Updated January 14, 2023.
Ah, the dog bowl. Seems like such a simple thing. Get one dog bowl for food and another for water and you are all set. If you are new to having a dog as part of your family, then you may be overwhelmed by all of the information out there regarding dog bowls and may be asking yourself a lot of questions. Does the material of the dog bowl make a difference? How often should the dog dish be cleaned? Is it bad if I get an elevated dog bowl?
Here is a quick rundown of our top choices:
| Best Stainless Steel: | |
| YETI Boomer 8 Dog Bowl | |
| PetFusion Premium Brushed Anti-Tip Dog Bowl | |
| Best Ceramic: | |
| Bone Dry Ceramic Pet Collection | |
| Jonathan Adler: Now House Mint “Terrazzo” Bowl | |
| Best Plastic: | |
| Van Ness Heavyweight Crock Dish | |
| Neater Pet Brands Big Bowl | |
| Best Elevated: | |
| Neater Pet Brands Neater Feeder Deluxe | |
| PetFusion Elevated Dog Bowls | |
| Best For Travel: | |
| Guardians Large Collapsible Dog Bowls | |
| Ruffwear Bivy Dog Bowl | |
| Best Bowl And Mat Set: | |
| DogBuddy Dog Bowls | |
| Active Pets Dog Bowl Set | |
| Best For Dog Crates: | |
| Midwest Homes For Pets Snap’y Fit Stainless Steel Food Bowl | |
| Hamiledyi Crate Dog Bowl | |
| Best Slow Feeder: | |
| Outward Hound Fun Feeder | |
| Jasgood Slow Dog Bowl |
Related: Best Automatic Dog Feeder For Your Pup, Best Weighted Dog Bowls, Best Personalized Dog Placemat For Messy Eaters, The Best Automatic Water Bowl For Your Dog
Does The Material Of The Dog Bowl Make A Difference?
When deciding on what type of dog bowl to buy, material plays a large factor. There are stainless steel bowls, ceramic bowls, dishes made of plastic, and those of glass. Which one is the best choice? Stainless steel and glass bowls don’t absorb odors from food and tend to be dishwasher safe, allowing for the dishes to be better cleaned and sanitized. Plastic and ceramic dog bowls may not be dishwasher safe, and therefore, need to be hand washed.
A small study done in 2018 by Hartpury University compared bacteria levels on stainless steel, plastic, and ceramic dog bowls. They found bacteria increased in the dog bowl the longer it went uncleaned. It was also determined that the plastic dish harbored more bacteria than the other materials, however, the ceramic bowl was more likely to have more harmful bacteria like MRSA and E. coli.
That is not to say ceramic or plastic bowls are not good ( I have used ceramic, plastic, and stainless steel for my dogs). It is all a matter of how often and how well you are cleaning them.
What Is The Best Way To Clean My Dog’s Bowl?
For those dishes that are dishwasher safe (usually top rack), that is the way to go. They will be able to get a thorough cleaning and the high heat will disinfect the dishes as well. If the bowl you have is unable to be put in the dishwasher, the next best thing would be to soak the dish in very hot water with a mild soap. You can then scrub the dish clean with a cloth. You may want to avoid using abrasives to clean the dishes, particularly plastic ones, as this may cause micro cuts into the material which could harbor more bacteria.
How Often Should I Clean My Dog’s Bowls?
It is best to clean your dog’s food dish after every meal and to clean your dog’s water bowl at least every few days.
Is It Bad To Use An Elevated Dog Bowl?
This is a very controversial topic. Some people believe it is good to have an elevated dog bowl. They feel using a raised dog bowl brings your dog into a more natural position when they eat or drink. This would then decrease neck strain and avoid neck or other orthopedic issues as the dog gets older. An elevated dog bowl may also be good for dogs that have mobility issues or some other disability where it may be difficult for them to bring their head down to eat or drink.
On the other hand, you have those who believe you should not use an elevated dog dish. The reason: Bloat. Bloat is a condition in which the stomach fills with air or gas and turns over on itself. This causes arteries to be cut off from their blood supply. It is a very painful condition that requires immediate surgery and very often leads to death if it is not caught in time.
So what do elevated dog bowls have to do with bloat? One of the risk factors of bloat is using an elevated dog bowl. Other risk factors of bloat include: dogs with a family history of bloat, older dogs, dogs that eat their meals too quickly or drink a lot of water, exercising right after a meal, and large breed dogs.
If your dog has any of these risk factors, you may want to reconsider using an elevated dog bowl.
What Is The Best Bowl For Your Dog?
The following are suggestions in different categories that may help you decide which bowls might best suit your dog’s needs. It is best to observe your dog’s eating and drinking habits to determine the right one for him/her.
Best Stainless Steel Dog Bowl
YETI Boomer 8 Dog Bowl. This dog bowl holds 8 cups of food or water. It is puncture and rust resistant. Non-slip ring on the bottom to prevent your dog from moving it around while drinking. Dishwasher safe.
PetFusion Premium Brushed Anti-Tip Dog Bowl. Set of 2 bowls. Silicone ring on bottom to prevent slipping. Dishwasher safe. Corrosion resistant.
