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The bringer of tasty meals and much needed hydration, your dog's bowl is an essential fixture in their lives.
Which dog bowl will look stylish in your home? Which are easy to wash and won't skid around your kitchen floor leaving a trail of dog debris to clean up ? Which are best for picky dogs, pint-sized pooches and big breeds ?
Well fear not, we’ve sought out the best dog bowls this year has to offer.
From ceramic creations to eco-friendly dishes, we take a look at the most stylish and functional dog bowls in the UK.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Our Top Picks for Dog Bowls
2. Best Slow Feeder - SodaPup
How to Choose the Best Dog Bowl
A good dog bowl is an investment in terms of your dog's health and wellbeing. We'd suggest that you start by considering what the type of eater your dog is, whether they lick their bowl clean, toss their food about or are generally very fussy.
Do you simply want a dog food bowl to feed your dog or do you want a bowl that will look stylish in your kitchen too?
Is eco-friendly important, is dishwasher safe a deal-breaker or is your main aim to simply slow down your guzzling pup?
This is definitely not a one-size-fits-all solution. You can judge for yourself whether you like the look and we'll fill you in as best we can on size, materials, hygiene and of course, the pros and cons of each style.
Photo by Karsten Winegeart on Unsplash
Features to Consider
Before you read on, let's look at some features you may want to think about -
Material
The cheapest dog bowls tend to be plastic but if you have a 'chewer', a metal or ceramic bowl maybe a better long term choice.
Ceramic bowls can help to keep the food cooler for longer, so if you dish up raw food this maybe a consideration. Metal or stainless steel, a firm favourite with dog lovers, are very hygienic and easy to wash but can look rather functional.
A fairly new innovation are eco-friendly bamboo bowls. These are surprisingly sturdy, well designed and great for your carbon paw-print.
Size
Most of the dog bowls we feature are available in multiple sizes to suit a range of breeds. We provide information on the bowl diameter, width and capacity to help you select the most suitable size for your four-legged friend.
Raised Dog Bowl
If you have an older dog, a raised dog bowl can help with their digestion. Specifically designed to bring food closer to your dogs mouth, your four-legged friend doesn’t need to bend down so far.
They have the added benefit of keeping the bowl in one place, so if you have a messy eater, raised dog bowl stands can help you to keep your floor clean.
We've included a couple of our favourite raised dog bowls in this review, but if you are interested in exploring more raised dog bowls, checkout our Top 10 Raised Dog Bowls Review
Slow Feeder
Specially designed slow feeder bowls can encourage the greediest of dogs to eat at a slower pace by making them forage around the bowl for their food. This in turn reduces the risk of bloating and generally improves your dog's gut health.
Again, we've included a couple of recommended slow feeder dog bowls in this Top 10, but more options are available in our Best Slow Feeder Dog Bowls Review
Our Top Picks for Dog Bowls 2024
1. Best Bowl for Most Dogs
Scruffs Ceramic
The popular UK brand Scruffs are better known for their premium dog beds and accessories, but they have recently launched a superb collection of dog bowls.
Their dog bowl range is crafted from heavy stoneware with thick sides to prevent chipping and because they are heavier, they're almost impossible to tip over.
Clearly bite resistant these bowls are ideal if you have a 'chewer' at home. Built to stand the test of time, they should save money in the long run as they won't need replacing.
Matched with cool looks on the design front, they have simple lines, gorgeous muted colours so make an incredibly stylish dog bowl.
Needless to say, they are easy to clean as they're both dishwasher and microwave safe.
Their collection has four different ranges, Classic, Icon, Reactive Glaze & Scandi and they're available in four beautiful understated tones - blue, cream, grey and pink.
With sizes and shapes aimed at all breeds from flat faced to long eared spaniels their collection is definitely worth a look.
NEW - Scruffs also offer a range of mats alongside food and treat storage sets.
