Dog Bowls - What's the difference is described | Dog Articles

Our Dog Products

More Information

Coupon Codes

Sizing Info

Dog Articles

Digby's Corner

Downloads

News and Events

Join Our Email List & Get 5% off your 1st Order

For Email Marketing you can trust

Offline? Leave a message.

Safe & Secure

Home > Dog Articles >

Dog Bowls - What's the difference?

October 2008

Product Code: 00-DA-DOGBOWLSDIFF

Description

Looking for a bowl for your dog? You can choose from plastic, ceramic, collapsible or stainless steel. How to decide on which one? This article provides information on the different types of dog bowls and what to look for.

There are all kinds of bowls on the market that come in all kinds of designs, shapes and materials. When looking for a bowl for your dog you should always consider a few things. Some questions to ask about the bowl might be:

How easy is it to clean? Is it dishwasher safe?
Is it made of material that your dog can chew on?
Is it heavy enough so your dog won't be able to push it around while eating?
Will it spill?
How durable is it?
Is it a deep or shallow bowl? Will my dog's ears drop into the bowl or is his face going to get all food covered every time he eats?

Plastic bowls are usually lower cost, easily cleanable and lightweight. These bowls can be chewed so if you have a chewing type dog, you might want to avoid this type. These are typically lightweight so they are easily pushed around and might tip.

Ceramic bowls are nice, heavyweight, and solid. Some are weighted to help prevent them from moving around. These bowls typically are dishwasher safe. There are so many designs available that you should be able to find one that blends in nicely with your home decor. These can break so be sure not to drop them on a hard surface.

Stainless steel is durable and your dog won't be chewing on this bowl. The stainless steel bowl is dishwasher safe and cleans up nicely. These are also hygienic and bacteria resistant. There are traditional stainless steel bowls, bowls with rubber on the bottom to help prevent sliding and ones with tapered sides to prevent tipping. We read somewhere that they may help a dog that has a tendency towards skin breakouts or allergies although we're not certain that's a fact.

Collapsible food bowls are great for those dogs on the go. They are easy to bring along during those trips to the dog park, camping or to keep in the car. These dog bowls come in a variety of colors, shapes and flexible materials too. They typically pop open so you can add food or water and then collapse them when you're ready to move on. Some of these bowls also act as a storage container for holding kibble or treats. Since these can be chewed on, you should carry, use and remove until next time.

Heated Water bowls are also available for those dogs that spend a lot of time outdoors in the colder months. The bowls typically are of a no tip design and are heavyweight and durable to last outdoors in the element. There is a heating element hidden inside the bowl that keeps the water from freezing. These bowls need to be near an electrical outlet since they use electricity to keep the bowl from freezing. The cords used to plug the bowl in are usually wrapped with a special material to help prevent your dog from chewing through the cord.

Double Diners are sometimes referred to a combo bowls. These are bowls that separate food and water. They are convenient in that the food is right next to the water. The downside to these is that sometimes the food gets tossed in the water or water into the food.

Whatever bowl you decide on, always make sure to clean the bowl after every use and have plenty of fresh water available for your dog.

This article was written by Doreen Simpson. Visit www.dbdogshop.com for more "Good Ideas for Good Dogs."

Reproduction in any form is not allowed without the express written permission of the author.
Copyright October 2008 by DBDogShop.com