At what height should a dog's bowl be?

What do pet stores offer?

My head is spinning from the number of different proposals. One gets the feeling that manufacturers are playing a game of “who can make it cooler” with each other. The most ordinary bowls and cups, simple, without any bells and whistles, are lonely gathering dust in the far corner. What's trending? Automatic, electronic, self-filling, anti-slip, sealed, double - you can go on for a long time, and it’s easy to get confused. Among other things, you will be offered bowls made of plastic, silicone, stainless steel, ceramics, tempered glass, bamboo, etc. All this is very beautifully designed, pleasing to the eye, you want to touch and buy everything. Let's see which purchase is worth the money.

Feeder for large and medium dogs “Classic”

Bowls for shepherds must come with special stands. Such accessories are necessary in order to provide the pet with correct posture and prevent such unpleasant moments as bloating or other digestive problems. In addition, they allow you to maintain order in the feeding area and prevent the bowl from sliding on the floor, which can cause inconvenience to the dog while eating and lead to damage to the coating.

Plastic bowls

Plastics have entered our lives, it seems, forever. And what - beautiful, practical, durable, and finally, convenient and inexpensive. Manufacturers claim that food-grade plastic is absolutely safe; Even small children are fed from special plastic plates. What happens in practice? First, the advantages: the material does not rust, is lightweight, durable, holds up well to impact, is available in different colors and patterns, inexpensive, easy to wash and clean (both by hand and in the dishwasher). There are also disadvantages: it scratches relatively easily, bacteria easily clog into cracks and multiply in large numbers, which are almost impossible to remove with regular washing. Some dogs taste the bowls and the plastic cracks, leaving sharp edges. Finally, ecology: the world is choking on plastic waste. Scientists estimate that it takes 450 to 10,000 years for plastics to decompose in soil. And how much plastic waste is in the world's oceans! Environmentalists are sounding the alarm, calling for a complete abandonment of plastic. It should also be noted that, in fact, “food grade” plastic is not always food grade.

Types of bowls

Dog bowls on a tripod. Bowls attached to a tripod are useful if there are several dogs in the house, or dogs of different sizes or ages. But this solution is perfect for one dog - it will be convenient for him to eat: you can pour water into one bowl, and put food into another. The main condition is that the bowls must be either at different heights or located far from each other. This is important because the contents may become mixed and the dog may refuse to eat. For large breeds, it is necessary to purchase a tripod: due to the dog’s height, it is inconvenient to eat from the floor, constantly straining the muscles and joints on the back. A significant difference between the height of the bowl and the height of the pet will have a negative impact on the functioning of the dog's digestive system.

There are norms for placing the bowl above the floor. If the dog is up to 30 cm tall, the dishes are set at 10 cm; from 30 to 40 cm – by 20 cm; with a withers height of 40-50 cm – fix it at a height of 30 cm; and if the height exceeds 50 cm, then the height of the bowl should be at least 40 cm. Bowls on a tripod are convenient for owners because they can independently adjust the height of the cup. Tripods are usually made of steel, which is coated with enamel. They are equipped with a mechanism for fixing the bowls so that the pet does not turn them over. The tripods are easy to assemble and disassemble if necessary for transportation. In addition, tripod dog bowls can be purchased relatively inexpensively from a specialized online store.

Sippy bowl for dogs. Bowls consist of two parts - a bowl and a container for water. Water is supplied to the bowl, and when the dog drinks it, a new portion comes out of the container again. The sippy cups are collapsible, making them easy to wash and transport. The water in such dishes stays clean and fresh longer.

Dog bowls on the counter. When choosing bowls on a stand or stand, you need to be guided by the size of the dog. Such stands (racks) usually come complete with bowls. Their legs are rubberized to prevent slipping.

Double bowl for dogs. Double bowls for feeding dogs are easy to use and have rubberized feet.
Such dishes are good because the pet eats and drinks water in one place. When choosing such a bowl, you must remember that the contents of a double cup need to be monitored more often. Due to the close proximity of the bowls, food and water are often mixed.

Glass bowls

Glass artifacts resembling modern bowls were discovered by archaeologists during excavations in what is now Egypt. Ancient Egyptian “bowls” (possibly used to feed pets) date back to around 3100 BC. That is, the history of glass bowls goes back at least five thousand years! Everyone enjoys glass, especially impact-resistant glass. However, the risk of breaking the bowl into thousands of small fragments, although minimal, still exists. There is no need to explain to anyone what a fragment that has entered the esophagus is. You can choose a glass bowl, you just need to handle it with extreme caution, like a crystal one.

Subject of heated debate

Firstly, it is worth clarifying that the height of a bowl does not mean the size of its sides (this parameter is called depth), but the height of its placement above the floor. To lift it, a variety of stands are used - from improvised means to specialized tripods.

Actually, the very use of feeding stands and the height of the dog bowl is the subject of tireless debate among amateurs and professionals.

Supporters of stands support their need with information from Soviet textbooks for breeders and the physiological characteristics of the dog’s body, while their opponents say that in nature there are no stands, and wolves, direct relatives of domestic pets, do not experience any problems with posture and curvature of their paws.

