We all love our dogs but you can’t be with them 24/7. Perhaps you have to work late, or your dog sitter has called in sick. And it can be tough to be separated from man’s best friend — particular if their bowl is empty and that doggy tummy is rumbling.

Fortunately there’s one thing we can do to help make life a little bit better for them: Get them on a regular feeding schedule with the help of an automatic feeder.

An automatic feeder can dish out their doggy dinner at specific times, helping you maintain a feeding schedule and healthy diet even when you’re not around. But which feeder is best for you and your dog? Here’s a quick guide and a round-up of the best automatic dog feeders available right now.

What is an automatic dog feeder?

In the most simplistic terms, an automatic dog feeder is a clever contraption that you fill with dog food and set to dispense the food at specific times.

There are four main types of dog feeders: Gravity feeders, programmable models that release a set amount of food at a set time, plate feeders, and smart feeders that can be controlled from your phone. We’ve left gravity feeders out from this list because they’re not technically automatic. This type of drop-down feeder keeps the bowl full at all times, refilling whenever your pup eats. It’s essentially a recipe for overfeeding.

Programmable models with a timer allow you to select the amount of food and dispensing time. Plate feeders require you to portion out the food into multiple compartments (which gives you control over the exact amount) and then they rotate to reveal one section at a time. Smart feeders give you full remote control, allowing you to set feeding times, portion sizes, and more through a smartphone app.

Are automatic feeders good for dogs?

Eating at the same time every day is healthy for your dog. Regular schedules also help prevent pet obesity because it allows you to control their caloric and nutritional intake every day. Regular eating also helps you notice if something is wrong with your dog’s health because often the first sign that your pup is sick is a lack of appetite.

This is where automatic dog feeders come in handy. They allow you to maintain a routine, regardless of whether you’re home or not to give them their favourit food. Plus, some dog feeders allow for portion control, so you can decide exactly how much or how little pet food gets dispensed. If your dog tends to eat too quickly, you can also program a smart auto feeder to dispense food in small increments to make sure they don’t gobble down their meal too quickly.

Do automatic dog feeders use wet or dry food?

It depends on what kind of automatic dog feeder you’re using. Most pet feeders can dispense dry food and round or small-ish treats with no issue. However, programmable plate feeders can also serve wet food to your pup because they have lids that seal the plate of food until feeding time. You’ll have to remember to fill these plate feeders each morning before you leave the house though.

If your dog won’t touch dry food, then you’re better off with a plate feeder because it can seal off and keep wet food fresh. But if your dog is all about the kibble, a programmable feeder might be better for them.

Can an automatic feeder help my dog lose weight?

It certainly can if you use it in conjunction with a healthy, disciplined diet. But you’ll need to buy the right model. An automatic pet feeder that portions food out by itself isn’t the best option. Many feeders tend to release a bit more than the programmed amount, so it’s easy for a dog to eat more than the recommended serving size. The solution to an automatic feeder that allows you to pre-portion your dog’s food.

What is the best automatic dog feeder?

Whether you’re just looking for help to keep your dog fed every day or you want something special that delivers more, there are plenty of options out there. We’ve lined up the very best models for you to choose from.

These are the best automatic dog feeders in 2025.