Automatic dog feeders: types and principle of operation

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

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

Depending on the type of device, containers of various sizes can be installed in it. One is for dry food, while the other is like a bowl equipped 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 full thanks to feeding according to certain portioned norms in the allotted time. The owner of the animal sets the necessary program manually, and the automatic feeder already simply executes it, dispensing dog food. This solution will be convenient if the owner does not have the opportunity 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 quantity in a strictly defined time period moves to the tray;
• when necessary, the animal will gain access to the tray.

Note that automation will clearly define the norm for the dog and it simply will not be able to eat more than it should. It should be said that manufacturers produce such models in which the program can be installed on a different dosage 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 does not get bored.

If we talk about the benefits of automatic dog feeders, then you should call these:

• the ability to control portions and regulate the diet of the animal every day;
• the owner may be absent for some time without worrying about the condition of the animal;
• fractional nutrition can be arranged on the recommendation of a veterinarian;
• if necessary, you can organize a dosed medication through the feeder;
• the possibility of feeding both dry and canned food;
• the ability to attract the animal with the sound of the feed or the voice of the owner in models equipped with voice recording.

But such devices have certain disadvantages. For example, a “smart” feeder is not suitable for laying canned food more than a day in advance. Even if the device has built-in refrigerant, it will not save food from spoilage. And dry food should also be changed at least once every 24 hours, otherwise it may become stale, which will cause an unpleasant odor. In addition, it is unhygienic and can cause the disease of the animal.

Another important drawback is the need for constant monitoring. Such designs can hardly be called the solution "for the lazy", because they need to be maintained, washed containers, and also add new food.

It should be said that in pet stores you can find various models of automatic feeders, each of which will best meet the interests of the pet and its owner. When choosing, you should take into account the size of the animal, the amount 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 mentioned:

• programmable;

• with built-in timer and segments;

• with hinged cover;

• special mask with capacity.

Now about each category we will give a little more detail.

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

• Bowl;
• dispenser;
• container with feed;
• control mechanism.

This solution will be the most functional and simple for the owner of the animal. But he will have a high price. Such an electrical installation will allow you to program the time of delivery of the feed, the volume of one portion, as well as calculate the supply of food for a couple of days. Configuring such a solution is as simple as possible thanks to the presence of instructions. The kit comes with a food container, which 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. A similar device with a timer 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 serving of food. There is a cutout in the lid, which is equal to the segment. After a certain period of time specified by the owner, the lid turns and makes available to the dog a new compartment with food.

Most often, models are equipped with 4-6 compartments, although there may be more. Here, wet 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 reclines. In fact, this is a food container equipped with a lid, where there is a built-in timer. When the timer is activated, the lid simply opens, giving the dog the opportunity to enjoy 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, which the automatic feeder with sections is not very suitable because of the small volume of compartments. Here, a rather capacious capacity is about 500 grams. It allows you to keep food fresh, to protect it from airing, but is designed only for 1 feeding. If the dog wants to provide several portions of food at once, then it is better to purchase several such feeders and set their timers at different times.

The next type of feeder is a bowl with a container. In essence, it is an electronic food system of a continuous type. This design looks like a food tank, located above the bowl. When the pet eats a little, more food is added from the container. The process continues until the supply of food in the tank above the bowl is exhausted. The size of such a capacity 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 leads to the safety of its use on the street. Such a feeder is intended exclusively for dry food.

In addition, the types of feeders are still 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, sectional is best. automatic feeder with a timer. This will be a good option for puppies. You can choose a solution with 4 large tanks or 6 smaller ones. Everything will depend on the size of the ward. This feeder is similar to the simplest bowl and does not take up much space. Thanks to this option, you can feed your pet canned food and solve the issue of portion feeding for the day.

A good solution would be feeder with hinged cover. But there is a limitation on the portion - 500 grams. But such a bowl is only suitable for pets that are not prone to overeating.

If we talk about options for large dogs, then the best will be high capacity feeders. Usually we are talking about numbers of 2-10 kilograms. But the feeders, similar to bowls with a tank, are equipped with smaller containers and are designed for short-term use.

When choosing the product in question, it is necessary to take into account the following aspects:

• dog size - an automatic 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 pet’s character (too active large dogs should not buy models that break easily).

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

And for little 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 automatic feeder, then the owners of such devices and pets say a confident "no." On the contrary, the animal quickly gets used to the new thing, where food is often found.

But this situation 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 some time. But in the end, the animal will understand that a certain sound signal is a call to go up to the dishes and eat. Here the famous conditioned reflex comes into effect and the pet quickly gets used to the use of an automatic feeder. Especially quickly, this reflex manifests itself in puppies and young animals.

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