How to choose a Dog Bowl
Looking for the latest advances in dog bowl technology? Dogs come in all different types and sizes. And feeding your pooch is no longer just a matter of plopping the food into a dish on the floor.
Breakthroughs in ergonomic technology are happening in all areas of our lives. And there’s no reason why our four legged friends shouldn’t benefit from them, too!
As part of our mission to help dog owners provide the very best care possible for their canine pals, we here at Wicked have gathered together all the information you’ll need to make the right selection for your specific pooch.
There’s some creative new thinking in the design of your dog’s eating dish that targets the individual needs and requirements of your type of dog.
These new dog bowl designs take into account not only cleanliness and convenience for your dog, but also how position and comfort effect the sensitive digestive system of domesticated dogs.
Choosing a Bowl That Fits!
Dog bowls have come a long way. And there are certainly a good number of options to choose from. But it’s always best to consider your dog’s unique physical attributes first.
Short nosed-dogs and puppies will do best eating from a shallow dog bowl. You want to make sure that your puppy doesn’t damage his sensitive throat while diving into a deep dish for the last few pieces of kibble.
Where long-nosed dogs could easily use a deep dog bowl. If your dog’s feeding area is a little cramped, you to can take advantage of the vertical space by using a taller, narrower dog bowl.
For long-eared dogs like the Basset Hound and the Cocker Spaniel a steep sided dog bowl with a narrower opening is essential to keep their ears from falling into their food or water.
Your dog’s ears, when dampened or covered with dog food, create the perfect environment for dog ear mites to thrive. For the continued good health of your dog it’s always best to avoid these conditions.
Vets recommend that large or tall dogs be fed from an elevated feeder. Eating at a more natural level will help to minimize bloat and digestive problems.
Not having to crouch down to eat also reduces strain on your dog’s joints and muscles. And an elevated feeder will certainly provide some welcome relief for an arthritic senior dog.
In the end the type of dog bowl you choose should be based on your dog’s individual needs.
Types Of Dog Bowls
Which one would be best for your dog? Let’s start by reviewing the most common types and styles of dog bowls.
Dog bowls are most commonly made from
∑ Stainless steel
∑ Ceramic
∑ Plastic.
There are pros and cons to each as well.
Stainless Steel Feeding Bowls
Top on our list is the stainless steel dog bowl. These bowls are usually not high on style ... but are easy to clean & sanitize, long lasting, and nearly indestructible.
If your darling pooch is hard on his dog bowl you may want to consider a set of stainless steel dog bowls.
One of our dogs used to consider her empty bowl fair game. If it wasn’t full of food or water ... it was hers to destroy.
After she completely destroyed her first plastic dish we bought her a set of stainless steel bowls. She was never able to damage them ... but she still loved to work them over every now and then.
This brings up another good feature. Look for a dog bowl that’s wider at the bottom than the top ... they’re harder for a dog to tip or knock over. You could also try a weighted bowl. But if your dog is really determined, these features may just slow her down a bit.
A non-skid bottom is also another plus ... but again it may not last very long if you have a dog like ours.
Ceramic Feeding Bowls
Ceramic bowls are available in many stylish designs and colors so it’s easy to coordinate them with a room’s décor. And many times you can also get a dog treat jar to match the bowls!
A ceramic bowl is also heavier than stainless steel or plastic which makes it less prone to tipping or sliding across the floor as your dog eats his dinner.
One downside to a ceramic dog bowl is that it’s a very porous material. It’s best to clean and sanitize a ceramic dog bowl regularly.
A cracked or chipped bowl is a perfect breeding ground for unwelcome bacteria ... so it’s recommended that you replace a bowl that has become chipped or cracked.
So, if your dog likes to get rough with his food bowl ... or thinks it’s a toy when empty ... or is just not very graceful ... then maybe a ceramic dish is not the best choice.
Plastic Feeding Bowls
Plastic bowls are lightweight, unbreakable and they’re available in a wide variety of colors.
But if your dog is a chewer ... then a plastic dog bowl is probably not a good choice.
Depending on the breed and her determination she could easily destroy it ... and swallow some of those little plastic pieces. You’d be much better off with a stainless steel bowl.
The Low Down on Feeders & Waterers
Self-Feeders
Do you keep your dog’s bowl full of kibble around the clock and let her “feed at will”?If so you may really like the convenience of a self-feeder. Just fill it up and it will continuously dispense dry kibble for your pooch.
A self-feeder is not a good option for a dog that gobbles up her food just because it’s in her bowl. Letting this type of dog “feed at will” will most likely quickly lead to obesity.
Automatic Feeders
If you have an irregular schedule, why make your pooch wait for her meals?
With a programmable dog feeder you can set it to dispense food at certain times of the day. Great for dog owners with varied schedules who don’t have a pet sitter at their disposal.
Continuous Flow Water Bowls
These are fantastic! If you’re ever worried that your pooch will run out of water when you’re away from home consider getting a continuous flow water bowl.
My dog Max can be quite clumsy at times ... knocking over his water bowl seemed to be part of his daily routine.
Since I switched from a regular water dish to a self-watering system I don’t worry about him running out of water anymore.
If he knocks into it and some water splashes out, his dish is automatically refilled from the reservoir.
