Looking for the best automatic dog feeders for large dogs? I’ve got your back. I spent hours upon hours poring over all of the smart pet feeders out there to find JUST those that work for big breeds. Keep reading to find out which ones made the cut!
FYI, this post includes affiliate links. If you buy anything through these links, TechnoBark earns a commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks!
Top Pick
The PetSafe Smart Feed Automatic Dog and Cat Feeder is manufactured by a renowned and trusted brand, it’s compatible with dry & soft foods and won cat accessory of the year at the Retailer Recommended Awards in 2020.
Runner-Up
The PetLibro Space automatic pet feeder uses vacuum-sealing technology to against harmful pathogens. Large 34-cup food tank holds up to 7 pounds of pet food.
No Smartphone Needed
The PetSafe® Six Meal Pet Feeder makes sure your pet is fed on time, every time. This automatic feeder has 6 tray slots, plus 1 meal that is exposed and ready-to eat.
Our Top Picks at a Glance
These days, automatic dog feeders are a dime a dozen. Every major pet brand (and many off-brands that I’ve never even heard of) has one. However, very, very few actually work for larger pups. Between the teensy bowls and tiny hoppers, they’re just not robust enough for dogs who need more than an itty-bitty serving.
I looked at more than 100 different pet feeders for this list. To fit my criteria, the top 5 below needed to fit the following criteria (you would be surprised how many didn’t even fit one):
- Enough room in the hopper to store at least 5 meals (at one cup per meal)
- A large enough feeding bowl capacity for at least one cup of food
- Automatic timer features (obviously they can’t really be the best automatic pet feeder without this feature)
It’s not hard to find a good gravity feeder for large breeds. There are probably hundreds of those out there. They’re great for grazers, but for “food hounds” they’re a nightmare. It’s not hard to find automatic timer-based feeders for small dogs, either.
Putting all three criteria together, though, means going on a scavenger hunt down the rabbit hole of pet technology. Fortunately, I happen to love scavenger hunts, and pet tech. 😀 So, I did the hard work for you! Without further rambling on my part, let’s dive into the list.
By the way, if you have cats, you may also love: Best Automatic for Cats in 2024
Top Pick: PetSafe Smart Feed Automatic Dog and Cat Feeder
The PetSafe Smart Feed Automatic Dog and Cat Feeder is by far my favorite option currently on the market right now. While the description says that it’s best for small to medium dogs, it’s actually perfect for larger breeds as well, thanks to its 24-cup capacity and portion sizes up to 4 cups per meal.
Features
- Ideal smart pet feeder for cats and small to medium-sized dogs.
- Feed your pet via smartphone, whether at home or away.
- Connects to Wi-Fi and works with the My PetSafe® app for easy feeding control.
- Sensors notify you when the feeder is low on food or empty.
- Automatically reorder food using Amazon Dash Replenishment.
- Holds up to 24 cups of dry or semi-moist food.
- Schedule up to 12 meals daily, with portion sizes from 1/8 cup to 4 cups per meal.
- ‘Slow Feed’ option prevents pets from eating too quickly.
- ‘Feed Now’ feature allows you to give an extra meal or snack instantly.
- Lid, hopper, bowl, and bowl holder are all dishwasher safe.
- Compatible with iPhones or iPods (iOS 12.0 or later) and Android smartphones (version 9.0 or later).
- Requires a 2.4GHz (802.11b/g/n) wireless router.
- Powered by an AC adapter and has a backup battery option (4 D-cell alkaline batteries, not included).
What We Love
There’s a lot to love about this feeder, but let’s start with how well it works for large dogs since that’s the whole point of this post. As mentioned above, the PetSafe smart pet feeder holds up to 24 cups of dry food. That means that even if your pooch needs 5 cups of food a day, you’ll still get almost 5 days out of one fill-up.
The feeder bowl is bigger than I thought it was going to be based on the pictures. It’s the same size as the bowl we usually use for Freya. Maybe not quite as deep, but close. Technically, it only holds one cup at a time, but you can schedule it to release up to 4 cups per meal. Even if your dog is eating 5+ cups a day, you should be dividing it up into smaller meals anyway.
