Collar Activated Dog Feeder (With Pictures & AFFORDABLE models)

Some people have trouble keeping up with their pet’s feeding schedule, and some pets are just finicky when it comes to food. If you’re in the same boat as these pet parents, then this blog post is for you! Based on our experience, our top picks include the SureFeed microchip pet feeder, Wireless Whiskers AutoDiet pet feeders, and the Surefeed system with two bowls (for dry and wet food) controlled by a smart app.

These devices automatically dispenses food based on time of day so you don’t want to worry about forgetting to feed their pet!

Note: If you click some of the links or pictures in this article we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

Top Pick

The SureFeed microchip pet feeder makes it easy to serve stress-free meals to your dog whenever he or she wants to eat. Since it works with both wet and dry food, you shouldn’t have trouble using it with any sized dog.

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Pros

• Stops food stealing
• Controls portion size automatically
• Works with prescription medication
• Opens whenever an assigned microchip approaches
• RFID tags for the feeder are light
• Sturdy & durable even with larger stronger dogs

Cons

• Takes 4 C-sized batteries
• Lacks side barriers

Runner Up if Top Pick Not Available

Wireless Whiskers AutoDiet pet feeders come with an AC adapter and includes separate allowances for up to eight different animals. The feeder will automatically let you know if any of your pets are being fed so you can track those who might be stealing food.

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Pros

• Can run off wall power
• Easy to use control panel
• Separates prescriptions from regular food
• Calculates the amount of food needed by each dog
• Spreads out allowances into small portions
• Shows name of pet feeding on the display

Cons

• Weighs around 5 lbs.
• Somewhat top heavy

Double Bowl for Wet and Dry Food

SureFeed microchip pet feeders are designed to work with the Sure Petcare app, which allows you to set the portion size and fill your dog’s bowl accordingly. An onboard LED system helps you measure out accurate portions to within 1g.

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Pros

• Holds up to 13.5 fl. oz of food
• Works equally well with wet and dry food
• Records changes in feeding habits
• Relatively lightweight
• Long battery life

Cons

• Requires additional hub hardware to unlock all features

How Do Automatic Dog Feeders Work?

Dogs wear a radio frequency-sensitive tag around their necks, which work like a wireless key to unlock the bowl. It senses when they get close and unlocks, ensuring that they can eat while blocking other animals from stealing their food.

Some of these work with a scheduling tool, so you can be sure that your dog won’t be able to pilfer any surreptitious in-between meal snacks without your permission.

What’s the Difference Between Microchip (RFID) and Collar Activated Feeders?

Nearly all collar activated feeders are based on RFID tags, which your animal wears around their neck just like any other tag. Some companies have produced devices that open up when they sense an implanted microchip in a dog or cat, but these will usually also work with certain types of collar tags for those who are uncomfortable with chipping their pets.

Do They Work for Multiple Dogs?

Many modern types of dog feeders will support multiple dogs fed from different bays, but you need to have a separate collar tag for each of them in order to let each one open their own bay.

You’ll need to spend a little time configuring the device in order to make sure it works with the tags separately before you let your dogs use it.

What Are the Pros of Collar Activated Dog Feeders?

Some dogs eat too frequently. These pets might be weaned of this habit by using an automatic dog feeder.

Since these units lock in place, they can prevent animals from stealing each other’s food. On top of that, they can help to reduce the risk that dirt or other material will work its way into the food.

Those who have to feed their dog medication at certain times of the day can rely on a collar activated feeder to manage this as well.

What Are the Cons?

Probably the biggest problem is the fact that you have to put batteries into most of them and setting up the controls can be an issue too. Feeders might eventually jam, so you’ll want to periodically clean them as well.

That being said, you should be doing this with regular feeding bowls too.

How Do I Train My Dog to Use an Automatic Feeder?

Introduce your dog to the feeder slowly, especially if they don’t like the noise of moving objects. Show your dog that there’s food in the feeder, possibly by waving the collar tag over it several times before you let your dog wear it.

Encourage your dog to head to the feeder at the same times that he or she would normally eat, but don’t get them too excited about it. If you do, then they might start to think that this is some sort of game and might not transition very well to meal time.

Inquisitive dogs will usually figure it out in a short period of time.

Can You Put Wet Food in an Automatic Feeder?

While you can put wet food into an automatic feeder, you need to make sure that the kind you’re using is designed for it. Any feeder that can handle wet food will explicitly state that it’s able to, so make sure that it does before you start loading it up.

Wet dog food is usually better tolerated than wet cat food, which may spoil more quickly due to its richer nutrient mix.

Can You Leave Wet Food in the Feeder Overnight?

Manufacturers usually advise against leaving wet food in the feeder overnight, but some of them may be rated for this. It’s generally best to avoid this if you’re in a hot and humid climate.

Pet owners will often find that a hungry animal will have eaten all of their food by the end of the night anyway, which may render this whole question moot. Timing their meals right can reduce the chances of food staying left in the feeder for any extended period of time.