Automatic dog feeder. DIY dog stand and feeder DIY automatic dog feeder

A couple of feeding bowls standing on the floor is not always a convenient solution for cleaning. In addition, it is not recommended for animals of any breed to eat with their heads bowed - this can ruin their posture. A feeder on a stand is much more convenient to use, and you can make it yourself.

Tools and materials

To do it yourself you will need a little time and some tools:

• furniture board (about 40 cm by 60 cm, about 2 cm thick);
• bowls (preferably stainless steel) (2 pcs.);
• wood putty;
• PVA glue;
• paint of a suitable color;
• jigsaw;
• drill;
• wood drills (D-3, D-8, D-30 mm);
• screwdriver;
• countersink;
• wood screws (11 pcs.);
• ruler, compass, pencil;
• sandpaper;
• putty knife;
• brush.

Step-by-step instruction

To make a feeder with a stand with your own hands, use the step-by-step instructions:

1. Draw on a furniture board or board the contours of the future stand with holes of different diameters for the bowls. You can use the attached diagram.

2. Cut the shield using a jigsaw or saw into pieces 20x19 cm (2 pcs.),

35.8×11 cm, 35.8×17.5 cm according to the diagram

3. We drill holes for the screws with a drill with a diameter of 3 mm (D-3).
We drill holes inside the circles with a D-8 drill - they will be needed,
to make it easier to cut circles with a jigsaw. We use D-30 to create holes for the side handles.

4. Using a jigsaw, we cut out circles in the lid of the future stand and holes for handles,
round the corners on the side parts.

5. Now you need to sand the stand well and cover the holes for the screws with a countersink.
PVA glue is first applied to the joints of the parts, and then all the parts are pulled together
screws together.

6. Screw heads and cracks are rubbed with wood putty and processed again
sandpaper after drying.

7. Now the stand can be painted in any color using spray paint or acrylic paint.

By the way, the stand can be decorated by making a beautiful decoupage or a drawing made by yourself.

Each dog owner, at least once in his life, has found himself in a situation where he urgently needs to leave for a few days and leave the family dog, as they say, “alone on the farm.” The main problem in such a situation becomes the issue of feeding the pet.

If there are no acquaintances or friends who can feed the animal in the absence of the owner, the last chance to provide the dog with food is an automatic dog feeder. Some models of automatic feeders are capable of dispensing a fairly large supply of feed in uniform portions.

Device Terms of Use

Of course, an automatic dog feeder is not able to solve all the animal’s problems that arise due to the absence of owners, especially since its use is designed for certain conditions:

• An automatic feeder uses only dry food as the main nutritional element, so the animal must at least be accustomed to eating such food;
• The use of the feeder was initially aimed at animals kept in an enclosure, since the developers had not yet come up with an automatic toilet for the automatic feeder. An exception may be small breed dogs living in the house, who have the opportunity to leave the premises through an automatic vestibule.
• Eating dry food for several days can have a negative impact on the dog's well-being, even if there is enough food and water in the enclosure, so automatic feeders for large breed dogs should only be considered as a temporary measure.

Important! The dog must not suffer from bulimia or kinorexia, which is common among large breed dogs.

If the dog is accustomed to overeating or cannot control the amount of food eaten, then only those feeder models that are equipped with a built-in dispenser are suitable for automatic feeding, and these are usually the most expensive and complex devices.

In addition, the dog in the enclosure must be accustomed to the sight and smell of the plastic automatic feeder for several days in order to develop a certain culture of use. Often, a dog, irritated by the sounds or sight of food in the bunker, manages to permanently break the electronic device. Therefore, some owners prefer not to take risks and equip a separate compartment-case in the enclosure, in which an automatic feeder is installed.

Organizing dog nutrition using an automatic feeder has its own characteristics. If feeding cats, hamsters, fish, parrots does not have a psychological orientation, then for dogs everything is much more complicated. The bowl and the identity of the person giving the food are very important for the dog; from a psychological point of view, whoever feeds is the master of the house.

Important! So if you have a desire to switch your pet to automatic feeding, be prepared for the fact that a robotic dog feeder may become the object of his affection and reverence.

How does an automatic feeder work?

The main idea behind the design of the feeder is to give the dog a week or three-day supply of food not in one mass, but over a certain period of time, preferably at equal periods of time. Most models for automatic feeding can be divided into three categories according to their operating scheme:

• The simplest bulk structures;
• Dosing systems;
• Self-opening feeders.