We recommend Scruffs new range of ceramic dog bowls because they have an ageless design, incredibly easy to clean, long-lasting and are amazingly great value. For their first collection of dog bowls, we think they've nailed it ! |
Dimensions | Capacity :
Varies depending on style from the XS My First - 13 x13 x5cm |0.4L to L Classic 19 x 19 x 8 | 1.6L
Reasons to Buy
+ Modern stylish design
+ 4 range options
+ Size & colour options
+ Won't tip over
+ Bite-resistant
Reasons to Avoid
- If your dog prefers a raised bowl
Buying Options
2. Best Slow Feeder
SodaPup
If you haven't come across SodaPup, we recommend taking a closer look at their selection of slow feeders (they call them eBowls, which stands for enrichment bowls), chew toys and treat dispensers.
Throughout their entire product range, SodaPup focus on beauty and originality in their designs.
Designed with a series of individual hexagonal chambers, this Honeycomb eBowl is perfect for preventing your dog from eating their entire bowl in just a couple of mouthfuls.
And what's more it's ideal for serving wet and dry foods together without making a mess.
By creating patterns with multiple enclosed spaces, their bowls are more challenging for your dog.
SodaPup's range of designs includes Mandala, Wave (inspired by theJapanese wood print "The Great Wave Off Kanagawa") and Water Frog eTrays. They each feature slightly shallower trough depths than the Honeycomb design, but still offer a challenge for your dog to reach their food.
Better still you can simply pop these bowls on the top rack of your dishwasher or wash in warm soapy water so perfect for dealing with wet and raw dog foods which can easily get stuck in the ridges. It's also worth noting that their range of eBowls are also freezer and microwave safe.
We love all their designs, but our favourite has to be the Honeycomb e-Bowl for it's sheer ease of adding different food types.
What's in our bowl ?
🥩 Naturaw - raw dog food
🥦 Broccoli
🐟 Sprats
🍃 Spinach
🥚 Eggshell
🥕 Carrot & raspberries
🦷 Egg with Dogs Lounge - Chomper - natural plaque & tartar remover
🦴 Greek Yoghurt
🐟 Buddy & Lola - Super Tummy Daily chew - advanced Pre and Probiotic
Dimensions (diameter) : 20cm
Reasons to Buy
+ Designed to challenge
+ Wide range of designs
+ Individual chambers
+ Ideal for serving wet & dry food
Reasons to Avoid
- Not suitable for flat-faced breeds
- Only one size
3. Best Eco-Friendly Bowls
United Pets
United Pets are an Italian brand offering a range of pet products for the modern dog lover.
Their range includes the funky Pappy dog bowl in a range of gorgeous pastel colours which really stands out from the crowd.
The simple design incorporates a bone-shaped hand hold to make picking the bowl up easy.
The design has a balanced depth to width ratio to help keep the food in the bowl.
Better still the Pappy bowl is eco-friendly as it's made with 100% recycled plastic.
Easy to clean, they are dishwasher proof and microwaveable. Available in three sizes and a range of beautiful colours to suit your home.
We think that if you're looking for a well designed, planet friendly dog bowl to lower your paw print, then United Pets Pappy Dog Bowl fits the bill. |
Dimensions : (base diameter, depth)
S -18cm, 7cm | M - 25cm, 9cm | L - 30cm, 10cm
Reasons to Buy
+ Eco-friendly
+ Non-slip bowl
+ Choice of colours
+ Great value
Reasons to Avoid
- If your dog prefers a raised bowl
Buying Options
4. Best for Flat-Faced Breeds
EasyEat
Recent finalists of the Pet Industry Federation Awards 2023, EastEat is an innovative raised feeding solution, designed specifically for brachycephalic or flat-faced breeds such as Pugs and Bulldogs (although other breeds may love it too)
The raised base elevates the bowl to a more natural position, whilst the wide, lowered front edge makes it much easier for your dog to reach their food.
During testing, the EasyEat performed well and our gorgeous French Bulldog tester - Elsie really enjoyed eating from it.
She was more comfortable eating from the bowl and ate her meal in one go as opposed to returning to her food several times.
Our human tester loved the EasyEat saying it was super easy to clean.
The insert can be removed and thrown in the dishwasher. We also loved the matt cream finish which should fit in easily with most kitchen decors. As dog bowls are often on display throughout the day it's a good idea to get one that looks nice.
