Just like newborn babies, puppies require a lot of preparation, time, and materials to be properly raised into adulthood. One of the most obvious and fundamental necessities is bowls for the puppy to eat and drink out of.
Written by Laryn Carter.
Laryn is a Clemson University alumna, with undergraduate studies focused on Animal and Veterinary Sciences.
As a life long animal lover raised on a family hobby farm, she has special interest in both pets and farm animals.
She enjoys combining her passion for animals with her interest in writing to create well-written, educational content. In her free time, Laryn likes to read, travel, and spend time with her friends and family (animals included!)
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With good bowls for food and water, your puppy will have the resources needed to grow healthy and be happy. Remember that it’s important for you not only to find the right bowls for your furry friend but also bowls that suit your home and needs.
With so many options out there, how will you know what works best for you and your pup?
My family always seemed to prefer stainless steel bowls, since they are durable and easy to clean, but it turns out that didn’t work for me and my dog.
Although advice you find online, and the testimonies of friends and family can help, sometimes you have to do a little trial and error. To help you get started,
I’ve compiled a list of 10 of the best dog bowls for puppies.
Keep reading to find out more!
Top 3 Best Bowls for Puppies
Best Stainless Steel Bowl:
Mlife Stainless Steel Dog Bowl with Rubber Base
This stainless steel bowl is a classic option, made with dishwasher-safe material, flat bottom, and removable rubber edge.
It has a simple, tidy appearance and it comes in a variety of sizes great for puppies.
Best Combination Food & Water Bowl:
Knowing you’ll need both food and water, a combination bowl can be a great start for your puppy.
This one comes with two removable stainless steel bowls and a food-grade silicone mat, both of which are dishwasher-safe and designed to keep your floor clean.
Best Slow-Feeder Bowl:
Outward Hound Fun Feeder Slow Feeder
Slow-feeder bowls have a pattern designed to slow down eating, which works great for pups who eat too fast.
Made with a food-safe, sturdy plastic and a non-slip base, this bowl is a great option for slowing your dog’s eating and aiding proper digestion.
Best Stainless Steel Bowls
Super Design Mess Free 15° Slanted Bowl
Super Design Mess Free 15° Slanted Bowl
This bowl’s slanted design can be beneficial for a variety of breeds and sizes, even tall breeds, thanks to its variety of bowl heights.
The specially designed slanted bowl is said to reduce neck pressure, prevent food overflow, and make reaching the food easier.
The bowl also features anti-skid rubber feet, a silicone seal, and easy-to-clean, dishwasher-safe materials.
Bonus: These bowls are available in a variety of sizes and colors!
Hydrapeak Insulated Dog Bowl, Non-Slip Stainless Steel Dog Bowl
This classy bowl has an attractive appearance to tout alongside its multiple features and functions.
With its double-wall insulation and fully stainless steel composition, this bowl is great for dry food, wet food, water, or snacks.
Mlife Stainless Steel Dog Bowl with Rubber Base
Mlife Stainless Steel Dog Bowl
This stainless steel piece by Mlife is a classic pet bowl, and because it’s actually a set of two, it’s perfect for both food and water.
The bowls are easy to clean, dishwasher safe, and feature a rubber edge along the bottom to prevent sliding and noisy eating.
Plus, the bowls are available in a variety of sizes ranging from 8oz up to 40oz, which is a great range for puppies or small dog breeds.
Choemore Stainless Steel Large Dog Bowl
Choemore Stainless Steel Dog Bowl
Another classic design, and at a great price, is this high-capacity stainless steel bowl.
The durable, easy-to-clean material is shallow and wide, great for puppies of any breed or adult small breed dogs.
One of the best parts is that this deal features bowl 2-pack, which can be used for both dry and wet food, or as big personal bowls for each of your pups.
Bonus: These sets can be great for large dogs with options for 32 oz, 80oz,116oz, and 176oz bowls!
At my parents’ house, we love to have one or two big bowls like this one that we can fill up with water for the dogs.
My parents have a big-boned lab mix, Banu, who likes to spend a lot of her time outside, so plenty of water is a must.
When we are visiting, Banu and Jasper run circles around the house, wrestle, and play, and stop regularly at the water bowl.
Best Combination Food & Water Bowls
EpetsLove Double Dog Water and Food Bowls
EpetsLove Double Dog Water and Food Bowls
This combination food and water bowl design conveniently creates a tidy, appealing station for your puppy to eat and drink at.
The station features high-quality stainless steel, and four rubber stoppers along the bottom to prevent sliding.
Plus, the removable bowls are easy to clean and large enough for dogs of many sizes.
Sequioalake Dog Bowl with Anti-Overflow and Anti-Skid Silicone
This double bowl station is unique because of its anti-overflow, anti-skid silicone mat.
The stainless steel bowls are designed to sit flush in the silicone mat to reduce mess, but are removed easily for washing as every part of the system is dishwasher safe.
The durable, and flexible non-toxic silicone mat can protect your floors through years of wear and tear, even with voracious eaters.
Best Slow-Feeder Bowls
Outward Hound Fun Feeder Slow Feeder Dog Bowl
Outward Hound Fun Feeder Slow Feeder
This Outward Hound slow feeder bowl is highly popular thanks to its effective design, food-safe materials, and a non-slip base.
Not only does the bowl work, but it claims to make your pup eat up to 10x slower, improving digestion, and reducing the risk of choking.
These bowls also promote fun, healthy eating, allowing this one to become the bestselling slow-feeding dog bowl on the market.
I actually use a bowl like this for my dog, Jasper, because he likes to eat his food too quickly!