The Slow-Feed option is perfect if you have a gobbler, especially if your pooch is prone to bloat. I also like that it works with semi-moist food. I mean, I don’t actually use semi-moist food, but still, it’s great to know that I could if I wanted to. The battery backup is pretty fantastic, too. I lose power if a butterfly flaps its wings too close to my powerlines, so this is a major “must-have” feature for me.
Things to Consider
The biggest consideration is the fact that you’ll need a smartphone to use it. However, it works with both iOS and Android phones, so that should be an issue.
The PetSafe Smart Feed works for multiple dogs if you buy the compatible Meal Splitter (sold separately) to divide the food between them. However, if your dogs are territorial about food, I recommend buying separate feeders so they can each have their own.
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Runner Up: PetLibro SPACE Automatic Pet Feeder
PetLibro’s entire business model centers on automatic feeders and water fountains (waterers?), so I was surprised to see that they only had ONE model that I would consider even remotely suitable for large-breed dogs. That said, one model is really all you need if it’s a good one. SPACE has a few nifty features that earned it a “runner-up” spot. Let’s check them out. Then we’ll see why these nifty features weren’t enough to earn it the top spot.
Features
- Automatic pet feeder uses vacuum-sealing technology to protect against harmful pathogens.
- Large 34-cup food tank holds up to 7 pounds of pet food.
- Dispenses kibble up to 18 millimeters in size without jamming.
- Remotely monitor and control your pets’ feedings through the app, perfect for long trips.
- Designed with a deep bowl for comfortable mealtimes for your pets.
- Works on both 5GHz and 2.4GHz wifi networks
- Lets you record a 10-second voice message for your dog
What We Love
SPACE is a really great name for this feeder because it has A LOT of it. It holds a whopping 7 lbs of food in a vacuum-sealed environment, making it both an airtight container and an automatic feeder.
The fact that you can record a message for your dog is just freaking adorable. My dog refuses to acknowledge my existence if she can’t see me (I tried talking to her through my Blink camera once and she not only ignored me, she ACTIVELY ignored me by doing her “I can’t hear you” head-turn thing), but it’s still a cute little extra feature.
Things to Consider
First, the price- the SPACE is more expensive by a good chunk of change than the PetSafe Smart Feed. I don’t think it’s unreasonable for what it does, but I still think the PetSafe is a better deal overall.
A few customers said that they had a VERY challenging time getting it to connect to the app. I’ve had this issue so many times with so much pet tech in the past, though, that I feel like it’s almost a given, so this isn’t really a PetLibro issue so much as a “technology is a massive pain sometimes” issue.
The biggest issue, though, is the fact that it doesn’t always dispense food properly. The same technology that prevents bacteria from getting to the food also sometimes malfunctions. I feel like this is an extremely good start to a great automatic pet feeder for large breeds, but it just needs a few tweaks to compete with the PetSafe Smart Feed.
PETLIBRO SPACE Automatic Pet Feeders
The PetLibro Space automatic pet feeder uses vacuum-sealing technology to against harmful pathogens. Large 34-cup food tank holds up to 7 pounds of pet food.
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
PetSafe Six Meal Feeder (Top “No Smartphone Necessary” Pick)
If you don’t have a smartphone (or just don’t want yet another app) but still want something that dispenses dog food automatically, the PetSafe Six Meal Feeder is a good compromise. It’s not quite as robust in terms of features as the Smart Feed, but it’s still a solid option.
Features
- Schedule 6 Meals: Set up to 6 pre-portioned meals per day for your cat or dog, with the schedule repeating daily.
- Portion Control: Each of the 6 compartments holds up to 1 cup of dry or semi-moist food, and even treats.
- Feed Now Option: Use the Feed Now button to dispense the next meal ahead of schedule.
- Sleep Function: Activate the sleep function to temporarily stop food dispensing without losing the meal schedule.
- Pet-Proof Design: Clear lid locks securely to prevent pets from accessing the food.
- Easy to Clean: BPA-free bowl and tray carousel are dishwasher safe (top rack); handwash other components separately.
- Battery Operated: Requires 4 D-cell alkaline batteries (not included).
- Pet Size: Ideal for cats and small dogs.
