12 Best Slow Feed Dog Bowls for Your Pal

Last Updated on April 22, 2023

Many dogs are enthusiastic eaters, some of them eat so much that they give themselves digestive problems from eating too fast. If this sounds like your pet, then you might consider investing in a slow-feed dog bowl. 

With so many options available, with bowls coming in various designs and sizes, it can be challenging to know which is the best one for your pup. Let’s examine some of our favorite slow-feed dog bowls.

Top 5 Picks for Best Slow Feed Dog Bowls in 2021

What are the Best Slow Feed Dog Bowls? 

There are several slow-feed dog bowls on the market. While all designed to stop your pet from gobbling up his food too quickly, they come in various designs, sizes and materials, so you need to decide which one is best for your dog.

Here are 12 of our top picks on Amazon and Chewy:

What are the Best Plastic Slow Feed Dog Bowls? 

Plastic slow bowls are the most common style of slow-feeders for your pooch. These brightly colored bowls often feature intricate maze-like designs that make it challenging for your dog to reach his food.

1. Outward Hound Non-Skid Plastic Slow Feeder Interactive Dog Bowl

Our Rating: 5
Life Stage: Adult
Breed Size: Medium Dogs
Food Type: Dry Food and Wet Food
Maximum Food Capacity: 32 oz.
Material: Plastic

The Outward Hound Slow Feeder Dog Bowl promises to help your dog eat ten times slower. The non-slip base stops the bowl from being pushed around as your pet eats and the solid construction ensures that your dog won’t destroy the bowl in his excitement.

The plastic material is free from BPA, PVC, or phthalates.

Pros

• This slow feeder bowl can be easily cleaned in the dishwasher (top rack only)
• The bowl comes in various designs to suit different breeds of dogs with difficulty levels structured to how challenging the food should be to get out

Cons:

• Although this bowl comes in a mini version, it’s too big for really tiny dogs
• Some pet owners complained the channels were too deep for their dogs to reach the food

CHECK PRICE HERE

2. Dogit Go-Slow Anti-Gulping Dog Bowl

Our Rating: 4.5
Life Stage: Adult
Breed Size: Small to Large Breeds
Food Type: Dry Food and Wet Food
Maximum Food Capacity: 4.7 oz.
Material: Plastic

Four different sizes of the Dogit Dog Bowl Slow Feeder are available to suit breeds of all sizes. Although this dog food bowl can handle both dry and wet food, it’s better suited for sloppy canned foods with watery gravy. 

Pros

• A non-skid base prevents the bowl from slipping around during feeding
• The relatively simple design makes it easier for dogs to lick out wet food than some other more complicated slow feeders

Cons:

• The deep inside ridges make it difficult for flat-faced dogs like bulldogs to reach the bottom of the bowl
• The opening at the bottom makes the bowl easy to lift off the ground but dogs who slide their foot under the bowl can also easily flip it

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3. Outward Hound Fun Feeder Interactive Dog Bowl 

Our Rating: 4.5
Life Stage: Adult
Breed Size: Large Breeds
Food Type: Dry Food and Wet Food
Maximum Food Capacity: 32 oz.
Material: Plastic

This bright bowl is available in a variety of ridge patterns for your dog. With over 1 million bowls sold, Outward Hound is one of the most popular brands on the market.

The high-quality ABS plastic is completely lead and BPA-free to keep your pup safe. 

Pros

• This feeder is dishwasher safe for easy cleaning
• Designed for use with wet, dry, and raw foods, and comes in a variety of colors and designs to prevent different levels of difficulty for your dog

Cons:

• The large sizes have very deep ridges, which makes it especially challenging for your dog to eat and virtually impossible if they have a short nose
• Some clever dogs managed to flip these bowls over

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4. Jasgood Slow Feeding Dog Bowl

Our Rating: 4.5
Life Stage: Puppy
Breed Size: Medium Breeds
Food Type: Dry Food and Wet Food
Maximum Food Capacity: 9 oz.
Material: Plastic

Made from food-safe, high-strength ABS materials, this slow-feed dog bowl is PBA, PVC, and Phthalate free.

The bowl, which comes in various colors and designs, offers a simple design best suited for puppies and dogs that struggle with the maze-like layout of other slow-feed dog bowls.

