If you have a dog, you might have noticed that they sometimes have the tendency to eat their meals very quickly. This can cause a lot of digestive issues in dogs, causing vomiting or constipation.
Although some dogs like to take their time to eat their food, some dogs won’t be so patient when they’re offered their meals. If you have a dog who does this, you can check out this article on how to slow down a speedy eater to learn more.
A feeder bowl that comes with obstructions to slow down your dog while he’s eating can be an excellent way to go about this. In this article, I talk about the best slow feeder dog bowl you can use according to your dog’s requirements.
Quick Guide
Are you in a hurry? For your benefit, I have put together a list of the best options on this list based on their key characteristics.
Best for Large Dogs: Freefa Slow Feeder Dog Bowl
“Does exactly what I hoped. We adopted a young and hungry German Shepherd who is very food motivated. He quickly grew to 90 lbs with regular feeding, but was still eating too fast. He swallowed air and sometimes vomited his supper. This is the perfect size for him.”
Best for Medium-Sized Dogs: Outward Hound Fun Feeder
“These dog bowls are amazing! This version has larger spaces so it’s easier for my dog to get the food than in the spiral and the flower shaped one, but for a dog with a large snout or bit tongue this is still effective.”
Best for Small Dogs: Noyal Dog Slow Feeder Bowl
“This item is perfect, because one BIG problem I’ve been having lately is that my dog is definitely eating too fast. This bowl has been a lifesaver. Now, it’s taking my dog at least 3 times as long to eat.”
Best Budget: Jasgood Dog Feeder Bowl
“Once he (dog) figured out how to maneuver around the bowl to get all the food it was a pleasant experience. He even stopped eating a couple times, which gave him a chance to breathe and swallow a bit better. Even with the little foot pads he managed to push it around some, but his attempts to flip the bowl over all failed.”
Best Splurge: Super Design Dog Bowl Slow Feeder
“Even the simplicity of this bowl has taken feeding time from less than a minute to more like 5 minutes. I’m thankful we went with this one.”
Slow Feeder Dog Bowl Buyer’s Guide
If you do have time to stick around, my more comprehensive guide to these products can be found below.
1. Outward Hound Fun Feeder
This bowl gets rid of such problems by forming an obstacle that is both challenging and engaging to the dog. It comes with a non-slip base that will prevent it from moving around as your dog tries to navigate the bowl to reach for his food. The bowls are made out of PVC and are phthalate free for a safer diet experience.
This particular model is a large size that can fit four cups of dry kibble. This does not mean that it can be used only for dry food. Both wet food and raw foods can be just as easily used.
The bowl is easy to clean too. It is dishwasher safe, and can be easily put in the top rack of your dishwasher so that you do not have to spend any time or effort cleaning it.
Some reviewers have claimed that not all features of the bowl are as useful as they thought they would be. If you have a large dog, the ridges on the bowl might be too deep for them to reach the food as their snouts won’t fit into it. This might cause a problem while feeding them by causing them to get frustrated.
Specifications
- Brand: Outward Hound
- Color: Purple
- Design: Flower
- Material: Plastic
- Item dimensions: 12.5 x 11 x 2.3 inches
- Item weight: 1.01 pounds
Pros
- Non-slip base prevents bowl from slipping
- Ridges prevent the dog from eating too fast
- Construction is solid and the materials used are safe
Cons
- Ridges and obstacles might be too small for bigger dogs
- If you do not use a dishwasher, cleaning the bowl inside the ridges might be difficult
2. Noyal Dog Slow Feeder Bowl
The bowl is quite small in size, which would not make it a good fit for larger dogs. But for small to medium dogs, the food portion per filling would be a perfect fit. It can fit about 1.5 cups of dry food.
The package comes with four non-slip mats in a suction design. These can be stuck to the bottom of the bowl to ensure that the bowl does not move around while your dog is eating.
The design of the bowl also comes with a broader base than top. This ensures that aggressive dogs are not able to knock the bowl over. Wet foods and dry foods can both be used in the bowl, and it can also go in the top rack of a dishwasher for easier cleaning.
Some verified customers have complained that the suction cups needed for the non-slip properth of the bowl are very difficult to use and attach. This is not a huge problem because the large base of the bowl makes it pretty stable.