Some of the models are complemented by an automatic drinker, in the form of a container mounted on a tripod with a nipple valve. Such an addition will not be the most unnecessary, especially if it is not possible for the dog in the enclosure to stock up on water for several days.

Automatic feeders - dispensers

A truly automatic system can be called the system shown in the photo below.

A special feature of this device is the presence of a special elevator, through which a portion of food is supplied from the hopper to the bowl. The portion dispensed once by an automatic feeder can range from 60 to 500 g, which is quite enough to feed a large dog. The weight of the dispensed portion is adjusted using the digital indicator on the side panel. There are special clamps in the bottom of the device that allow you to secure the device to the floor or floor.

The automatic feeder can operate in program mode, from an internal timer or by command from an external computer. Before dispensing food, the machine sounds a buzzer and opens the elevator only after the dog approaches the bowl. At the top of the device there is a container for storing feed. On average, the bunker is designed for 3-4 kg, but there are models with a capacity that can hold up to 10 kg of dry food.

Feeders for small and toy breeds of dogs

For small breeds of dogs, an automatic rotary type feeder is more often used. Structurally, the device is a ring tray divided into 5-6 sectors. Each sector contains a portion of food for one meal. The upper part of the tray is covered with a lid with a cut-out central sector. As the lid rotates, the sector window opens one by one the cells with food in the tray. One, maximum two sectors can be opened per day.

More advanced are the designs of automatic feeders with a timer. Essentially, this is a tray with a portion of food loaded inside. The tray is closed with a hinged lid held in place by a magnetic or mechanical lock. As soon as the timer goes off, the lock unlocks and the lid swings open, giving your dog access to the food. If desired, you can set the required number of automatic feeders equal to the number of times the dog is fed. According to the manufacturers, thanks to the tightly closing lid, you can load not only dry food into the feeder, but also canned meat or fish. Of course, this method is not suitable for large breed dogs; the dog will open the tray before the timer goes off.

Bulk feeders

The simplest type of dog feeder on a stand is a vertical container or hopper mounted on a special tray. There is a ring slot at the bottom of the automatic feeder hopper. Part of the food spills out in small quantities through the gap and locks the main mass, preventing it from spilling into the tray.

As the dog eats part of the food in the tray, a new portion is poured out of the hopper in its place. From the design of the automatic feeder it is clear that the food will spill out as long as the dog carefully picks it up from the tray. At normal humidity and temperature, dry food retains its free-flowing properties for a long time, so once filled, an automatic dog feeder can work for 7-10 days.

Homemade options

Using the principle described above, you can make an automatic dog feeder with your own hands. A piece of plastic sewer pipe with a diameter of 100 mm and a length of 80-90 cm is best suited for these purposes.

The pipe must be secured to a vertical steel stand, which is screwed to a support plate cut out of plywood. At the bottom of the resulting vertical bunker, you need to put a cone adapter from 100 mm onto a 50 mm pipe. For a more presentable look, the structure can be painted with spray paint in any color you like.

To prevent the food from eroding, the container is closed with a lid - a plug. Given the significant height, it is advisable to secure the structure to the floor or wall with additional metal strips and screws. All that remains is to adjust the height of the food bin, place a bowl for the dog and fill the container with dry food.

To prevent the feed from caking and getting stuck in the hopper, many home-made workers rigidly attach a small 5-10 W electric motor with an eccentric to the pipe. The engine is connected to a timer. Dogs can hear the sound of a vibrating engine several tens of meters away.

Conclusion

According to manufacturers, the demand for automatic feeders turned out to be quite high, so they plan to release automatic feeding devices controlled via the Internet and even equipped with a video camera. In addition to dry food, there will be three or four types of food, freezing and heating.

When the dog is left alone at home, you should take care of its timely feeding. Modern accessories for pets are becoming more convenient and practical. An automatic dog feeder ensures constant feeding of the animal during the owner's absence for a long time.

Pet lovers constantly want to make their lives more comfortable. Pet accessory companies offer many options for feeding devices. As such a design, you can consider an automatic dog feeder. It is used according to a simple principle. Feed is poured into it only once every few days. This is quite convenient when a person is away from home for a long time.

