Feeders for three dogs, different sizes

Three dogs of different breeds and weights means you genuinely can't share a single feeder — what one dog needs will overfeed or underfeed another, and that adds up fast in terms of health and cost. The most important things with automatic feeders are portion accuracy, ease of cleaning, and mechanical reliability. Cheap models jam, dispense inconsistent amounts, and have hoppers you can't get a brush into, which turns into a hygiene problem quickly. To point you to the right setup: what breeds and rough weights are your three dogs, and is the main driver here that you're away during the day, travelling, or just wanting tighter control over their daily intake?

That's a sensible approach, especially with a Labrador in the mix — they'll eat everything in sight if given the chance. Nine hours is long enough that splitting meals matters too, particularly for the Dachshund, whose small stomach does better with two smaller portions rather than one larger one. Are you using dry kibble across all three, or is anyone on a wet or mixed diet? And do all three dogs eat in the same room, or can you separate feeding stations without much trouble?

Perfect — separate stations makes this straightforward. My clear recommendation is the WOPET Automatic Pet Feeder (the 6L model for the Labrador, the 4L for the Spaniel, and either the 4L or the smaller 2.5L for the Dachshund). WOPET feeders have a rotating disc dispensing mechanism that's genuinely accurate to within a few grams per meal, they let you programme up to four meals a day with individual portion sizes, and the hopper and bowl both detach for a proper wash. For a Lab specifically, the 6L capacity means you're not refilling constantly. The Dachshund's unit on the 2.5L size is compact enough for a kitchen counter and the portion sizes go down small enough for a 5kg dog without jamming. All three are on Amazon UK, usually between £35 and £55 depending on size, and the app control is optional — they work perfectly well on manual programming if you'd rather not deal with WiFi.

Labs are notorious for this and it's a fair concern. The WOPET lid locks with a twist mechanism that most dogs don't figure out, but a really determined Labrador might nudge it around or knock it over. The practical fix is to place it against a wall or in a corner so he can't get purchase on it, and if he's particularly clever, a simple cable tie through the lid latch adds a physical stop he won't defeat. I'd also suggest running it for a supervised day first so you can see how he reacts before you rely on it during work hours. The 6L model is weighty enough when full that tipping isn't usually an issue, but worth watching.

Good choice. Get the 6L for the Lab, 4L for the Spaniel, and 2.5L for the Dachshund — that sizing matches their food volumes well. Set the Dachshund's unit to two smaller meals rather than one, his digestion will thank you. Run all three for a day at home before your first full work day so you can catch any setup issues. You'll very quickly wonder why you didn't do it sooner.