Pros

• Dogs with short noses will benefit from this simplified design
• This bowl is safe to wash in the dishwasher on the top rack

Cons:

• This bowl is only available in one small size
• Some pet owners complained that the non-slip feet of this bowl easily broke off

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5. Raw Paws Slow Feeder Dog Bowl

Our Rating: 4
Life Stage: Adult
Breed Size: Medium and Large Dog Breeds
Food Type: Dry Food and Wet Food
Maximum Food Capacity: 8 oz.
Material: Plastic

The Raw Paws Slow Feeder Dog Bowl is designed with barriers, making mealtime fun yet challenging for your pets. Ideal for medium and large sized dog breeds, this interactive bowl can help slow down your pup’s eating and can be a feeder puzzle for them to help reduce anxiety, boredom and destructive behaviors.

Pros

• Makes excellent feeding puzzles for pups
• Elderly or flat-faced dogs do well with this bowl due to the simple design

Cons:

• A bit expensive compared to other plastic slow-feeding dog bowls.

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6. Pinjum Dog Bowls Slow Feeder

 

Our Rating: 4.5
Life Stage: Puppy
Breed Size: Small and Medium Breeds
Food Type: Dry Food and Wet Food
Maximum Food Capacity: 16 oz.
Material: Plastic

This slow-feed dog bowl has towers and elongated ridges that help to reduce the speed at which your pet eats as he needs to figure out how to navigate his mouth around the maze-like structure. The bowl is made from eco-friendly ABS material.

Pros

• The ridges are specifically designed to be smooth on the mouth to prevent any scratching
• Anti-skid pads are located on the bottom four sides to prevent the bowl from slipping around

Cons:

• This bowl only comes in one size, so is not suitable for larger dogs

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7. Neater Pet Brands Raised Slow Feeder Dog Bowl

 

Our Rating: 4.5
Life Stage: Adult
Breed Size: Medium Breeds
Food Type: Dry Food and Wet Food
Maximum Food Capacity: 68 oz.
Material: Plastic

This non-skid, dishwasher-safe slow-feed dog bowl is made from BPA and lead-free plastic.

It features a wide, shallow design that makes it an excellent choice for brachycephalic dog breeds. The design features individual pockets, which also control the amount of food your dog is getting super simple.

Pros

• The wide design is more complicated for impatient dogs to tip over
• The shape is split between a food section and a water bowl, so you essentially get two bowls in one

Cons:

• This bowl only comes in one size, so it’s not suitable for larger dogs

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8. The Company of Animals Green Slow Feeder Dog Bowls

Our Rating: 4.5
Life Stage: Adult
Breed Size: Small, Medium, and Large Breeds
Food Type: Dry Food and Wet Food
Maximum Food Capacity: 24 oz.
Material: Plastic

This effective slow feeder is designed to mimic grass, turning mealtime into a challenge for speedy eaters.

Not only will this bowl slow down your dog’s eating, but it will also challenge their mind as they try and figure out how to get to their food, keeping your pet mentally stimulated.

Pros

• The bowl can easily be cleaned in the dishwasher
• The one size can be used for all dogs, regardless of their weight or size

Cons:

• As the bowl is not traditionally shaped with an edge, the food tends to spill out onto the floor

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9. Frisco Bone Shaped Ridges Slow Feed Bowl

Our Rating: 4.5
Life Stage: Puppy and Adult
Breed Size: Medium, and Large Breeds
Food Type: Dry Food and Wet Food
Maximum Food Capacity: 24 oz.
Material: Plastic

The Frisco Slow Feeder Dog Bowl is made with a puzzle-like design that has ridges on its surface, making your pup take his time eating and enjoying his dog food. The material used for this dog bowl is a premium plastic that’s ideal for everyday use.

Pros

• It’s easy to clean with less effort with its dishwasher-safe feature
• Available for medium and large dog breeds
• Affordable

Cons:

• Available only in one size

CHECK PRICE HERE

What are the Best Slow Feed Dog Bowls made of Stainless Steel?

Stainless steel bowls are durable and easy to clean. Even the most destructive chewer will struggle to tear apart a stainless steel dog bowl.

These bowls often have simpler designs due to the material being harder to work with, but there are still some good options on the market to slow down your dog’s feeding times.