Types of feeding products

Today, manufacturers of feeding devices produce many types of devices:

• single elements - such bowls have a simple design;
• double accessories - less popular, but more practical;
• sippy cups - original devices that allow you to store water in a bowl;
• travel bowls - easy to use on long trips;
• automatic feeders.

The most popular devices are single containers. These dishes are very easy to wash and are quite cheap. Another advantage of such products is ease of use. Feeding itself is characterized by convenience for humans and comfort for dogs. Such dishes are often installed in an enclosure.

Double bowl

Compared to the previous product, double bowls are less popular. However, such designs are quite convenient for feeding pets. These dishes provide cost savings for the dog owner. In this case, you do not have to wash 2 devices. After finishing feeding your pet, you only need to wash one dish.

However, such designs are less comfortable for the animal. During feeding, a situation may arise that some of the food from one cup ends up in another. The result of such an incident may be a change in the taste of food. It is better to use such dishes in cases where the owner has several dogs at home. The structures are often installed in an enclosure.

Sloppy pets

If your dog is messy when eating food, or is large in size, it is better to choose a sippy cup. In such a container, water will be retained even if it is accidentally touched. Water enters the dishes from a large container through a membrane.

The sippy cup is used even when the animal has long ears or a beard. Such dishes have one important advantage - they can be used during a road trip.

Special travel bowls have a special design. Outwardly they look like a bottle. They have a special device through which the animal drinks water. On long trips, such a capacity comes in handy.

Automatic feeders

Automatic feeders vary in how they are used. Each of these devices has certain pros and cons. These should be taken into account when using feeders. There are several types of devices:

If your pet is large, you should buy a dog feeder on a stand. This option is great for large breed dogs. Thanks to this, while eating, their neck does not get tired from constant tension. Modern products with an automation system are equipped with many functions. However, the dog owner should understand that with the increase in additions, the cost of the product also increases.

Feeders with an automatic system can have completely different feed container volumes. For large dogs, purchase a design with a food container capacity of up to 10 liters. Small animals can also feed from a feeder with a 1-2 liter container. Some products can dispense food not only at a specific time, but also according to the dosage. Such models are more expensive. They can be installed both at home and in an enclosure.

Principle of operation

Automatic feeders are devices that can make a person's life much easier. They are able to feed the animal on time during the absence of the owner.

Modern manufacturers have also taken care to equip their models of automatic feeders with compartments for medicines and water. This allows such devices to perform several functions at once. You don't have to worry about your pet during your departure. Feeders are often equipped with a special sensor. It allows you to control the amount of food in the bowl.

However, in this case the dog may eat too much. This is very harmful for large pets. Many dogs are unable to independently control the amount of food they consume. That is why it is better to opt for a design with a timer. Such devices operate several times a day. The norm is regulated by the owner.

A distinctive feature of such devices is the safety of food while it is in the container. Every breeder knows that dry food should not be left unpackaged. The food feeder keeps food fresh. The dog will always enjoy food.

There are a lot of electronic models that emit a certain signal when filling a bowl with food. Some designs allow you to record the owner's voice. In this case, the animal will not be in a state of loneliness when the owner is absent for a long time.

Selection rules

One of the important criteria when choosing a pet feeder is the price of the product. First, the dog owner should decide how much money he is willing to spend on such a device. When the amount has already been calculated, you can select the dimensions of the automatic structure. This indicator should be correlated with the size of the pet. For large dogs, bowls on a tripod are suitable.

In the case of a small animal, an incomplete set may be purchased. A food dispenser is simply installed in a regular bowl. A dog with such a device will be able to receive food whenever it wants. Unlike large dogs, small dogs are not very gluttonous. They do not eat until they feel very hungry.

Any automatic type feeders can be purchased at a special pet store. Today the price of such products is quite high. The presence of additional options only increases the cost of such products. Therefore, many car owners decide to create a car feeder themselves. This design can take into account the conditions of keeping the dog - at home or in an enclosure.

How to train a dog

Owners who already use automatic feeders assure that there are no difficulties in constructing such a structure. The animal can quickly get used to such a novelty. This is because the dog gets tasty food.

If the bowl is equipped with a food alarm system, the dog can get used to it after a certain time. Once she begins to understand that the signal is a reason to eat, she will quickly get used to the new device. A conditioned reflex will force her to act. Training puppies is quite simple.

Making a feeder with your own hands

Sometimes a person needs to leave home for only 2-3 days. At the same time, there may be no one to look after the dog. A cheap and practical option is to build a dog feeder with your own hands. This decision is made by those who want to save money.

