Automatic pet feeders are a convenient way to keep your pet on a strict feeding schedule. Not only do they give you the opportunity to feed your dog at the same time every day, they also feed the same portions. The Arf Pets Automatic Pet Feeder is one of the available options on the market.
Automatic feeders are ideal for busy pet owners who work long or varying hours. They are also a great option for pet owners who are trying to help their Fido lose a little weight. These types of feeders can also help you control the diet of a pet with health issues. We all know how important a proper and consistent diet can be in the treatment of certain health conditions.
There are many different models of automatic dog feeders available, and you'll have to decide which is best your pet and your needs as a pet owner. Choosing a feeder depends on:
- your dog's size;
- the amount of food he eats for every serving;
- the type of food that you feed him;
- and how many times he eats each day.
The feeder that you pick will need to hold enough food to feed your dog for multiple days. The whole point of a feeder is so that you don't have to fill your dog's bowl at every meal, right? So why would you want a feeder that needs to be refilled every day?
Ensuring that the feeder is easy to clean and easy to operate. After all, even if it works well for your pet, you're not apt to keep a product around that is a burden to use.
I've had the opportunity to use the Arf Pets Automatic Pet Feeder with my dogs for the past few months. While it doesn't offer as many features as some of the other feeders on the market, it does have its benefits. Not to mention, this model is much more affordable than many of the other automatic feeders available.
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Arf Pets Automatic Pet Feeder Review
Unlike other feeders, you don't need to download an app to run this one. That's great news if you're like me and aren't very tech-savvy! As I demonstrate in my video review above, you set the feeding times on the Arf Pets Automatic Feeder with the easy-to-access buttons on the top of the feeder.
There is a lighted LCD display that clearly shows the clock and all the information that you'll need to select the feeding times that are right for your pet. As I mentioned, automatic dog feeders can assist you in correctly portioning your pet's food, and this one does that a step above the rest.
The Arf Pets Automatic Feeder lets you do portion control a bit differently than other similar products. One portion is equal to 1/10 of a cup, and you can choose to dispense 1-10 portions per meal. You're also able to schedule up to 4 meals per day.
This feeder holds up to 18 cups of dry kibble, which isn't going to last very long if you have a large breed dog. Also, the bowl and portion sizes are too small for large and extra-large breeds. What I'm saying is that this isn't the best option for big dogs, but it would work well for small and medium breeds.
Another benefit to this feeder is that it comes with a DC power cord that plugs into the wall, or you can power the device with 3-size D batteries. This is great if you wish to take it with you when traveling or camping. Just remember, the batteries will only power the device for about a week, so it's not an economical option for long-term use.
While it doesn't offer all of the fancy tech features of other products – like a camera to take photos and videos of your dog, a microphone to hear what is happening in your house, or the ability to control the feeder with your smartphone – it does offer a few features that really stood out to me.
For starters, I like that the top has a push-to-open lock. This makes it virtually impossible for your dog to get the food out of the hopper. If you have a chow hound like I do, this is an absolutely necessary feature to look for on any feeder you're considering. There is also a beeping alarm that reminds you when the food in the hopper is running low.
This feeder also lets you record a meal call for your pet that can be 1-10 seconds long. I used this feature to help train my dogs to use the feeder, and it really helped. I also like the idea of my dogs hearing a personal message from me throughout the day.
It doesn't have as many features as some similar products, but the company makes up for that with a cheaper price. You can buy this feeder on Amazon for $69.99, which is on the cheaper end of the price spectrum for these types of products. In fact, many feeders run upwards of $200. For half the price, I can do without some of the advanced features.
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