Admittedly, there are other trough style feeders on the market, notably Fluff Trough which we have also tested and reviewed, but the EasyEat has some unique design features -
⭐️ Handles
Rounded integral handles make it easy to pick up from the floor
⭐️ Stackable
In multiple dog homes, the EasyEat stacks so needs less space when not in use.
⭐️ Colour Options
Gorgeous pastel colours including sage green and pink.
You can even opt to have the EasyEat personalised, with your dog's name printed on the side.
The one observation our tester made was that some of the dry food spilt over the front at meal times. It's worth pointing out that the EasyEat is fairly small and maximum food amounts are : dry -180g, raw - 250g and wet - 220g.
Dimensions : (front height, back height x width)
Standard - 14, 20 x 27.5cm
Reasons to Buy
+ Ideal for flat-faced breeds
+ Easy to clean
+ Integral curved handles
+ Personalisation available
+ Stackable
Reasons to Avoid
+ Not the largest trough style feeder
Buying Options
For 10% off the EasyEat Feeder- use discount code BARK10
Anything else I should know ? |
If you like the idea of this style of feeder but have a larger dog, why not read our Fluff Trough detailed review - Flat-Faced Dog Bowl Review : Fluff Trough |
5. Best for Long-Eared Breeds
Mason Cash
The Mason Cash Non Tip Lettered Dog Bowl is an ideal solution for your long-eared dog.
Often referred to as 'spaniel bowls', this conical shaped bowl ensures that your dog's long ears will not get covered in food perfect if you feed raw or wet food.
The unique design leaves the ears on the outside of the bowl at all times which is ideal for so many dog breeds.
On the other hand, it works well for greedy guzzlers.
The shape of the bowl slows your dog down as they need to work hard to get to every morsel from the inner corners.
Crafted from heavy stoneware, this bowl won't move around your floor or tip over however vigorously your dog enjoys their food.
We particularly love the Cane lettered dog bowls, they have a certain traditional feel about them and the muted colour won't look out of place in most dog lovers kitchen.
It's worth mentioning that if you're not keen on this particular bowl design, Mason Cash have an extensive range of traditional and modern dog bowls.
Dimensions : (diameter x height)
Standard - 21 x 8.5 cm
Reasons to Buy
+ Ideal for long-eared breeds
+ Heavy Stoneware
+ Non-chip
+ Traditional design
Reasons to Avoid
+ Shape only available in brown
Buying Options
6. Best Ceramic Slow Feeder
Magisso
This beautiful range of ceramic bowls has a minimalist design and is available in a striking range of colours from Magisso, a multi-award winning design agency.
All their dog products are designed to be 'breathtakingly beautiful and delightfully problem solving', well these bowls certainly hit the mark.
Their simple design with the raised centre keeps your dog engaged for longer whilst they work their way around the bowl and they'll look stylish in your kitchen too.
The feature that makes the Magisso range of bowls stand out from the crowd is their cooling properties. Soak or run the bowl under cold water for 45 seconds and it turns ice cold for several hours.
This helps to keep fresh and wet food fresh for longer. What a great feature!
Dishwasher safe, they're easy to keep clean. Designed to be used with wet or dry foods and available in three sizes.
If you've looking for a beautifully designed dog bowl for a greedy guzzler, we recommend taking a closer look at the Magisso range. |
Dimensions - (diameter x depth) :
S -13 x 3.5cm | M -15 x 6.5cm | L -20 x 8.3cm
Reasons to Buy
+ Stylish design
+ Colour options
+ Size options
+ Keeps food and water cool
Reasons to Avoid
- Not a non-slip base
Buying Options
7. Best Puppy Starter Set
Pecute
Meal times can get a little messy for puppies with the bowls and food flying around your kitchen floor.
Pecute stock a double set of small bowls sitting in a mat which make an ideal starter set for puppies.
Taking the hassle and mess out of meal times, these stainless steel bowls are removable and dishwasher safe.
The design incorporates a silicone mat which not only stops the bowls from tipping over, the raised lip of the mat helps to catch any spills.
Ultimately these bowls from Pecute are a clever design and even include a free scoop to measure your pup's meals.
Available in grey or brown and three sizes.
