Like millions of people in the US, the biggest bright spot of the 2020 blockade was that it gave me the time I needed to own, train, and bond with my dog. Since picking up Dusty at the shelter last year, this little cattle dog has been my best friend, my stress ball (I don't recommend turning your anxiety into dog tummy rubs), and, as I like to call him, my beautiful biological son. He has my eyes!!!)

Has all the time he spent with us during his confinement turned him into an absolute velcro dog who can't let me check the mail without his help? But by setting a daily routine, he was freed from his clinging habits. For the past year, he knows what time breakfast and dinner are, and it's always within a few minutes each day, so he doesn't have time to worry about where we went or if we're ever coming back (when he poked at the bathroom door while I was trying to take a shower, I wondered what he was thinking) .

But now that things are starting to resume, our schedule is taking us out of the house more. Of course, Dusty, my own son, remains my top priority. But if we hit traffic on the way home from school, it could throw Dusty's calming routine out of whack. I don't want to turn him back into a sad little boy! I feel bad sending him to school!

That's why the Petlibro Granary (opens in new tab) (use code "XMarie" to get 15% off) automatic feeder is so revolutionary. This futuristic-looking machine can be programmed to feed the exact amount of premium kibble at the exact time he expects it, whether we are home or not. Most importantly, Granary's design focuses on making sure the food is fresh and sealed in the container. In addition, all parts of the food container can be disassembled seamlessly, making it very easy to clean if cleaning is necessary. I didn't buy automatic food dispensers before because I had heard that they were hard to clean and that anything that got inside would make my pups sick. But I loved that the Petlibro (opens in new tab) granary puts the safety and health of the dog first. I mean, its slogan is literally "As Fresh As It Gets."

And it's adorable! Look at it, it's like "The Jetsons":

Granary features a stainless steel bowl to avoid spoiled food and allergies, and a wall charger and backup battery (in case of a power outage or unplugged, your pet can still get dinner can get), and it keeps moisture out so Dusty's food tastes as fresh and delicious every time as the day you bought it. You can program up to six meals a day (although my dog only eats twice) and you can set the amount of food for each meal. One of my best friends has a cat who is obsessed with routines and food, and I am seriously considering getting her this for her birthday.

And here's my favorite part: with Granary, the pups can record their actions so they know that food is ready in their bowls. This is especially helpful if, like some dogs I know, your pet spends most of the day with his or her face in front of the air conditioner. They can hear me calling for breakfast and still be able to relate their breakfast routine to mine. Not only has my good boy schedule remained intact, but my guilt about being away from home for a couple of hours has also been greatly relieved, though of course not completely eliminated.

Petlibro Granary is available at this link (opens in new tab), and you can also check out Petlibro on Facebook (opens in new tab) and Instagram (opens in new tab).

Petlibro, devoted love, hassle-free.