Specifications
- Brand: Noyal
- Color: Blue
- Design: Walls
- Material: Plastic
- Item dimensions: 8 x 8 x 1.9 inches
- Item weight: 8.78 ounces
Pros
- Large base and narrower mouth to prevent it from being toppled over
- Wall design prevents dogs from taking too large bites and choking
- Dishwasher top rack safe
Cons
- Not suitable for large dogs due to small size
- Frozen wet food might have to be packed in to fit in properly
3. Jasgood Dog Feeder Bowl
The design of the ridges on the bowl is inspired from nature, and does not have any sharp edges that might end up injuring your dog’s mouth. The natural design of the bowl also imitates the experience of dogs foraging for food in the wild.
The slow experience of eating from this bowl would make your dog feel fuller sooner. This will help in preventing obesity, which is a common problem among dogs that eat too fast.
However, like the last product, this bowl also has a slight problem with the amount of food that can fit in it. It can fit about 1.5 cups of food when it’s completely full, which is not enough for large dogs. If you have a small to medium sized dog this could be the right fit for you.
Another problem you might face with this bowl, as pointed out by verified buyers, is that the rubber feet on the bottom of the bowl that are designed to reduce slipping are not very effective. If your dog is very aggressive this might be an issue.
Specifications
- Brand: Jasgood
- Color: Sky blue
- Design: Walls
- Material: Plastic
- Item dimensions: 7..72 x 7.72 x 1.81 inches
- Item weight: 6.49 ounces
Pros
- Nature inspired design for imitating wild foraging
- Slowing down eating helps dog feel full faster, preventing obesity
- Soft edges to make sure your dog feels safe while eating
Cons
- Does not fit enough food for an entire meal for large dogs, only suitable for small and medium sized dogs
- Rubber attachments on the bottom of the bowl that prevent slipping do not do a great job
4. Freefa Slow Feeder Dog Bowl
Unlike the previous products that had ridges in the middle of the bowl, this bowl has walls that start from the sides and go towards the middle.
This would ensure that your dog gets a proper bite from the middle when he starts eating. Some dogs can get irritated and aggressive if the food isn’t very accessible. Letting them have the first bite easily can help them be calmer during their meal.
To prevent slipping the bowl comes with a widened and upgraded anti-slip base. This will make sure that your dog does not waste food. but also that you will not have to clean up after him if the bowl gets knocked over.
Besides the main bowl you also get a collapsible silicone bowl free with this product. This is to take along with you if you’re going on a trip or camping with your dog and want to feed him some place away from home.
One major complaint that verified buyers have with this product is that the feet on the bottom of the bowl that are supposed to prevent it from slipping can come off easily. An easy workaround for this is to remove them, and place the bowl on a rubber mat for a safer experience.
Specifications
- Brand: Freefa
- Color: Light Blue
- Design: Side Walls
- Material: Plastic
- Item dimensions: 8.23 x 8.11 x 2.32 inches
- Item weight: 10.8 ounces
Pros
- Largest size on the list, great for bigger dogs with 6 cups of kibble capacity
- Top rack dishwasher safe
- Free collapsible silicone bowl with product
Cons
- Not for short snout breeds of dogs
- Feet might come off, making them unsafe
5. Super Design Dog Bowl Slow Feeder
While the other options on the list come in a plastic construction, this bowl is made out of food grade melamine that is not only phthalate free, but also scratch resistant and high gloss for a shinier eating experience for your dogs.
Melamine material is heavier than normal plastic so the bowl is more difficult to throw around if you have an aggressive dog. With 1.5 cups of kibble capacity, this bowl is an excellent fit for small to medium sized dogs. The ridges present on the inside of the bowl ensure that slow eating occurs even in gulpers.
Specifications
- Brand: Super Design
- Color: Black
- Design: Walls
- Material: Melamine
- Item dimensions: 7.48 x 7.48 x 2.76 inches
- Item weight: 0.39 pounds
Pros
- Best quality melamine used in construction ensures sturdiness and durability
- Scratch resistant and high gloss
- Rubberized bottom for non-skid quality
Cons
- Size not enough for large dogs
- Most expensive item on the list
The Final Word
Making your dog eat their food slower will prevent multiple digestive problems and improve their long-term health. Using a slow feeder dog bowl is an excellent way to ensure this.
For this buying guide, I have reviewed the best options available today to help you make an informed decision about which would be the best slow feeder dog bowl for your needs. If you’re interested in similar topics, please feel free to check out my other articles, buying guides, and reviews as well!
And as always, Live, Love, Laugh, and Scratch our bellies often!
Love you guys,
JTB
P.S. If you’re new to this world, you may want to check out my Ultimate Guide for First Time Dog Parents. It’s a great reference to get you started on this journey.
This article has been reviewed by our Editorial Board and has been approved for publication in accordance with our Editorial Policies.