We recommend Pecute dog bowls for dog lovers looking for a starter dog bowl set for puppies who can make a real mess ! |
Dimensions :
Medium mat 45 x 26cm (bowls 400ml)
Large mat 47.5 x 28cm (bowls 750ml)
X- Large mat 55 x 34cm (bowls 750 + 1600ml)
Reasons to Buy
+ Integral mat
+ Ideal for puppies
+ Ideal for messy eaters
Reasons to Avoid
+ Functional design
8. Best Large Dog Bowls
Peggy11
Admittedly, metal bowls lack the designer looks but what's undeniable is that they are extremely popular, durable, hygienic and a breeze to keep clean.
As stainless steel is so much lighter than ceramic it's an ideal material to make extra-large dog bowls.
US company Peggy11 offer an extra large dog bowl which has a 3.8l capacity and measures 28cm diameter by 11cm depth, now that is big !
These stainless steel dog bowls are designed with a non-skid pad on the base to prevent movement and spilling.
So if your dog likes to push their bowls around your kitchen floor, these could be an ideal solution.
The wide, flat rim makes it really easy for us humans to pick these dog bowls up from the floor and importantly, they're dishwasher safe.
A practical and inexpensive option that will stand the test of time. The only downside is the lack of colour or design options. Available as a 2 pack in 3 different sizes to suit small to extra large breeds.
We recommend PEGGY11 bowls for those dog lovers looking for simple, extra large, no-nonsense and hygienic dog bowls. |
Dimensions : (outer edge diameter x depth) :
S 17.5 x 6cm | M 21 x 7cm | L 23.8 x 8cm | XL 28 x 11cm
Reasons to Buy
+ Non-slip silicone base
+ Wide rims
+ 3 sizes
Reasons to Avoid
+ Lacks designer looks
9. Best Bowl & Mat Set
Pet Impact
We love these sustainable bowls and non-slip mats from eco-friendly company - Pet Impact.
Incredibly these natural pet bowls are crafted from bamboo fibre and cornstarch so they are a sustainable and planet friendly option.
They're also surprisingly tough and chew resistant. We loved the well thought-out silicone mats which come with your dog’s bowl.
The mat has a raised ring in the centre which holds the bowl in place so it's stable. They also have a raised rim around the edge to prevent water and food spilling onto your floor.
You can buy the bowls individually or as a set of two and they're available in three sizes.
The only downside for us, was the large Pet Impact branding on the bowl and the fact that they're only available in one colour.
If your dog is a greedy guzzler, Pet Impact also offer a slow feeding bowl too which we feature in our Best Slow Feeder Dog Bowls Review
Dimensions : (diameter) :
S - 15cm | M - 18.5cm | L - 23.5cm
Reasons to Buy
+ Eco-friendly option
+ Protects floors
+ Available individually or as a set
Reasons to Avoid
+ Pricier option
+ One colour
+ Pet Impact branding
10. Best Single Raised Bowl
Dogit 2-in-1
This modern raised dog bowl from Dogit combines a stainless steel inner bowl with a melamine outer.
We love that this raised dog bowl comes in two parts, so the inner bowl can be removed for filling and cleaning in the dishwasher.
It's worth noting that the stainless steel inner bowl isn't the full depth of the melamine outer, it offers a shallower feeding bowl.
The inner bowl nestles snuggly in the outer, ensuring your pup's paws or nose doesn't tip it over. The non-slip base ring makes sure it stays right where it needs to be.
Better still the thoughtful design of the base includes two curved sections which help you pick it up. Available in a range of vibrant colours in two size options.
Dimensions : (height, capacity) :
S - 16 cm, 300ml | L - 17cm, 900ml
Reasons to Buy
+ Removable feeding bowl
+ Two size options
+ Colour options
Reasons to Avoid
- Feeding bowl on the small side
Our Verdict
Your choice of dog bowl is ultimately down to personal taste, whether you like the design and if it fits well with your home decor. You know your dog best after all, if you have an easy-going dog then any of the options we featured will work well.
Looking for something stylishly simple and functional ? Then we recommend taking a look at Scruffs Ceramic Bowls .Their wide collection of muted colours and bowl shapes offer something for every dog.