The easiest way to build a feeder is to make a container out of plastic that will feed the food as it shrinks in the bowl. This design is a simple container in which food is stored. From time to time it is poured into a bowl in a small volume. When using such a feeder, your pet will receive as much food as he wants. The food will always remain fresh. Principles for creating a feeder with your own hands:

• A simple plastic bottle can be used for the container. It has a volume from 1 to 5 liters. This indicator is affected by the size of the pet.
• A cut must be made at the bottom of the bottle through which the food will be poured. Then the container is turned over and placed over the bowl.
• The product can be hung on the wall.

This method of constructing a feeder is quite simple. It only takes 20 minutes to work. This design can only be used when using dry food. Canned meat will not fit into the bottle opening and will quickly become unusable.

To create a more complex type of design, you should find a mechanism from a quartz watch. In this case, you can build a device that will supply food strictly at the appointed time. Creating such a design will require a lot of effort.

If it is necessary to leave the house, care should be taken to ensure that the dog receives the right amount of food during this time. An automatic feeder is ideal for this purpose. There are designs that are designed for automatic water supply. When keeping small dogs, you don't have to worry about them eating more than they should. They usually eat moderately.

In order not to get confused when choosing such devices, it is necessary to take into account the size of the pet, the time of departure and the behavior of the dog.

When we take a dog into our home, we are responsible for its life and health. Nutrition is one of the key points in caring for a pet, because its balance and regimen give the body strength for active growth. For a busy owner, an automatic dog feeder will help solve the problems of constantly being away from home.

Automatic feeder for dogs - device

There are two fundamentally different options for filling the feeder with food:

• the first design involves filling the compartments for each meal separately, the amount of food is only for one cycle;
• the second is designed to fill the feed for future use for several days; food comes from the compartment in portions.

All existing feeders are equipped with a timer, where the owner indicates the number of servings per day, their volume and the interval between feedings. As a result, an automatic dog feeder provides the dog with the correct diet without the participation of the breeder. The most modern models are equipped with an additional function: when feeding food, the device speaks in the owner’s voice, phrases are recorded on a built-in recording device.

Types of automatic feeders for dogs

Automatic feeder for small breed dogs

A convenient automatic feeder for cats is considered to be a model with compartments. The round container can be divided into four or six compartments, so the serving size is medium to small. Since the feeder itself differs little in size from a regular bowl, its contents will last a day for a medium-sized dog. For a small dog, the volume of a feeder with a hinged lid is enough; about half a kilogram of food can be placed there.

Automatic feeder for large breed dogs

A large dog needs to take in much more food at a time, so a bowl-shaped container is not always a suitable solution. For large dogs, an automatic feeder with one large storage is more suitable:

• the tank is designed to hold up to 10 kg of feed, which is exactly the size of a standard package for large breeds;
• the storage container itself is well protected from opening by a pet and impacts;
• The power cord is also well protected from damage by animals;
• The design is designed for different sizes of feed pellets.

Automatic outdoor dog feeder

If the dog does not live in an apartment, you can use two types of feeders. This can be an automatic design if it can be connected safely and provide protection against voltage surges. A good choice would be a design without automation, when the feed is poured out under its own weight. But this option of feeding from an automatic feeder for dogs is only suitable for animals that are not prone to overeating.

DIY automatic dog feeder

It is quite possible to make such a device yourself, even if you have never dealt with automation. An automatic dog feeder with a self-produced timer consists of the simplest devices: an ordinary Chinese table clock, a round tin box, a thin sheet of plywood.

In order for your pet to always be healthy and cheerful, he must eat well, and most importantly, on time. It is recommended that dogs be fed at the same time every day, this is especially important for puppies.

But not every owner has such an opportunity, since he is either at work or forced to leave home on business. For this purpose, there are automatic dog feeders. Such devices are also intended for feeding cats.

What are automatic feeders, how to use them and whether you can make them yourself, you will learn from the article.

Automatic dog feeder and how it works

The function of an automatic dog or cat feeder is that the animal must be fed on time and in accordance with regulations regarding portions. The owner sets the desired program manually, and the automatic feeder already performs one or another mode, dosing the feed. This dog feeder is very convenient if you do not have time to feed your pet at the right time.