Here are a few:

10. Durapet Slow Feed Premium Dog Bowl

Our Rating: 4.5
Life Stage: Adult
Breed Size: Small, Medium, and Large Breeds
Food Type: Dry Food and Wet Food
Maximum Food Capacity: 64 oz.
Material: Stainless Steel

This traditional stainless steel dog bowl takes on the shape of a soup bowl in that it is narrow at the bottom and wider at the top. In the center, there’s a dome to help slow down your pet when eating. 

Pros

• This bowl features a fully rubberized bottom to prevent it from skidding around the floor
• This slow feed bowl is entirely dishwasher safe

Cons:

• As this bowl doesn’t feature the maze-like design of other bowls, it isn’t as effective for slowing down speedy eaters

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11. Mr. Peanuts Interactive Slow Feeder Dog Bowl

Our Rating: 4
Life Stage: Adult
Breed Size: Medium and Large Breeds
Food Type: Dry Food and Wet Food
Maximum Food Capacity: 28 oz.
Material: Stainless Steel

This non-skid dishwasher-safe slow food bowl is BPA and lead-free. This precisely measured simple design can slow down your dog’s feeding by up to three times while still providing access to the food. 

Pros

• Made by a family-owned business that tests their products with their own dogs
• A non-skid silicone base prevents your dog from pushing his bowl around the floor in excitement

Cons:

• Although available in two sizes, tiny dogs may find this bowl too big

CHECK PRICE HERE

What are the Best Slow Feed Dog Bowls made of other Materials?

If you are looking for a more heavy-duty dog bowl, you might consider a heavier bowl made from alternative materials. Here is one great option:

12. Super Design Anti Gulping Dog Bowl Slow Feeder

Our Rating: 4.5
Life Stage: Adult
Breed Size: Small, Medium, and Large Breeds
Food Type: Dry Food and Wet Food
Maximum Food Capacity: 32 oz.
Material: Melamine

This slow-feed dog bowl is made of food-grade melamine material. It’s scratch-resistant with a high gloss finish that stands up to corrosion against acids and alkali foods.

With six colors to choose from, you can stylishly match your bowl with the rest of your pet’s accessories. The bowl features three central ridges that your pet has to try and navigate around.

Pros

• This bowl is available in four different sizes, so you can choose one that suits your dog
• The melamine material is heavier than plastics, so has less chance of tipping over

Cons:

• The design isn’t as complicated as other slow feeders, so it doesn’t slow down your dog quite as much

CHECK PRICE HERE

What are Slow Feed Bowls? Why Use Them for Dogs?

It’s not really possible to teach your dog to eat their food slowly, but you can at least use a slow-feeder dog bowl to make it more challenging for your furry friend to access their food.

A slow-feed dog bowl enables you to slow down your dog’s rate of eating, which will prevent stomach upset caused by eating too fast. 

Not only can eating too fast lead to indigestion, but it can also cause gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV) or bloating. This gas build-up can cause the stomach to twist, which is lethal for your pet.

Slow feeders have ridges, pockets, raised centers, and other design elements. These elements intend to direct feeding into smaller bites and make it harder for your pet to get to their grub, which will minimize the risk of eating too quickly.

How do slow feed dog bowls work? 

Slow feeders help with weight loss for dogs. Dogs have to chase their food around the dish to eat it, which means that they eat at a much slower pace.

This allows their stomach to digest before even finishing the plate. They will therefore feel fuller sooner and, therefore, eat less. 

Dogs that eat at too quick a pace also sometimes end up vomiting, which the slow feed dog bowl will easily prevent. 

Some slow-feed dog bowls that are made from low-quality plastic and other flimsy materials can be dangerous to aggressive chewers as they can bite off small pieces of the bowl and ingest it.

However, that being said, your dog can do this on any other regular plastic food bowl.

Overall, there isn’t any real worry with slow feeding bowls as most are built to withstand chewing.

What Kind of Dog Needs a Slow-Feeding Dog Bowl?

A dog that eats too fast is the type that’s obviously in need of a slow-feeding dog bowl. A slow feeder will further help prevent choking or gagging in addition to indigestion. 

Furthermore, a dog that is obese and needs to lose weight could benefit from a slow-feed dog bowl. The bowl usually serves as portion control, and they will be forced to eat at a much slower pace and subsequently feel full at a much quicker rate.

