more than a day in advance. Even if there is built-in refrigerant in the unit, it will not prevent food from spoiling. And dry food should also be changed at least once every 24 hours, otherwise it can lie stale, which will cause an unpleasant odor. It is also unhygienic and can cause illness in the animal.

Another important disadvantage is the need for constant monitoring. Such structures can hardly be called a solution "for the lazy", because they need to be serviced, washed containers, and also add new feed.

It should be said that in pet stores you can find various models of automatic feeders, each of which will satisfy the interests of the pet and its owner as much as possible. When choosing, take into account the size of the animal, the volume of the portion of food and the amount of time that the dog will spend alone. If we talk about the main categories of such products, then the following should be named:

• programmable;

• with built-in timer and segments;

• with a hinged-type lid;

• special mission with a capacity.

Now we will tell you about each category in more detail.

A programmable solution is a design consisting of the following parts:

• a bowl;
• dispenser;
• container with feed;
• control mechanism.

This solution will be the most functional and easiest for the animal owner. But it will also have a high price tag. Such an electrical installation will allow you to program the time for dispensing feed, the volume of one portion, and also calculate the food supply for a couple of days. Setting up such a solution is as easy as possible thanks to the instructions. Comes with a food container that can hold up to 2-3 kilograms of food. A number of models are also equipped with a display.

The second option is a design with segments and a built-in timer. Such a timer device looks like a large bowl with a lid, but it is small in size.The interior is divided into several compartments, where each of them is a place for one portion of food. The cover has a cutout that is equal to the segment. After a certain time interval set by the owner, the lid rotates and makes a new compartment with food available to the dog.

Most often, models are equipped with 4-6 compartments, although there may be more. Here, moist food is stored better, but only in cases where the owner of the dog is absent for no more than 24 hours.

Another variety is with a lid that folds back. In fact, this is a container with food, equipped with a lid, where there is a built-in timer. When the timer goes off, the lid is simply opened, allowing the dog to feast on the contents of the container. Note that this solution is suitable for both wet and dry food.

This automatic feeder will be an excellent solution for large breeds, for which the automatic feeder with sections is not very suitable due to the small volume of the compartments. There is a fairly capacious container - about 500 grams. It allows you to keep food fresh, protect it from winding, but is designed for only 1 feeding. If the dog wants to be provided with several portions of food at once, then it is better to purchase several similar feeders and set their timers at different times.

The next type of auto feeder is a bowl with a capacity. Basically, it is a continuous type electronic food delivery system. This design looks like a food container located above a bowl. When the pet has eaten a little, more food is poured from the container. The process continues until the supply of food in the reservoir above the bowl is exhausted. The size of this container may not be very large, which is suitable for a small dog or cat. And maybe much more, which will be relevant for large dogs.

This solution can be safely called the most economical, because it is not equipped with any automatic mechanisms. This makes it safe to use it outdoors. This automatic feeder is intended exclusively for dry food.

In addition, the types of feeders are also determined by such an important criterion as the breed of dogs for which they will be intended. Based on this, they are:

• for small dogs;
• for medium and large breeds.

For small breeds, the best is the sectional auto feeder with timer. This will be a good option for puppies too. You can choose a solution with 4 large containers or 6 smaller ones. Everything will depend on the size of the ward. This feeder is like the simplest bowl and doesn't take up much space. Thanks to this option, you can feed your pet with canned food and solve the issue of portioned feeding for the day.

A good solution would be trough with a folding lid. But there is a portion limit of 500 grams. But such a bowl is only suitable for pets that are not inclined to overeat.

If we talk about options for large dogs, then the best are large capacity feeders. Usually we are talking about numbers 2-10 kilograms. Bowls with a reservoir, on the other hand, are equipped with smaller containers and are designed for short-term use.

When choosing the product in question, the following aspects must be taken into account:

• the size of the dog - an auto-feeder for large breeds should have a large capacity and high strength;
• the amount of food, which depends on the health of the dog;
• frequency of feeding;
• the time when the dog will be at home alone;
• features of the character of the pet (it is better for too active large dogs not to buy models that break easily).

If the pet owner needs to leave for a few days, then it is better to purchase a larger feeder to accommodate the appropriate amount of food... For animals that are not inclined to overeat, you can get an inexpensive option when the bowl is filled from a container under its own weight. No matter how much the dog eats, the bowl will be full until the food supply runs out.

And for small dogs, when they are not alone for long, you can buy sectional feeders with a timer, designed for 2-3 meals.

If we talk about whether there are any difficulties in dogs using an auto-feeder, then the owners of such devices and pets say a confident “no”. On the contrary, the animal very quickly gets used to a new thing, where there is often food.

But this is not always the case. For example, if we are talking about automatic feeders with various kinds of sound effects, then the process of training a pet can still take a certain amount of time. But in the end, the animal will understand that a certain sound signal is a call to go to the dishes and take food. Here the famous conditioned reflex comes into play and the pet quickly gets used to using the auto feeder. This reflex manifests itself especially quickly in puppies and young animals.

For a video review of an automatic dog feeder, see the next video.