Automatic feeders for dogs: types and principle of operation

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

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

Depending on the type of device, different capacities can be installed in it. One is meant for dry-type food, while the others are like a bowl fitted with a lid.

Such devices will operate on batteries or rechargeable batteries.

As already mentioned, the main function of the auto feeder will be that the dog must be fed due to feeding at certain portion norms in the allotted time. The necessary program, the owner of the animal itself puts manually, and the automatic feeder already simply performs it, dispensing dog food. Such a solution would be convenient if the pet has no possibility 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, food in the required amount in a strictly defined time interval is moved to the tray;
• when needed, the animal will gain access to the tray.

Note that Automation will clearly determine the rate for the dog and it simply will not be able to eat more than it should. Here it should be said that manufacturers produce such models in which the program can be installed on different dosages of food depending on the type of food and the 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 feeders for dogs, then we should mention the following:

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

But such devices have certain disadvantages. For example, a smart feeder will not be 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. Yes, and dry food, too, should be changed at least once every 24 hours, otherwise it can stale, which will cause an unpleasant smell. In addition, it is unhygienic and can cause animal disease.

Another major drawback is the need for constant monitoring. Such constructions can hardly be called a solution “for the lazy,” because they need to be serviced, tanks should be washed, and new feed should be added.

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

• programmable;

• with integrated timer and segments;

• with flip-type cover;

• spetsmisk with capacity.

Now about each category of mass in a little more.

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

• a bowl;
• dispenser;
• tank with food;
• 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 serving, as well as calculate the food supply for a couple of days. Configuring this solution as easy as possible due to the presence of instructions. Included is 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 device with a timer looks like a big bowl with a lid, but in size it is small. The interior is divided into several compartments, where each of them is a place for one portion of food. The lid has a cutout that is equal to the segment. After a certain time interval set by the owner, the lid turns and makes available for 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 no more than 24 hours away.

Another variety - with a lid that reclines. 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 simply opens, giving the dog a chance 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 section feeder is not very suitable because of the small volume of compartments. There is a rather capacious capacity - about 500 grams. It allows you to keep food fresh, to protect it from airing, but is designed only for 1 feeding. If you want to provide the dog with several portions of food at once, then it is better to purchase several similar feeders and put their timers at different times.

The next type of car feeder is a bowl with a bowl. In fact, it is an electronic feed system of continuous type. This design looks like a tank with food, located above the bowl. When the pet eats a little, food is filled from the container. The process continues until the supply of food in the tank above the bowl is exhausted. The size of this capacity may not be very large, which is suitable for a small dog or cat.And maybe much more, which will be important for large dogs.

This solution can be safely called the most economical, because it is not equipped with any automatic mechanisms. This determines the safety of its use on the street. This car feeder is designed 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 car feeder with timer. This will be a good option for puppies. You can choose a solution with 4 large tanks or 6 smaller ones. It will all depend on the size of the ward. This trough is similar to the simplest bowl and does not take up much space. With this option, you can feed your pet canned food and solve the issue of batch feeding for the day.

A good solution will be a feeding trough with a cover of folding type. But there is a limit on servings - 500 grams. But such a bowl is suitable only for pets that are not inclined to overeat.

If we talk about options for large dogs, then the best will be feeders with a large capacity. 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 use.

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

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

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

And for small dogs, when they are not alone for long, you can buy section 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 “no”. On the contrary, the animal very quickly gets used to the new thing, where food often happens.

But this situation does not always happen. For example, if we talk about automatic feeders with all sorts of sound effects, then the process of learning a pet can still take some time. But ultimately, the animal will understand that a certain sound signal is a call to go to the dish and take food. Here the famous conditioned reflex comes into play and the pet quickly gets used to using the auto feeder. Especially quickly this reflex manifests itself in puppies and young animals.

The video review of the automatic feeder for dogs, see the following video.