When it comes to buying dog dishes, you have a lot of choices, from using an old pot to buying a hand-thrown ceramic bowl with your dog’s name painted on it. In fact, personalized dog bowls are a very popular gift to give your dog. Dog dishes intended to store a couple of days’ worth of food or water are available, as are paper dog bowls good for one meal only (these are mostly used at boarding kennels and veterinary hospitals).

The best dog dish should be sturdy and made of molded plastic or stainless steel that resists chewing or scratching and can be cleaned safely in the dishwasher. These dishes, particularly the stainless steel dog bowls retain their good looks and can take any abuse a dog can dish out (pardon the pun). Avoid any dishes or bowls that damage easily and are hard to keep clean. Be aware that food buildup in dents and scratches invites bacterial growth. Some dogs are also sensitive to plastic bowls.

For taller dogs consider the new elevated dog bowls that brings the bowl closer to the dog’s mouth. These raised do bowls are also good for older dogs as it makes it easier for them to eat and drink. Dogs like cocker spaniels that have long, silky ears need a dog bowl with a narrow opening and high sloped sides to help keep their fur out their food. If your dog is a voracious eater try to find a bowl with a nonskid bottom to help keep the dish from sliding all over the floor.

Some people are a little hesitant about putting dog dishes in the dishwasher but if your dishwasher is functioning properly the water will be hot enough to make everything in it clean enough for you to eat out of.

Dog Water Bowl

While food dishes should be picked up, washed, and put away after meals, water bowls need to be kept full and available at all times and stainless steel is your best choice overall. Water bowls with reservoirs are okay but are hard to keep clean and unless your dog drinks a lot of water these tend to get mucky before the water needs to be refilled.

For outside water sources, the Lixit, available in any pet supply store or catalog, has long been a popular watering device. Attached to a normal outside faucet, it releases fresh water on demand when the dog licks or nuzzles the trigger switch and stops flowing when the dog is finished drinking. If you buy a product like the Lixit be sure and install it in a shaded area as the metal can become extremely hot if exposed to the full summer sun.

All water sources should be sheltered from both heat and freezing cold or they won’t be available to your dog which could be a potentially deadly situation in extreme weather. A heated dog food bowl is ideal for keeping water from freezing as well as special devices intended to fit into buckets which do the same thing.

If you and your dog are constantly out and about look into a more portable water source. Several different kinds of traveling dog food bowls are designed to reduce splashing and some are even collapsible and can be put away in a small space like a fanny pack. You will want to get a Dog Crate to protect your dog in the car while traveling.