Tamper-proof automatic feeder for Basset Hounds

A Basset Hound who'll raid anything within nose-reach — that's a very specific problem, and a standard automatic feeder won't cut it. Most of them can be nudged open, pawed apart, or simply knocked over and eaten from directly. Before I point you at anything, tell me: does he eat dry kibble, wet food, or both? And is this mainly about controlling portions while you're out at work, or are you dealing with a genuine obsessive who'll work at the feeder for twenty minutes until he cracks it?

Ten minutes on a 'pet-proof' container is impressive dedication. That tells me you need something with a positive locking lid or a microchip-triggered seal — not just a flap that closes on its own weight. How heavy is he, roughly? Bassets can be anywhere from 20 to 35kg, and that affects how much force he can apply. Also, is he crate-trained or does he have free run of a room or the whole house while you're out?

Right, so he's got time, motivation, and full access — that's the worst-case scenario for feeder security. Here's my recommendation: the SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder Connect. It's primarily designed as a single-pet sealed bowl that only opens when it detects your dog's microchip, then closes again the moment he steps away. The lid creates a proper seal rather than just resting closed, which is why determined scavengers can't prise it open passively. It's not a timed multi-meal dispenser in the traditional sense — it keeps one measured portion sealed and accessible only to him, which also works well for portion control. You'd fill it with his daily kibble amount split across however many sessions you want, and set feeding windows via the app. It's easy to take apart and wash, which matters if you're using it for wet food too. It runs on batteries or mains, and the app gives you a log of when he actually ate, which is useful for spotting if anything's off with his appetite. The one honest limitation: if you need fully automated multi-meal dispensing with a hopper, this isn't that. It's a sealed, access-controlled bowl. But for a Basset who treats feeders as puzzles, that sealed lid is the thing that matters most.

SureFeed's microchip detection is genuinely reliable — it's been their core product for years and it reads standard 15-digit ISO microchips without issue. The sensor sits in the bowl rim and triggers fast enough that most dogs don't even pause. Occasionally you'll see people report a slow read on the first day while the dog gets used to approaching it, but it settles quickly. What doesn't work is if a dog has a non-standard or very old chip format — worth double-checking your Basset's chip type with your vet if he was chipped abroad or more than ten years ago. For a UK-chipped five-year-old, you'll be fine.

Yes — don't just fill it and leave him to figure it out on day one. Put it in open mode for the first day or two so the lid stays up and he can eat from it normally and get used to it being his food source. Then switch it to microchip mode while you're home, so you can watch him use it a few times and confirm it's reading him consistently. Once he's reliably triggering it himself, you can leave it running while you're out. The other thing worth doing: don't leave any other food smells in the kitchen if you can help it — a Basset will spend his energy on the path of least resistance, so if the feeder is the only game in town, he'll learn it quickly.