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Yes, the food you put in your dog’s bowl matters. But so does the bowl you use. Some breeds tend to overeat, while nearly all breeds make quite a mess while they eat and drink. Depending on your dog’s size and eating habits, a special dog dish may help it eat more comfortably and safely.
Best Dog Bowls By Category
We’ve reviewed various dog dishes to help you find the best fit for your pup. Does your dog eat too fast? Does he or she make a huge mess? Our reviews include the best dog water bowl, food bowl, slow feed dog bowl reviews, and small and large dog bowls.
Article Overview
Best Dog Food Bowls
Best Basic: Mlife Stainless Steel Dog Bowl (Set of 2)
Are you looking for a no-frills, traditional bowl for your pet? This set of two stainless steel bowls are scratch and rust-resistant, so they’ll withstand the test of time. The removable rubber base reduces scratches on the floor and keeps the bowl from sliding around while eating.
It comes in four different sizes so that you can find the best one for your pup. They stack for easy storage and are dishwasher safe.
For under $15, you can’t beat the value of these bowls. Plus, if you and your pet don’t love them, they’ll give you your money back!
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Automatic Feeder: PetSafe Healthy Pet Simply Feed Automatic Feeder Review
Are you away from home when your dog needs feeding? This automatic pet feeder is the solution for you to feed your dog or cat while you’re away.
You can schedule up to 12 meals a day with this feeder, although your pet probably doesn’t need to eat 12 times a day! The portion can range from 1/8 cup for 4 cups.
There is also a Slow Feed Mode that dispenses meals larger than 1/8 cup over a 15 minute period to keep your pet from eating too fast.
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See This Automatic Pet Feeder In Action
See the Slow Feed Mode in action with Rocco testing it in the video below.
Elevated: Suncast Elevated Feeding Tray Review
Raised dog food bowls and dog bowl stands save not only your dog’s neck but also your back. If your dog has a dog food bowl stand, neither of you have to bend over as far to reach the container. Your canine will love having its food closer to its height, and you can refill and wash the stainless steel containers easily. (Product can also be used for cats.)
The only con we could find is that the stand isn’t the most sturdy. However, most reviews we read from customers stated the raised dog bowls were still worth the additional cost.
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Pricing & Tech Specs
- Large: $41.02
- 4″ x 13″ x 22″
Slow Feeder: Outward Hound Fun Feeder Review
Does your dog inhale its food before you’re even finished pouring it? Slow them eating down with this slow feed dog bowl. This slow eating dog bowl is designed like a maze for your dog’s food.
Not only do these bowls slow your dog down, but they also prevent him or her from bloating, regurgitating, and overeating. This dish holds up to four cups of dog food and is the best slow feed dog bowl.
Our dog eats so fast that he chokes himself, so we got this bowl to slow him down. He now eats at a normal pace, and the dog trainer also told us that it is will help to tire out his super active puppy brain! Win-win. – Michelle S., Canine Journal
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Personalized
If you’d like to personalize your dog’s food bowl with his or her name on it or some other element, check out this 3D printed dog bowl that can be completely customized for your pet. (Bowls will also work well for cats.)
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Best Dog Water Bowls
Filtered Water Bowl: IRIS Pet Water Fountain Review
Your pet deserves the best. That’s why you should get it its very own water fountain, supplying a steady stream of fresh, filtered water. Place the pump inside the chamber, add the filter, fill with water, and plugin to start serving filtered water that helps prevent urinary and digestive disorders.
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Automatic Water Bowl: Petmate Pet Cafe Waterer Review
This dog water dispenser has a gravity feed design to dispense the water for your pet without spilling or overflowing the dish. This dog water bowl is inexpensive, and it performs well which is why it’s our pick for the best automatic dog water bowl. Bonus – it was designed in the USA.
The only downside we found is that it can be difficult to clean.
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- 3 Gallon: $24.53
Heated Water Bowl: K&H Manufacturing Thermal-Bowl Review
If your pup is outside during the winters, this is the pet water dispenser for you. This bowl keeps water from freezing, even at -20°F. The 5’6″ electrical cord is chew resistant for your pet’s safety. The Thermal Bowl is energy efficient, using only 25 watts of energy.
This is the ideal heated dog bowl for pets who spend a lot of time outside.
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Best Pet Bowl Accessories
Collapsible Dog Bowl: Comsun Collapsible Dog Bowl Review
This collapsible dog bowl can hold food or water on the go. The bowl is made of silicone, which makes it easy to wipe the bowl clean after use. The bowl is ideal for you if you need to give your pup food or water on the go.
