Dog Bowls 101

By: Michael Brown
Dog lovers across the world enjoy providing their pets with everything needed to make their lives more comfortable. Extravagant toys, treats and foods are purchased to keep our dogs happy and content. Many of us even buy our pets clothing to keep him in style. But it seems one item that is sometimes overlooked is the dog bowl.

In some households the family dog is offered his food on a dish intended for use in a table setting. Other dogs are given food on paper plates or other forms of disposable dishes. Although the owners have good intentions, these options are perhaps not the best choice for the dog.

Dogs come in many shapes and sizes and so their dog bowl needs are varied as well. Most dogs have relatively few possessions to call their own. In addition, dogs spend a tremendous amount of their time at their water and food bowls. By providing your dog with his own bowl that is appropriate for him and allowing him to eat during family meal times he will feel more like a member of the family. This usually decreases or alleviates a dog's habit of begging at the table.

To determine the appropriate dog bowl for your dog, start by giving consideration to his size. A large dog will naturally eat more than a smaller dog and so he will need a bowl to accommodate his appetite. Generally, a dog bowl should only be large enough to accommodate one meal of food. If the bowl is too large it is an easy oversight to fill it with more food than your dog needs. This can lead to your pet becoming overweight. Water bowls should be twice the size of the food bowl. Dogs, like humans, need water and a larger bowl will lessen the number of times you need to fill it while at the same time encouraging water consumption.

A dog with a long nose can eat from a smaller diameter bowl than a dog with a short snout. If your dog has long, floppy ears it will also be important to find a bowl that is large enough for the dog's nose but small enough that his ears won't fall into the food.

Various materials have been used to make dog bowls. Most commonly dog bowls are made from ceramic, porcelain, stainless steel, or stoneware. These materials are ideal choices because they are not only hygienic, they are dishwasher-safe. If purchasing a ceramic bowl it is important to ask the potter or manufacturer if the glaze used is lead-free. Another source of lead is lead crystal so this should be avoided as a pet bowl. The last important consideration is that of elevating your pet's bowls. Dog bowls that are raised to the appropriate elevation not only support proper posture and aid digestion they also help in the prevention of overeating. By allowing your dog to eat while standing he won't have to strain his neck (to lean towards the bowl). This can help to prevent or alleviate stiff joints and arthritis. Because the dog is standing to eat he won't be as likely to gorge himself. By keeping these tips in mind you are sure to purchase a dog bowl suitable for your furry family member. You can find dog bowls that fit your style and taste while providing your dog with a bowl to call his own that fits his size and shape. You'll both reap the benefits!

Mike Brown Great dog bowl resources http://dog-bowls.org/ http://dog-bowls.org/designer-dog-bowls.html

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