If you would like to slow down mealtimes or give your dog a much needed mental challenge then we think you'll love SodaPup's Honeycomb eBowl. You can simply add your choice of kibble, raw or wet food then maybe add a few extras - fruit, veg, supplements, what ever your pup loves.
Looking for a great value option then take a closer look at Peggy11 stainless steel bowls. In a pack of two they are hygienic, easy to clean and available in three sizes to suit even the largest of dogs at a really good price.
How We Picked
You can find hundreds of styles of dog bowls, and searching through them is a tough task since choosing the best is heavily dependent on your dog's needs and your preferences.
To help make the choice easier, we began our research by splitting the different styles of bowls into categories.
Our dozens of hours of research across retailers such as Amazon and Pets at Home helped us narrow the choices down to three types: basic, raised and slow feeders.
We also considered the materials used and tried to offer options in stainless steel, plastic, ceramic and eco-friendly materials.
And of course we included small UK business too.
We then read through owner reviews of dog bowls across dozens of product listings to get a sense of what was worth considering. Did they work well in the 'real world' ? Were they durable ? Did they move when used ? And of course for us dog- servants, how easy were they to clean ?
FAQ's
How often should I change my dog's bowl ?
Besides cleaning your dog’s bowls on a regular basis ( preferably daily), be on the lookout for these signs of an unsanitary dog bowl -
Food residue or discolouration from dog food, scraps, or supplement additives.
Slimy film on the surface of the bowl or on the sides, as this is an indication of bacterial growth.
A nasty smell emitting from the bowl which can be an indication that something isn’t right.
Your dog avoids eating or drinking from the bowls.
If you witness any of the above, make sure you clean, and if needed, replace the bowls.
Keeping your dog’s bowls clean goes a long way in ensuring your best friend is happy and healthy.
How should I clean dog bowls ?
As dog lovers, we’ve all seen and felt that nasty slime that forms in our dogs food and water bowls. This slime is called bacterial biofilm, and is the result of bacteria attaching to your dog's bowl and releasing a slimy substance which stick to pretty much any surface.
All the bowls we feature are dishwasher safe. Ideally pop the bowls in the dishwasher daily as the high temperatures are more likely to kill any bacteria and will fully disinfect them.
If you don't have a dishwasher simply wash them in hot soapy water then rinse them thoroughly in scalding water to remove any potential bacteria.
Always use a separate dish cloth when cleaning as you don’t want to wipe biofilm from your pet’s dishes onto yours.
Also, if possible, wash dog's bowls in another sink, rather than using the kitchen sink, to further protect your food prep areas from cross-contamination.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been investigating dog owners' feeding habits and studying its impact on dog food dish contamination - saying they 'poses significant health risk' - as reported by Wales OnLine .
How many bowls of water should a dog drink ?
Most dogs need about a 25-50 ml per kg of body weight per day, so a 10 kg dog needs a approx 1/2 litre of clean water daily.
Really active or lactating dogs may need more and puppies generally drink more than adult dogs.
Dogs on dry diets such as kibble will drink more than dogs on wet, raw or fresh diets.
Wet dog food contains 65-80% water compared to dry dog food which only contains around 20% water.
If your dog drinks a lot more than that, it may signal a health problem.
If on the other hand, you are concerned that your dog is not drinking enough, take a look at Furr Boost. Furr Boost offers a nutritious beverage which will do a lot more than simply quench your dog's thirst.
Their drink can help with your dog's skin and coat, digestion, immunity, anxiety and metabolism, so appears to be an all round tonic.
Which dog bowls are good for dogs that eat too fast ?
Specially designed slow feeder bowls or anti-gulp bowls, can encourage the greediest of dogs to eat at a slower pace by making them forage around the bowl for their food. This in turn reduces the risk of bloating and generally improves your dog's gut health.
It's all about providing your dog with a bit more challenge so they have to work significantly harder for their food.
If you would like to explore Slow Feeders in more detail, take a look at - 10 Best Slow Feeder Dog Bowls
We hope you found the perfect bowl for you and your four-legged friend.
Thank you for dropping by and reading our article on the Best Dog Bowls for 2024.