Since it’s collapsible, it takes up less space for travel. Attached is a carabiner for you to hook the bowl onto a bag, your belt, or something else.
I purchased these for my dog to use when we travel or go for long runs. It’s nice to have a collapsible bowl to pour water into and something that is compact so it doesn’t take up much space when traveling.
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Pricing & Tech Specs
- Large 2-Pack: Check Amazon for availability
- 5.1″W x 2.1″H
- 0.5″ when compact
Dog Food Mat: PetFusion Pet Food Mat Review
Does your dog’s food bowl move all over the house when they are eating? Sounds like they need a mat to keep her bowl in place. This dog bowl mat is made out of silicone and is easy to clean.
The mat has anti-slip bumps on both the top and bottom sides to keep it and the bowls from sliding. It also has a raised outer lip to prevent food and water from spilling off the mat and is the best pet food mat.
The photo pictured is of my dog’s setup. She likes to lick her food bowl clean and it can end up in the middle of the room sometimes. Ever since we started using the mat, the bowl stays in place.
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No-Spill Pet Bowl & Mat Set: WESEN Dog Bowl With No-Spill Mat Review
It never fails, every time your dog goes over to their food they make a mess and the bowl ends up halfway across the room. That’s probably why you’re looking for a spill-proof (and slide-proof) dog bowl and mat set.
The two removable, no-spill containers are top-shelf dishwasher-safe and rust-resistant. The silicone mat folds in half with the bowls collapsing inside each other for storage or transportation. There is an elevated lip around the edge of the mat that keeps spills off the floor. This set comes in two sizes, so it is likely to work for most dog sizes.
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How To Pick A Dog Bowl
Consider your options and make a list of what your dog’s needs are to choose from the best dog food bowls. Does he or she need something to help keep the dish in place? Are they outside and need water to keep from turning to ice? Ask yourself these questions and more.
What To Put In Your Dog’s Bowl
While on the hunt for the best dog food bowl, we suggest you reevaluate the food you’re feeding your dog. All-natural, grain-free, holistic, raw diets and dog food from big-name companies like Taste of the Wild and Blue Buffalo are all options you’ll want to consider.
Keep in mind that if you do choose to change your dog’s food to something new, that you’ll want to transition food slowly to ensure your dog doesn’t get sick.
Or maybe you are considering a fun alternative to water to jazz things up for your pup? Learn which drinks are unsafe for your canine companion, but also take the time to find some drinks for dogs that may be new to you (dog wine??).
Don’t forget that dog food can go stale, so make sure you have a good storage container.
What are your dog’s eating habits?
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This is a decent round up of bowls, thanks for this. The filtered water one is interesting – although I’m not convinced dogs actually need their water filtered to be honest – they generally have cast iron stomachs, able to handle all sorts of things that are inedible to humans. With the slow feeders, perhaps you can split it into small, medium and large dogs. In my experience large dogs do better with a simple slow feeder with a bit of weight behind it. This works well for large dogs, such as labs or german shepherds.
With an arts/journalism degree you are not qualified to be making food recommendations. Grain free/ RAW diets have a direct correlation to dilated cardiomyopathy in young, otherwise healthy dogs. Your suggestions moving forward should be to speak with a qualified Veterinary Nutritionist or General Paractitioner to be sure that dogs are being provided all of the necessary nutrition required for their age, breed and medical needs.
We’re not suggestions any specific diets for any dogs. What a pet parent chooses to feed their dog is between them and their vet. We’re informing our readers of the different diets that are commonly mentioned. I fully understand that I’m not qualified to make any diet recommendations because I’m not a licensed vet, which is why when pet parents ask for recommendations we tell them to speak with their vet. Please do not misunderstand us informing our readers as us suggesting a diet for their dog to them because that is not what we’re doing.
For a no spill dog dish option, we LOVE the Neater Feeder Express! The dish is elevated for our large dog, and the water drips through the holes to a bottom catch-basin, and side walls prevent splashing onto the floor and walls. The food also stays contained when knocked out of the bowl. And the entire thing can go in the dishwasher. They say it is compatible with a slow feeder and polar bowl, but we don’t have a need for that. We went from cleaning up mess around the dog bowls 3-4 times per day to just sweeping and washing in the dishwasher every 2-3 days. It’s pretty fabulous!
Wow, those are some fancy bowls! I like the automatic one but my dog is so smart, she might figure out how to push the buttons and feed herself, JK lol. That’s a great idea for those long days at work that I can’t always be home to feed her on time. Will be worth the price I’m sure, and my Daisy deserves it anyways, she is a spoiled princess 🙂