My corgi Cooper has tried and tested plenty of pet products, treats, and toys in his four years of life. He loves naps on his elevated dog bed, enjoys car rides in the backseat thanks to his Active Pets Premium Dog Car Seat Cover, and has an appetite for the best food around. But if I had to bet on his absolute favorite product? It’s hands down the Petlibro Automatic Dog Feeder ($60). We’ve had it for years, and it reliably feeds him the same portion of his Farmer’s Dog kibble twice a day. Ahead, I break down the ins and outs of the device — and why it could be a solid investment for you and your dog or cat.
- You can customize both the timing and portion size of daily feedings.
- You can record a voice message that plays when food is dispensed.
- It can dispense kibble sized from two to 15 mm.
What I love about the Petlibro Automatic Dog Feeder is that it takes one major task off our daily to-do list. With my husband busy all day as a medical student and me popping out to coffee shops for a change of scenery while I work, it’s a relief knowing that when we’re both out, Cooper is still getting fed on time without us having to adjust our schedules.
Another thing we love about it is how obsessed Cooper is with it. My husband and I joke that he thinks it’s alive — we’ve even started calling it our fourth family member. Anytime we get too close to refill the food or even his water bowl, Cooper hovers nearby, looking concerned, curious, and a little protective.
And lastly, a completely unnecessary yet delightful feature of this feeder is the option to add a recorded sound that plays when the food dispenses. My husband recorded himself saying, “Time to eat!” in a singsongy tone, and it never fails to make us giggle when Cooper races towards his food bowl.
Setting up the feeding times and portion sizes on the Petlibro Automatic Dog Feeder, particularly this model, isn’t the most intuitive process. You have to press the “unlock” button, then repeatedly tap the mechanical wheel icon to schedule each meal, depending on how many times your pet eats, and finally select the portion size.
The brand states on its Amazon storefront that one portion equals 1/12 of a cup, but when my husband and I measured it, we found ours actually dispenses 1/8 of a cup per serving. While this isn’t a huge issue, it’s definitely something to keep in mind — and worth testing yourself — when setting up your pet’s feeding schedule.
If I were to purchase this feeder again, I’d go with the more updated 5L model with WiFi ($90). This version comes with an app that makes it easier to set feeding times and portions, plus you’ll get alerts when food is running low. With our model, you have to manually check to make sure it has enough food, which may be a hassle for some.
The Petlibro Automatic Dog Feeder is available on Amazon with Prime delivery options as fast as one day.
Rating: ★★★★★
Marisa Petrarca is a contributing editor for PS Shopping and has more than five years of experience writing and editing beauty, fashion, and lifestyle content. Her work has been featured in Cosmopolitan, Allure, and InStyle, among others.