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I talk about food a lot here on the Lugaru K9 Training blog.
I make dog food from scratch for all of my personal dogs. I test different types of high-quality kibbles and commercial pet foods. I talk eating patterns, dog treats for training, and how our pets’ food influences their overall wellbeing and, in turn, their behavior.
Needless to say, I’m passionate about what we feed our dogs.
But there’s a lot of different “right” ways to feed our dogs, based on different lifestyle factors, individual factors, and on the “what” we choose to feed our dogs. Different dogs and different foods tend to need different approaches, and even the dog bowl we choose can make a difference!
Dog bowls are typically a must-have for dog ownership, and are present on just about every puppy checklist.
And like all other things in the pet industry today, we have options.
Dog bowls are designed with stainless steel, ceramic, plastic, or silicone. They come in all sorts of shapes and sizes for different dogs and types of food.
Slow feeder dog bowls, elevated dog bowls, automatic dog bowls, and gravity-feeder bowls are only a handful of the options available. If you’re a new dog owner, or a new addition to your squad is proving difficult at mealtimes, selecting a different dog bowl can help with specific issues and specific needs.
Best Slow-Feeder Dog Bowl
Slow-feeder bowls are popular for dogs that guzzle down their food. Slow-feeders have smooth ridges and dips that catch bits of food, preventing your dog from completely inhaling their meal.
This isn’t just helpful for the sake of time itself. Dogs that eat with too much gusto, especially barrel-chested dogs like Great Danes and Dobermans, are particularly prone to a condition called bloat, where the stomach twists; bloat is very serious and life-threatening, and is addressed through surgery. It can be prevented, however, by slowing down food consumption so that the stomach does not fill as quickly.
Slow-feeder bowls are great for kibble, wet food, freeze-dried nibs/pellets, and homemade cooked dog food, but not always helpful if feeding homemade raw, as the food does not always fit into the crevices of the bowl.
I tend to recommend slow-feeder bowls to anyone considering going for a standard dog bowl, as they are similar in price, and it never hurts to slow your dog down and engage them a bit while eating, even if they aren’t prone to bloat or an overly-zealous eater.
Outward Hound Fun Feeder
This attractive slow feeder bowl has the usual meal-lengthening ridges to catch kibble and other types of dog food. The outward hound fun feeder set itself apart from other slow-feeder dog bowls because it is available in several different sizes, patterns, and colors, to fit the needs of your dog and even your own style preference.
The Outward Hound fun feeder is made of a sturdy plastic, so while it will hold up to normal use, be mindful to not leave it unattended around a dog prone to chewing behaviors, as it can get damaged that way.
To me, one of the best features of the Outward Hound slow-feeder bowls is that you can toss them right in the dishwasher, and not have to fuss about hand-washing all the ridges.
An honorable mention goes out to the awesome slow-feeder bowl I use with my 75-lb Doberman-Pit, Milo. I love that it works both for the kibble I had him on during our 30-day Ketona experiment, but also works well to slow him down during his daily meals now that he is on homemade food.
Milo loves his homemade food, and absolutely inhales the stuff. Given that he’s a pretty deep-chested dog with breeds that are prone to bloat, slowing him down a little is a necessary precaution. I also love that I can prop up his Kong toy right in the bowl to get him started, too.
The only reason I didn’t place it as the best slow-feeder is that it’s very specific to large dogs like him. However, if you happen to have a large dog like Milo, it’s definitely my first choice.
Best Elevated Dog Bowls
To get the most comfortable posture for your dog during mealtime, an elevated dog bowl is a great option. The height of this bowl is raised up and set on a sturdy bowl holder as to prevent messes during eating. Elevated bowls are great for dogs with neck and back issues, dogs that spill their food frequently, and eat-walkers who end up pushing their food bowl around while trying to finish their meals.
Bamboo Adjustable Elevated Dog Bowl
This bowl is made with stainless steel. It allows safe and healthy eating for your dog. To make eating a fun learning activity, you must buy this elevated bowl equipped with non-skid mats to protect your floor. This bowl ensures comfortable eating and aids digestion. If your dog creates lots of messes while eating, you can use this raised dog bowl to contain it and keep your dog in one place.
Automatic Feeders
If you are a busy pet parent, automatic dog feeders are designed to feed your pets according to a pre-programmed schedule. These devices help to control the portion and overeating in pets, while making sure that even absent-minded dog owners never accidentally skip mealtime.