When I first got him, he would scarf down an entire bowl of food in a matter of minutes, only to throw up shortly after.
His slow-feeder bowl forces him to eat much slower and has not only transformed his eating behavior but also his digestive health.
CAISHOW Slow Feeder Dog Bowl
Another great slow feeder dog bowl is this one by CAISHOW designed for small and medium dogs.
Six non-skid rubber feet prevent the bowl from moving around, while the specially designed pattern in the bowl helps slow your puppy’s eating.
Additionally, these slow-feeding bowls come in two different patterns and multiple colors.
Bonus: This slow-feeding bowl is said to increase your dog’s eating time from about five minutes to almost 20 minutes!
Dogit Anti-Gulping Slow-Feeder Dog Bowl for Wet or Dry Dog Food
Dogit Anti-Gulping Slow-Feeder Dog Bowl
Touted as an anti-gulping bowl, suitable for both wet or dry foods, is this Dogit slow feeder bowl.
The bowl, which comes in several sizes, is designed with a three-prong and circle-in-the-middle pattern to improve digestion, reduce excess air intake, and promote healthy eating.
Plus, the bowl is created with premium quality material that is BPA-free, PVC-free, and dishwasher safe.
BurgeonNest 4-in-1 Stainless Steel Slow Feeder Double Dog Bowls
BurgeonNest 4-in-1 Stainless Steel Slow Feeder Double Dog Bowls
This double bowl set has numerous great features, between the stainless steel bowls, the slow feeder bowl, and the silicone mat.
The mat’s raised edge will help save your floors from a mess, and with options for your bowl type, you can use either the stainless steel or slow feeder bowl as needed.
Additionally, all the materials used are pet-safe and fairly easy to clean.
I think this 4-in-1 by BurgeonNest is a super cool idea!
Between the stainless steel bowls, the combination feeding station set-up, and slow-feeder top, this bowl really has it all.
If I ever wanted to invest in a combination bowl, this could be a great option for my dog, Jasper.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dog Bowls
Does your puppy’s bowl size actually matter?
Just like Goldilocks, your puppy may not be happy using a bowl that is too big or too small, so you need to find one that’s just right.
Whether you opt for a bowl large enough to grow into or to buy new bowls as your pup grows, you’ll need an appropriately sized bowl at each stage of life.
If your puppy’s bowl is too small, your pup will not be able to open and close its mouth enough to properly eat the food.
If the bowl is too large, it can lead to accidentally feeding your pup too much or encouraging him to gulp down his food.
It’s also important to consider the height and depth of a bowl, especially during puppyhood.
Bowls that are too tall or deep may be difficult for small breed pups to eat out of, and they may never be able to reach the bottom.
For these reasons, smaller, shallow bowls are better for small breed dogs, whereas large breed dogs may need an adjustable height bowl.
Should your puppy have an elevated food bowl?
Whether or not your pup needs an elevated food bowl depends predominantly on how big of a dog he or she will be.
Elevated bowls are popular for large dogs because they are said to help prevent and or alleviate any straining or poor posture which would otherwise be caused by your dog leaning down to a floor-level bowl.
Other potential benefits of elevated bowls are that they are less likely to slide around as your pup eats or drinks out of them.
Elevated bowls are also good at discouraging any of the pawings or digging some dogs love to do in ground-level water bowls.
I believe that most dogs do have to have an elevated bowl.
That is, unless they have some type of orthopedic condition which prevents them from bending, leaning, or kneeling comfortably.
Discussing your dog’s needs with their veterinarian is always the best course of action.
Why are so many dog bowls stainless steel?
The reason that stainless steel is the most common material used for dog bowls is that it is the best option.
Stainless steel bowls are highly durable, lightweight, and not prone to breaking or chipping.
They are also easy to clean since they can go in the dishwasher, and are non-porous, so they don’t harbor bacteria.
Are there other good materials for dog bowls?
Other popular materials for dog bowls are:
- Ceramic
- Stoneware
- Glass
They are also fairly durable, non-porous, and easy to clean.
One issue with these materials is that they are prone to chipping and or breaking if dropped.
Additionally, you have to ensure any ceramic or stoneware bowls have a lead-free, food-grade glaze to be safe for your dog.
What about plastic?
Following closely behind stainless steel dog bowls, are the ever-popular plastic pet bowls. They are a popular choice because they are cheap, come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and colors, and are readily available.
Plastic dog bowls are not the best choice
There are significant downfalls in using a plastic bowl, however, since its porous nature encourages the growth of bacteria, and the flimsy material can be chewed up and potentially ingested by a determined pup.
Additionally, some experts believe that plastic bowls may release BPA or other dangerous chemicals into your dog’s food.
Do slow-feeder bowls really make your dog eat slower?
Anyone interested in slowing down their dog’s eating may have wondered if slow feeder bowls actually work.
The answer is yes, slow feeder bowls force your dog to eat slower by making it more difficult to get the food out of the bowl.
Slowing down your dog’s eating is beneficial since it promotes better digestion and reduces the risk of your dog choking.
Additionally, using slow-feeder bowls help your dog to have better portion control (petmd.com) since they will begin to feel full during their meal, rather than still hungry or overly full after scarfing down their food.
This as a whole will improve their eating habits and meal-time behaviors.
As I mentioned above, getting a slow-feeder bowl for my dog has made a world of difference for him.
Where he used to throw up after nearly every meal, he now eats at a healthier pace and has improved digestion.
I know firsthand that these types of bowls really do work!
Photo by Mart Production.