Mental Stimulation– Slow feeder bowls, snuffle mats, and treat puzzles can be just plain old entertaining for some dogs who tend to get bored more easily and need more mental stimulation. Slow feeder bowls make them work for their food and navigate around the bowl to reach the kibble 1. Challenge accepted! By the end of the process, we spent 120+ hours researching, testing and reviewing the most popular (and even some unpopular) slow-feed bowls on the market. However, owners have varying views of this product. Some found that overly eager pups were able to break it quite easily, while others found that their clever pets simply found the treats too easily. Pros and Cons of the Outward Hound Interactive Puzzle Dog Bowl Pros

I found that one design, in particular, was suited for the widest range of dogs – big, small and flat-faced… Now, this isn’t to say we are opposed to ceramic slow-feed bowls. If a better performing ceramic slow feeder is released in the future, I’ll declare it the winner of this category. Ethical Pets had an interesting idea. Their Animal Instincts Slow-Feed Bowl features an opening, just like a snail shell. Dogs can worm food around with their nose, and it pops out the side. Unfortunately, this worked better in theory than practice. The high ridges were only suitable for pointier-nosed pups, and the bowl was a no-go for wet food. The bowl also had a sliding problem with the non-skid base failing to hold the bowl in place while our dogs feasted. There are various types of slow feeders on the internet from snuffle mats to puzzle bowls to automatic feeders. Choosing the right one for your dog is no easy feat, however, as long as you understand your dog’s eating habits and personality, you are sure to find one that suits them perfectly. Yes, our dog bowls are versatile and can be used for food and water. We have bowls designed specifically for water, with wider openings and deeper basins, as well as bowls suitable for dry or wet dog food.

The Best Slow Feeder Bowls for Dogs FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) 

Yes, slow feeder bowls are designed to slow your dog's eating speed. These bowls feature ridges or mazes your dog has to navigate to get their food, promoting slower, healthier eating habits.

I really wanted to like the Gobble Stopper because the idea behind it is unique. Instead of buying an entirely new bowl for your dog, you add the Gobble Stopper to your pet’s current bowl, and it obstructs your dog, slowing him down during feeding. Unfortunately, it had one significant flaw – the dog-bone shape basically encourages your dog to chew and lift it. Our larger testers, like Lucy and Cooper, overcame the suction cup in seconds, discarding the Gobble Stopper every time it was added to the bowl. While indigestion is one of the most common symptoms pet parents notice when their dog is eating too fast, there are others that can be even more dangerous. Here's a few reasons it might be best to switch your dog to a slow feeder, according to the American Kennel Club. When bloat strikes, your dog’s stomach twists or swells, which in turn can cut off the blood supply to vital organs. In severe cases, bloat is deadly. However, right now, I see no good reason to choose a ceramic slow feeder over our other recommendations. To say this slow feeder is popular is an understatement. During our research, it was the most recommended slow feeder by dog users and store owners alike.Available in three different heights, this stand easily accommodates dogs of all sizes. The smallest stand is just over four inches tall (for small dogs and cats), while the largest is 12 inches off the ground. However, you’ll want to consider the size of your bowls before purchasing this option. The smallest size can hold two five and a half-inch bowls, the medium size can hold two eight-inch bowls, and the large size can hold two nine-inch bowls. For cleanup, simply wipe down the stand with a damp cloth. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most compelling arguments for using a slow-feed bowl… 1. Are you worried about bloat? Well, you should be!

Promote A Healthy Body Weight – Slow feeders help your dog to slow down when they’re eating and actually chew their food, rather than swallowing it whole. This can improve digestion and help your pup feel fuller sooner, lessening the chances of obesity 1. Slow-feed bowls are most commonly used with dry food. With that said, we also wanted to test their performance with wet and raw foods. I suspect that part of the reason for the popularity is that the Fun Feeder Slo-Bowl by Outward Hound is suitable for a broad range of dogs. With four different styles and two sizes, Outward Hound offers something for big, small and flat-faced dogs – something that no other brand delivered.

Shop Dog Bowls, Cat Bowls and Mats at B&M Stores

The non-skid silicone base did exactly what it claimed, preventing our dogs from pushing their bowl across the floor. The slow-feeder bowls that extended our dogs’ eating by the largest amount of time were the winners. Now that we had our pile of slow-feeder dog bowls, it was time to compare them to each other, to determine which was truly the best. Hannah is a writer at A-Z animals where her primary focus is on reptiles, marine life, mammals, and geography. Hannah has been writing and researching animals for four years alongside running her family farm. A resident of the UK, Hannah loves riding horses and creating short stories. The Best Slow Feeder Bowls for Dogs FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) How do the slow-feed dog bowls achieve that? Well, it’s actually quite clever – the bowl features raised sections that prevent your dog from eating his food all at once.

This article was written by Mary Jo DiLonardo, a dog products reviewer for The Spruce Pets. The proud mom of a rescue dog, she has fostered around 60 dogs and puppies. She always feeds her own dog and her foster pups with slow feeders or snuffle mats. She has tried lots of different bowls and is always looking for the most durable and effective pet products. For more than 25 years, she has covered a wide range of topics focused on nature, pets, science, and anything that helps make the world a better place. IRIS Slow Feeding Dog & Cat Bowls come in options of two neutral colors. We are obsessed with the fact that they offer a short-snout or long-snout option, as well as a 2-cup or 4-cup option. Smart thinkin’! Unfortunately, these are the only bowls on our list that are not dishwasher safe.

Summer Treats For Your Best Friend

Any uneaten food is an invitation for unwanted guests, such as raccoons and squirrels, to set up home in your yard. The best-performing ceramic slow feeder, the Magisso Happy Pet Project Ceramic Bowl, was unsuited for wider snouts and flat faces. The sizing also ran small making this bowl unsuitable for larger dogs. Don’t give up too soon, but be realistic. If a slow feeder is too frustrating for your dog, you may have to try a different type of slow feeder. Switch to an easier design, or try another technique to slow your dog’s eating. Measure how much food your dog eats at one meal then buy a bowl that holds at least that much. If the bowl is too small, then the food will be piled on top, which defeats the purpose of slowing down your pup at dinnertime. To make it more challenging, buy the next size up from what you would normally feed. Does your dog suffer from a medical condition such as arthritis or spinal issues? An elevated dog bowl may provide much-needed relief because your dog will no longer need to bend down as far to reach his food.