The principle of operation of the automatic feeder, regardless of the model, is the same:

• pour dry food into the container or put canned food;
• from it, food is supplied into the tray at the right time in limited quantities;
• their tray is an animal and will eat it when dinner time comes;
• The automation will strictly adhere to the established volume norm, and the animal will not eat too much.

Manufacturers of automatic feeders often produce them separately for dogs and cats, and some models are designed for one or another breed with different amount of food intake– from 1 to 4 times a day. If you are going somewhere for several days, and your pet is still small and eats according to a “children’s” schedule, and not twice a day, then this will be very convenient. A number of models can be programmed even for a hundred-day period, and during this time the dog will be properly fed.

There are more “advanced” devices that can be programmed for different dosages of feed depending on time of day, some models even have a function to record the owner’s voice and play it back periodically so that the dog doesn’t get bored when alone. And others even provide the ability to install an ice container.

What should an automatic dog feeder be like?

The size of the automatic dog feeder should be selected depending on the size of your animal. If we are talking about a puppy who in the future will grow to 70 cm at the withers or higher, then it is recommended to buy feeder for adult animals and an adapter for measuring small portions of puppy food. The adapter is installed in the feeder, and you do not need to buy a small one. And taking into account the fact that automatic feeders themselves are not cheap, it will be very expensive to buy them every time as the animal grows older.

You can purchase a ready-made automatic feeder:

• in specialized stores;
• in the Internet.

Be sure to ask for a warranty on the purchased product when purchasing.

Many people are interested in whether it is difficult to train a dog to automatically feed. But it's actually not very difficult. The animal will quickly learn to the sound signal, which means “it’s time to eat”, at this moment he develops a conditioned reflex.

To accustom your small puppy to sound signals that symbolize the beginning and end of a meal, you can to built-in on device A voice recorder can record either your voice or some signal. For example, you can record your voice calling your pet to dinner. Such a recording will be played at the right time, and the dog will react to it every time and resort to the feeder.

How to make an automatic feeder with your own hands

If a purchased automatic feeder is very expensive for you, you can make it yourself from scrap materials. We will tell you how this is done below.

Automatic Animal Feeder Based on Clock

To make such a device, prepare the following:

• wall used quartz clock;
• clean clay or a bowl of the required volume with compartments;
• a sheet of thin plastic or plywood for the lid;
• wooden plank;
• plastic or tin can with a wide bottom;
• scissors or nippers;
• nails (2 pcs.);
• battery;
• wire (soft);
• lighter;
• file;
• marker;
• rubber suction cups.

Be sure to ensure that the materials do not contain toxic substances.

The algorithm of actions is as follows:

Then food for the animal is poured into the feeder, and it will be provided with food throughout the day.

To feed your pet not only dry food using a homemade automatic feeder, to the bottom of the jar It is recommended to put some ice, then you can put not only dry food there, but also wet food or homemade food.

How to make an automatic feeder using plastic bottles

For this device you will need:

• plastic bottles of 5 liters - 2 pieces;
• stationery knife or scissors;
• awl;
• glue gun;
• lace.

This is done like this:

But be aware that bottle-based automatic feeders for dogs and cats may only be suitable for dry food. It is also very convenient to use if several pets live in the house.

Feeder made from a plastic container

Unlike the previous two homemade devices This feeder only works when the animal asks to eat. To make it, prepare:

• plastic container with handle;
• plastic bottle;
• stationery clip;
• a small ball, the diameter of which should be slightly larger than the neck of a bottle;
• paper clips;
• elastic rope, for example, a thick elastic band;
• stationery knife or scissors.

The operating instructions are as follows:

• the bottle is cut so that it matches the length of the plastic container;
• You need to cut a small circle in the bottom of the container so that the bottleneck fits there;
• make holes in the lid of the plastic container;
• insert the bottle into the container;
• we tie the ball with a rope and pull it through the neck of the bottle, then fasten it in the holes of the bottles;
• we pour food into the bottle and fasten the plastic container at a height sufficient for the animal to reach there with its paw;
• We place a feeder under the structure.

The operating principle of such a device is very simple: the animal hits with its paw The food is poured onto the ball and into the bowl. It only works for dry food. First, you will need to train your pet to work with such a feeder.

Automatic feeders for dogs and cats are a very convenient device in cases where the owners do not can always follow ensuring that the animal has eaten on time and in sufficient quantity. You can make simple modifications of them yourself, and you can buy very “smart” devices in the store.