If you delve a little deeper into this issue, you can understand that both sides are a little mistaken, and using a stand does have certain advantages:

• The dog swallows less air. Swallowing air while eating is an unpleasant feature of the body, leading to increased gas formation or even expansion of the stomach, which is fatal for animals.
• Doesn't spill water. In order to swallow liquid, the dog needs to raise its muzzle, and the water from its cheeks usually ends up on the floor, and when using a stand, it falls back into the bowl.
• The pet does not vomit after eating. The main cause of vomiting is food debris stuck in the curved esophagus when feeding from the floor.
• The dog is less at risk of developing diseases of the joints and spine. This problem is especially relevant for puppies and young animals (under 2 years of age).
• A bowl on a stand is simply more convenient to use: the dog won’t play with it, won’t be able to accidentally turn it over, and you won’t step on it inadvertently.

Stainless steel bowls

Lightweight, durable, non-leaching - all this is about stainless steel bowls.
Strong, reliable, they cannot be broken. The material is non-porous in texture - which means there is nowhere for bacteria to hide. It is impossible to taste stainless steel. Looks more expensive than it costs. They clean quickly and last a long time. Minuses? Perhaps they simply don’t exist. Our clear choice is stainless steel bowls. The best value for money, the choice of the modern practical buyer. Original: What Kind of Bowl Should Your Pet Be Using? Author: Susan Dorling. Source: cuteness.com Photo: zoolog.guru (from open sources).

Features of bowls

A feeder for a shepherd, as a rule, is made taking into account the anatomical features of the breed and is equipped with appropriate bowls. The pet owner only needs to indicate the age of the dog, and specialists will select the right model.

But sometimes there is a need to additionally or separately purchase containers for water and food. In this case, you need to pay attention to the volume of the bowl. It should be slightly larger than the amount of food that the pet eats at one time. The preferred volume for bowls is 2 - 4 liters.

As for the material of the bowls, it is better to prefer stainless steel. It is durable, easy to clean and retains its aesthetic appearance under any operating conditions. Ceramic products are quite fragile, and plastic products can be chewed by a dog, which will lead to digestive problems.

Shepherd dog beds are also purchased with stands . You can also order them on our website.

Criterias of choice

Breeders advise considering several aspects:

• breed of dog (level of activity);
• animal size;
• shape and length of the bow;
• manufacturing material for long-term use of the container;
• the size and length of the dog's ears;
• the presence of additional devices for the bowl: a tripod, a stand for comfortable feeding of the pet.

Size and depth

An important aspect to pay attention to. For animals with a flat face, a wide, not very deep bowl is needed. Pets with a long nose need a food dish that is deep and narrow enough to prevent the dog from splashing water or pushing food over the edges of the container. At the pet store you can “try on” the container and see which bowl suits a particular dog.

Availability of tripods and stands

A useful option that professional breeders, veterinarians and experienced amateur dog breeders pay attention to. If the bowl is on the floor, then the animal, especially medium and large breeds, has to bend low while eating, which creates additional stress on the joints and spine.

Another problem: constant swallowing of portions of air while eating, if the animal has to take food from a bowl without a stand. Indigestion, bloating in dogs, belching are problems that arise when a large amount of air enters the body at the same time as food.

Also, the stand and tripod reduce the amount of spilled water that flows into the container if the bowl is at a height. When dishes are left on the floor, the covering often ends up wet, and you have to clean up the mess after every time the dog gets thirsty.

Look at the description of the Silky Terrier dog breed, and also learn about the nuances of keeping a miniature pet in your home.

The normal pulse rate in a dog, the reasons for the deviation and methods for correcting the heart rate are written on this page.

Go to the address and read the instructions for use of the veterinary drug Travmatin for small breed dogs.

Feed supply

A modern version of a dog bowl provides gradual filling of food containers with granules and liquid. Feeder-drinker and bowl-dispenser are devices for comfortable feeding of pets in the absence of the owner. The cost of the devices is relatively low: from 250 to 580 rubles.

The operating principle is simple:

• Granulated food is placed in a flask-like container in the upper (vertical) part of the structure or water is poured. At the bottom there is a bowl made of durable plastic;
• The feed and water hopper is tightly closed with a lid, which prevents oxidation of the granules and the ingress of dust. An automatic drinker and an automatic feeder are ideal options for busy owners: you can leave food and water for the whole day;
• as soon as the liquid level in the main tank (horizontal) becomes lower (the dog eats part of the food or drinks water), a new portion of food or liquid is added from the upper tank;
• the four-legged pet will never remain hungry or thirsty as long as there is a supply of granules or water in the upper container;
• A drinking bowl and feeder with the principle of adding a new portion of food and liquid is suitable not only for dogs, but also for cats, hamsters, domestic rats, and ferrets.

Travel dog bowls

Travel dog bowls are a great way to carry food and water for a car ride, trip to the park, vacation, or other excursion.

They are usually made from polyester or similar fabric with a plastic or nylon liner, although some are specially designed from stiffer materials. The bowls can be folded into smaller sizes when empty, making them easily portable. Travel bowls are not very expensive and are worth purchasing if you are traveling.

What does a Yorkshire Terrier need besides dishes?

A bowl and a place to eat are not the only things a Yorkshire Terrier requires from its owners. The future owner needs to take care of the following things:

• a set of napkins or diapers - for puppies;
• a tray with filler installed in a convenient place;
• collar and leash for walking;
• basket, house or bed for sleeping;
• travel carrier bag;
• toys;
• combs;
• special shampoo;
• ear cleaning sticks;
• gauze swabs.

Attention to detail and understanding of responsibility for the pet's health will help prepare a home for a new little friend.

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