Finally, a dog that steals food at mealtime could likely also benefit from the bowl.

Complete Best Slow Feeder Dog Bowl Buying Guide

It can be challenging to know which will be the best slow-feed dog bowl for your pet. You want to choose a slow feeder with the right level of difficulty to slow down your pet’s eating while making sure it’s not too tricky that your pet might give up eating.

How to choose a slow-feeding dog bowl?

There are several things to consider when choosing a slow-feed bowl for your dog. These include the following:

• Design: In terms of design, you want to ensure that your dog is challenged and slowed down by the protrusions and obstructions in the bowl’s design. At the same time, you want to make sure he does not lose interest or become destructive towards the bowl. The more complex the design, the slower the feeding time.
• Material: In terms of the material base for your slow feeder, there are options of ceramic, stainless steel, and silicone. Plastic and silicone may be more durable, whereas ceramic or stainless bowls can be better for dogs that need easier bowls while looking stylish in your home.
• Non-Skid Base: Choose a slow feeder that has a non-skid base, so your dog doesn’t end up pushing their bowl all around the house while trying to access their food. A non-skid base also helps keep the bowl on the floor as some clever dogs may try and flip their bowl over to get to their food.
• Capacity: Make sure to use a slow-feed dog bowl with the right capacity proportional to the amount of dog food your dog requires every meal.
• Ease of Cleaning: Make sure to pick out a slow feeder that can be cleaned with relative ease and one that does not get food stuck inside of it. Most products are best washed by hand or can be put in the dishwasher on the top rack.
• Type of Food: Ensure that the kind of food put into the slow feed dog bowl is adequate and is not impossible for your pet to reach. For example, if the kibbles are too large for the bowl, they won’t work, or too sloppy wet food may get stuck in the ridges.

Best Slow Feed Dog Bowls (FAQs)

How do I determine the correct bowl size?

The right-sized bowl for your dog is dependent on the number of cups that you are going to give your dog at mealtime.

Let’s say your dog receives 2 cups of food at mealtime; then you want to choose a food bowl that can hold two to three cups to minimize spilling.

Should dog food bowls be elevated?

Elevated bowls are a good idea for dogs that struggle to eat from bowls closer to the ground. They may reduce the potential for post-meal bloat and are more accessible for older dogs to make use of.

However, make sure that the design of the elevated bowl is well-executed, or you could end up with a mess on your hands.

What are tips for using slow-feeder dog bowls?

You want to make sure that the slow feeder you’re using can give your dog the level of difficulty that will help it eat at the pace that you want.

Try to make it so that the design is not too difficult; otherwise, your dog will simply just give up eating and rather chew on the next thing that grabs its attention. 

Finally, use a slow feed bowl that has the correct capacity for the amount you intend on feeding your dog.

How do I keep my dog from chewing up his slow feed bowl?

It’s probably impossible to try and teach your dog to stop chewing on his bowl as chewing is the only consistent with a dog’s nature. Despite this, you can choose a slow-feed bowl that’s more resistant to chewing.

A stainless-steel bowl, for example, is likely to be more resistant to chewing compared to a plastic slow-feed dog bowl.

How do I clean my slow-feeder dog bowl?

Most slow-feed dog bowls can be cleaned easily by being placed in the top rack of the dishwasher. Other products are probably best washed by hand. It is, therefore dependent on the bowl you have purchased.

What are alternatives to slow-feed bowls?

If you do not want to spend money on a slow-feed dog bowl, then a muffin pan could come in handy as an alternative. It’s as simple as filling up each cup with a small amount of dog food and then serving it to him or her.

Alternatively, placing a tennis ball in your dog’s bowl will force your dog to eat around it, in turn slowing down his mealtime.

Which Slow Feed Bowl is Best for Your Dog?

Does your pet gobble up his dinner in record time? Then you need a slow-feed pet bowl. Plastic bowls offer diverse designs and sizes; however, there are also ceramic, stainless steel, and melamine options. 

No matter which of our top 12 bowls you pick, the idea is to slow down eating so that your pet doesn’t get an upset stomach or experience bloat.

Of course, while you want to choose a bowl that will better control your pet’s eating habits, you don’t want something that stops your pet from eating altogether. 

Do you have one of these bowls for your dog’s food? Let us know in the comments below.