This product is unreliable which renders it useless. After my first one would not dispense any food (after about three months) I sent it back to the manufacturer who promptly exchanged it for a new one. However, the same problem happened again after a month or so. The motor would run and no food would come out.The clock and timer are a little backwards but if you read the manual you can learn how to set it - that is not the problem. The problem is it doesn't dispense the food and if you aren't home to see it for yourself (which you probably aren't - that's why you got it in the first place) you may wind up starving your pets!