How to Build a Dog Feeder

Dog feeders are convenient to use when you are going out of town or if you have a large dog who eats copious amounts of food. Dog feeders have a large back-up supply of dog food. When the bowl is empty, more food is released into the attached bowl. They are simple to put together, requiring just a few materials and a short amount of time.

Things You'll Need

  • Plastic cereal container
  • Scissors
  • Two bricks
  • Velcro
  • Non-toxic paint and paint brush, if desired
  • Plastic mat
  • Dog food bowl, at least 4-inches deep
  • Dog food
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Choose a plastic cereal container. These tall food storage containers are made of plastic and/or rubber, and come with a tab opening on the top. They can be found in the housewares section of many stores. The typical size is 13-cups, but you can find larger or smaller ones depending on the size and eating habits of your dog.

    • 2

      Prepare the feeder foundation, which will be made with bricks. You can paint them any color you like, or use them as is. If you do paint the bricks, be sure to let them dry thoroughly. On one of the large flat sides of a brick, secure the Velcro strips, rough side up, attaching as many as you can.

    • 3

      Remove the tab opening on the container using scissors, if necessary. Attach Velcro strips, fuzzy side up, along one of the tall narrow sides of the container--this should be the side closest to the tab opening. When you lay this side of the container onto the brick, the Velcro strips should join the pieces firmly and keep the unit upright.

    • 4

      Place the plastic mat on the floor. This will help keep the floor clean and catch any stray dog food bits that fall out of the bowl or container. Set the dog food bowl down onto the mat. Fill the bowl 3/4-full with dog food.

    • 5

      Set the brick with the Velcro attached to it behind the dog food bowl. Position it so it is centered against the back of the bowl, with one of the smaller ends of the brick headed back away from the bowl lengthwise.

    • 6

      Fill the container with dog food, packed to the top, but not too tightly. Block the open hole in the top with your hand, and slowly line up the Velcro on the container side to the Velcro on the brick so they match up. Firmly attach the Velcro pieces. The container's hole should be positioned directly over the lip of the dog food bowl, so the food can pour into the bowl.

    • 7

      Take your hand off of the opening when it is positioned correctly. A small quantity of food should come out into the bowl. As the bowl is emptied by your dog, more food will come out of the opening to take its place. If desired, take the second brick and carefully insert it under the back end of the first brick. This will help slant the container more so food falls out quicker.