Dog Bowl or feeders - What Is Best For Your Pet?

Feeding time for dogs is one of the happiest times of day, but finding the right dog raised bowl for your pet's needs is a slightly trickier task to get right. There are a lot of options available, but which one is best for your pooch?

Plastic bowls
Plastic dog bowls are one of the cheapest types of dog bowl available, which as well as being easy to clean, is the big selling point of this type of product. However, plastic bowls aren't usually the best option as they can be easily chewed on to leave sharp edges and places for bacteria to grow.

Ceramic bowls
This is another variation of feeding bowl available. Although ceramic bowls can look good because of their usually decorated design, there is a greater likelihood of these breaking, which could hurt your pooch. As with plastic bowls, even small cracks can be an ideal place for bacteria to multiply.

Metal bowls
The durability of stainless steel dog bowls makes them the chosen option for many dog owners. Being dishwasher safe means they are easily cleaned and often, there is a rubber ridge around the base to stop them slipping. Metal feeding bowls aren't chewable and won't break if dropped, so owners can rest assured that their pets won't get hurt using them.

Travel bowls
Travel dog bowls are perfect for the pooch that's on the go. Travel bowls are usually compact and foldable and options include silicone types and canvas types with a lining made of waterproof material. These are extremely portable and great to have on walks or days out so that your canine can stay hydrated and well-fed. Being collapsible, they also take up very little space in a bag, so are a doggy essential.

Non-spill bowls
Non-spill bowls are types that are very hard to tip over. This is achieved because they are usually very heavy, or have a huge lip on the base so they cannot easily be picked up in a dog's mouth. Alternatively, there are some non spill dog bowls that ingeniously involve the use of a floating plate with small holes in it to allow enough water to come through for a dog to drink, but which inhibits the sudden flow or surge of water, so that non is spilt. This type of bowl is perfect for use on long car journeys, for example, or simply if your pooch has a mischievous tendency that otherwise leaves your home in a pool of water!

Automatic bowls
Dog Automatic Feeders are another variety, but one which is best used for water as opposed to food. This is because as long as the container is stocked up, a dog will be able to eat continuously, which will not be good for its long term health. On the other hand, there are automatic dog bowls with timers available, which can be used to keep food, as owners are able to programme when the bowl's lid will open. A benefit of this type of feeder is that if a dog needs to be fed at a time when the owner can't be around, then the pooch does not have to wait. Both crunchy and soft foods are kept fresh in this type of dog bowl, so it is a very handy gadget to have at home.

Bowls for slower eating
If, like many dogs, your canine's food seems to be gone in a second, then it might be worth trying a dog bowl that it specifically designed to slow eating down. Eating too fast can cause serious health problem in dogs, and these feeding bowls make it a bit more of a challenge for them to get their food. Sometimes narrow sections or obstacles are part of the bowl, which prohibits dogs getting their whole mouth into the bowl, forcing them to take smaller mouthfuls. The effectiveness of these bowls certainly depends on the dog's type, mouth shape and eating style and owners may need to experiment with a few until the most effective one is found. Alternatively, there are also feeding bowls that have been designed as interactive games, so not only will your pooch have to work for his dinner, but it will keep him entertained too. By completing simple tasks to uncover food, a dog is mentally stimulated and will be caused to eat more slowly.

With such a variety of dog feeding bowls on the market, finding one to suit both your and your pet's needs will be easily achieved so both of you can look forward to happy mealtimes.