It allows your dog to eat fresh and clean food whenever you are not home, so it’s great for those of us with a busy schedule. It is a convenient dog bowl designed with anti-fall and durable material. This feeder works on gravity feed technology that dispenses dry food when your dog has done eating.
This automatic feeder from PetSafe works on smart phone programming. You can control the mealtime of your pet through your smart phone, or have it dispense remotely at the press of a button. This pet feeder helps to control your dog’s body weight by controlling portions and timing. It is suitable only for dry food and can easily be removed for refilling and cleaning.
Travel Dog Bowls
Travel dog bowls are collapsible containers meant to serve as dog dishes while on-the-go. They’re commonly seen in silicone form, but other options are available as well. Travel bowls aren’t a necessity, but they’re certainly helpful when out and about because lugging around even a basic stainless steel bowl is going to be a pain!
LumoLeaf Collapsible Dog Bowl
I’ve used a few collapsible dog bowls and travel dog bowls, and I like the LumoLeaf the best. Its waterproof fabric design works for both food and water, and it folds down very compact when you want it to. It also comes with a handy carabiner, so I can clip it to backpacks, leashes, bikes, or wherever it’s convenient. One of the best features of the LumoLeaf is that it’s wide and sits well compared to silicone designs, which tent to fall over or spill.
Gravity Dispensing Dog Bowls
The gravity pet feeders are very popular because the food automatically gets refilled continuously. You can make life easier for yourself by having a gravity pet feeder for your dog for your busy schedule, having only to fill up the reservoir when food gets low. You can store a large amount of food in this feeder that gets refilled easily.
Gravity feeders work almost exclusively with kibbles. They might technically accomodate freeze-dried nibs or other foods that come in a kibble or pellet shape, but it would not be safe to store raw foods out in the “open,” such as in a gravity dispenser.
Gravity feeders are also only really suitable for dogs who do not overeat and are not already prone to gut issues or obesity. Gravity feeders are very convenient but are essentially a form of free-feeding, which comes with its own considerations to think about. If you want to learn more about the pros and cons of free-feeding, and what we as trainers recommend at Lugaru K9 Training, you can read my article, Should I Free-Feed My Dog?
PetSafe Gravity Dispenser
If you decide to go with a gravity feeder, we recommend the one from PetSafe. The curved design prevents food from getting trapped or clogging the reservoir, and is suitable for most breeds. The slimmer design of the PetSafe gravity feeder also helps save space in your home as it won’t take up as much floor as other feeders.
While I don’t use, nor to I particularly recommend, gravity feeders in general (reasoning in the aforementioned article on free-feeding), I do have a few gravity water dispensers for my personal dogs that I would hate to live without! They’re very convenient to have around, are easy to clean, and quick to refill. With so much that I need to take care of on a day-to-day basis, I am happy that it is nearly impossible for the water dish to ever be empty.
Best Alternative Dog Bowls
Dog bowls for meal times are great, and I recommend that every dog owner have at least one of some kind around. However, it’s not even necessary to primarily feed your dog their meals into a bowl in the first place. In fact, there are some definite pros to taking a less conventional approach to feeding time. Here’s some alternative options:
Bait Pouch/Treat Pouch (Hand Feeding)
Hand feeding is hugely under-utilized, or maybe I’m biased as a trainer. Having a dog run through obedience for handfuls of their food is a great way to keep a dog in the mindset of working. Kibble is often perfectly suitable as a reward for training, and many people are missing huge training opportunities by pouring all of that kibble into their dog’s bowl at one time.
This is the exact bait pouch I use, and I highly recommend it. It has metal clasps that keep the pouch open and accessible while in use, and seal it tightly shut when closed. I don’t have to fumble or rummage around with this treat pouch, which makes hand-feeding through training incredibly easy.
Snuffle Mats and Puzzle Toys
Getting a dog to engage their nose is a fantastic way to keep them mentally stimulated. You can make mealtime double as a fun mental activity by buying or making a snuffle mat or taking home some puzzle toys for your dog to work through.
I usually make my own snuffle mats (it’s easier than you might think!) but there are also tons of options available online!
Whenever you choose a dog bowl for your dog, make sure you keep in mind your dog’s routine and eating habits. Each dog bowl (and alternative method) is designed for a specific type of dog feeder. Look for your dog’s size and height before selecting any dog bowl for them, and also take into consideration breed and eating patterns. This way, you can find what’s right for you, your dog, and your lifestyle together.