Check Price At: Amazon
Best Ceramic Dog Bowl
Bone Dry Ceramic Pet Collection. Set of 2 bowls. Has silicone ring on the bottom to prevent slipping. Dishwasher safe. S: ¾ cup. M: 1 ¾ cups. L: 3 cups.
Check Price At: Petco, Chewy, Amazon, Walmart
Jonathan Adler: Now House Mint “Terrazzo” Bowl. Small: 1 cup. Medium size holds 3 cups. Has removable silicone bottom to prevent slippage and can double as a cover for the bowl if taking food on the go. Dishwasher safe.
Check Price At: Chewy, Amazon, Walmart
Best Plastic Dog Dish
Van Ness Heavyweight Crock Dish. 106 oz. capacity. This is made for larger dogs. Made in the USA. Dishwasher safe. Con: not if your dog is a heavy chewer.
Check Price At: Amazon
Neater Pet Brands Big Bowl. Comes in four sizes to suit your needs. This bowl is compatible with other Neater Pet Brands leg extensions to transform into an elevated dog bowl. Has non-skid bottoms to prevent slippage. Has high walls to prevent spillage. BPA free and Made in the USA.
Check Price At: Chewy, Amazon, Walmart
Best Elevated Dog Dish
Neater Pet Brands Neater Feeder Deluxe. This comes in 3 sizes, with 2 bowls that fit into a holder that filters any spilled food or water into a bottom tray. This design helps to keep spilled food and water contained to the product and not on your floor. Leg extensions can also be bought to increase the height. Cons: those with larger dogs feel it is still not tall enough even with the extensions, so measure carefully. Product is Made in the USA but bowls are NOT.
Check Price At: Amazon, Walmart, Chewy
PetFusion Elevated Dog Bowls. This is made of a lightweight aluminum and comes in 2 sizes. This includes 2 stainless steel bowls and anti slip surfaces on the feet and where the bowls go to avoid slippage and turning of the bowls when your dog eats or drinks.
Check Price At: Amazon
Best Travel Dog Bowl
Guardians Large Collapsible Dog Bowls. Set of 2. Fold down flat and adjust to different sizes. Come with carabiner clips for easy portability. Each holds up to 34 oz of fluid or 4.2 cups of food. Dishwasher safe and easy to hand clean as well. BPA free.
Check Price At: Amazon
Ruffwear Bivy Dog Bowl. This is a collapsible bowl made for both water and food and can hold up to 1.8 liters. It has a grip bottom to prevent moving while your dog is eating or drinking. This also includes a reflective strip to help it be seen in low light conditions. Con: it does not have a carabiner clip but does come with a cloth loop for you to use your own.
Check Price At: Amazon
Best Bowl and Mat Set
DogBuddy Dog Bowls. This is a silicone mat with stainless steel dog bowls. BPA free. Each bowl is 32oz. Can both be washed by hand or put in the dishwasher.
Check Price At: Amazon
Active Pets Dog Bowl Set. This comes with two stainless steel dog bowls available in 4 different sizes. The base is made of food grade silicone and is dishwasher safe. Con: Smaller than it looks. You may need to size up for your dog.
Check Price At: Amazon
Best Bowls For Dog Crates
Midwest Homes For Pets Snap’y Fit Stainless Steel Food Bowl. Available in various sizes. It has a bracket that you screw onto the crate, is rust resistant and dishwasher safe. The design allows for you to remove the bowl without having to unscrew and reattach bracket. Con: some people had difficulty removing the bowls due to bowl fitting too tightly on bracket.
Check Price At: Chewy, Amazon, Walmart, Petco
Hamiledyi Crate Dog Bowl. This comes in a two pack with one round and one square bowl. Each bowl is a stainless steel bowl that fits inside a plastic bowl. This works by attaching the plastic bowl to the crate and when it is time to clean the bowl, you remove the stainless steel portion and leave the plastic one so you don’t have to unscrew and then reattach it each time you need to fill or clean the bowl. Stainless steel bowl is dishwasher safe. Con: depending on the type of crate you have, it may not stay tightly on after a period of time.
Check Price At: Amazon
Best Slow Feeder Dog Dish
Outward Hound Fun Feeder. This comes in a variety of designs and sizes. It has a non – slip base and is BPA free. The small holds ¾ cup, Medium holds 2 cups and Large holds 4 cups of food. These are dishwasher safe.
Check Price At: Petco, Petsmart, Chewy, Amazon, Walmart
Jasgood Slow Dog Bowl. This comes in two sizes and a variety of colors. It is BPA free and has a no – slip bottom and is also dishwasher safe. The small holds 1.5 cups and the large holds 3 cups.
Check Price at: Amazon
There are many types of dog bowls out there for you to choose from. You may have to try a few different kinds before your find one that suits your dog best. We hope these suggestions at least give you a place to start. Happy Eating!
Please check out our other posts on Health, Indoor, Outdoor, and Travel accessories for your dog, as well as Reviews of various products and travel destinations.