What We Love
Honestly, I love the simplicity of this one. While it only holds 6 meals (up to one cup each), it does so almost flawlessly (nothing is 100% perfect). You don’t need a smartphone, a fancy app, or even Wi-Fi to use it, so you can take it pretty much anywhere.
The Sleep function is pretty nifty, too. Say you split custody of your dog with your ex (this literally just came up today in conversation, which is what made me think of it). On the days that Fido isn’t at home with you, you can enable the Sleep function to pause feedings without messing up the programmed schedule for the days that Fido is with you.
Things to Consider
The amount of food that it holds is the biggest “consideration” here. The Six Meal Feeder holds (wait for it…) enough food for 6 meals IF each meal is no larger than one cup. For most dogs, though, this is still at least two days worth of food. My dog Freya gets two cups a day, so it would last me three days with her.
Also, unlike the Smart Feed, this one is entirely battery-operated. That can be both a plus and a minus in my opinion. On the plus side, you never have to worry about it failing if the power goes out. On the minus side, you have to buy batteries more often.
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Best Budget Option: Gamma2 Nano Automatic Dog Feeder (by PetMate)
If you don’t need a whole bunch of bells and whistles, the PetMate Gamma2 Nano is a good pick at a great price (under $50).
Features
- Intelligently designed automated pet feeder for performance and ease of use.
- Intuitive programming and easy setup.
- Powerful control panel with multiple preference settings.
- Control the amount of food dispensed, feeding times, and delivery speed.
- Notifications for low food levels.
- Manual feed activation.
- Preset up to six meal settings.
- Battery backup stores programs and operates during power outages.
- Darker storage compartment color limits light exposure to maintain freshness.
- Patented Gamma Seal Technology locks in freshness and keeps moisture out.
- Modern, sleek design matches most kitchen appliances.
- Uses a standard USB power supply and Micro USB Plus.
- Backup power with 4 “AA” batteries (not included).
What We Love
Like the Six-Feeder by PetSafe, the beauty of PetMate’s Gamma2 lies in its simplicity. You don’t need a phone (smart or otherwise), WI-FI, or really anything special to make it work. Heck, thanks to the battery backup, you don’t even need electricity! It works kind of like my automatic coffee maker, with a similar LED programming function. Basically, if you can program a Mr. Coffee, you can program this.
Things to Consider
The low price seems to come with a bit of a trade-off, as more than one customer mentioned that it stopped working after 6-8 months. That said, even if you end up buying two a year, it’ll still cost less than some of the other feeders on this list.
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Best for Dogs on RX Diets: PortionPro Rx Automatic Pet Feeder
If you have multiple pets all on very specific diets, PortionPro RX is a good find. It uses RFID to make sure that each pet only has access to their own food.
Features
- RFID feeder
- Patented access control helps prevent pets from stealing each other’s food.
- Hopper holds up to 32 cups of dry food.
- Perfect for both cats and dogs of all sizes.
- Up to 6 portion-controlled feeding per day
- High-quality durable construction
- Ceramic-coated steel food bowl
What We Love
Between the patented design and the RFID access feature, this feeder makes it significantly harder for pets to steal each other’s food. My dog Freya is a shark when it comes to the cats’ food. She circles and circles, just waiting for her chance to snag it the moment we look away, so this is a huge draw for me.
Things to Consider
Price-wise, I don’t think it’s absurd or anything, but it is higher than most of the other automatic pet feeders on this list. You’ll need different feeders for each pet, and that can get super expensive if you have a big furry family like I do.
The biggest issue in my opinion, especially if you frequently lose power like I do, is the fact that there is no battery backup. It does have a small internal battery that at least remembers the settings, but if the power goes out, your pets don’t get their food.
If you have super reliable power (or at least a reliable generator) and really need to make sure that each pet eats ONLY their food, though, it’s still a good option.
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Final Thoughts & Recommendations
While automatic pet feeders for large breeds aren’t as plentiful as those for smaller pets, as you can see above, you still have some very solid options to choose from. I’m not really fond of “final recommendations” because what’s perfect for me may not be the best option for you.
That said, I really do love the PetSafe Smart Feed. It’s super easy to assemble, a cinch to use, and holds more than enough food to feed large dogs for several days before needing a refill.
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.