The Outward Hound Fun Feeder Slo Bowl is the best slow feeder for most dogs that eat too fast. It’s a non-slip plastic bowl with a maze molded into it, sold in Small, Medium and Large. Outward Hound also makes it in three difficulty levels (Slow, Slower and Slowest), so you can match the maze to how fast your dog eats. For a dog that inhales even a maze bowl, step up to Outward Hound’s stainless steel version, which uses the Slowest maze.

Slow feeders work by making the food harder to reach. The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB) describes slow feeder bowls as having “lots of ridges to make it harder for your pet to get the food out,” and calls them “a good way to make your dog eat more slowly.”

This is desk research, not a hands-on test. Materials, capacities and care instructions come from each maker’s own page.

Quick Picks

Bowl Material Capacity (maker) Best for Cleaning (maker)
Outward Hound Fun Feeder Slo Bowl, Large Plastic 3 to 4 cups (Large) Most fast eaters Top rack dishwasher
Outward Hound Stainless Steel Slo Bowl, Medium Stainless steel, maze insert 2 cups Very fast eaters Top rack, low heat
Messy Mutts Interactive Slow Feeder, 3 Cup Melamine Up to 3 cups Large meals Dishwasher or hand wash
Company of Animals Green Mini Polypropylene Not published Small and flat-faced dogs Not published on page
Messy Mutts Slow Feeder Bowl Insert, 7.5 in PP base, TPR wings Uses your bowl Converting a bowl Dishwasher

All five link to exact Amazon listings sold by Amazon.com or the brand when checked.

How We Chose

A slow feeder only works if the dog can’t simply push past the maze, so each pick needed a maker page describing the exact design and its intended dog. We looked for a clear capacity or difficulty level, a material and cleaning instructions. Then we chose five bowls that each solve a different problem: general use, extreme speed, big meals, small or flat-faced dogs, and owners who’d rather not replace their bowl.

This list sticks to floor-level bowls; raised feeders are a separate buying decision.

1. Outward Hound Fun Feeder Slo Bowl: Best Overall

Why it stands out

The Fun Feeder Slo Bowl is the most adjustable pick. Outward Hound’s product page lists Small, Medium and Large sizes, several colors, and three slow levels, “Slow, Slower, Slowest,” including a design for flat-faced breeds. The bowl has a non-slip base, is top-rack dishwasher safe, and Outward Hound says it is free of BPA, PVC, lead and phthalates.

Outward Hound claims its slow feeders keep dogs eating “for up to 10x longer.” That is the maker’s figure, and real results depend on the dog and the maze level.

The catch

Capacity depends on size: Outward Hound lists 3/4 cup for Small, 2 cups for Medium and 3 to 4 cups for Large. The linked listing is the Large bowl in the turquoise drop pattern. If your dog clears the maze quickly, a harder pattern or the stainless version below is the next step.

Best for

Most medium and large dogs that eat too fast, and owners who want room to move up a difficulty level.

2. Outward Hound Fun Feeder Stainless Steel Slo Bowl: Best Stainless Steel Option

Why it stands out

The Stainless Steel Slo Bowl pairs a stainless steel bowl with a removable maze insert. Outward Hound’s product page rates it at the “SLOWEST” level, its most challenging maze, “best for very fast eaters.” It holds 2 cups of dry or wet food, which Outward Hound says fits a full meal for medium-sized dogs, and it has a non-slip base.

Because the insert comes out, the steel bowl and the maze can be washed separately. Outward Hound says it is dishwasher safe on the top rack on a low heat setting.

The catch

Outward Hound sizes this 2-cup bowl for a medium dog’s full meal, so a large dog’s portion may not fit. The Slowest maze is also the hardest one to start with, so introduce it gradually (see How to Choose below).

Best for

Medium-sized dogs that empty ordinary maze bowls fast, and owners who prefer stainless steel.

3. Messy Mutts Interactive Slow Feeder, 3 Cup: Best for Large Meals

Why it stands out

The Messy Mutts Interactive Slow Feeder gives a clear capacity: up to 3 cups in a bowl measuring 10 inches across and 2.2 inches high, according to Messy Mutts’ product page . Its flower design puts barriers around the food so the dog has to work for each bite.

Messy Mutts says the melamine is food safe, stain and odor resistant and BPA free. You can hand-wash it with warm water and mild soap or put it in the dishwasher.

The catch

Messy Mutts’ page also makes digestion and bloating claims. Treat those as the maker’s claims. Messy Mutts calls the flower pattern a simple design, so for a very fast eater, Outward Hound’s Slowest maze is the harder option.

Best for

Large dogs that eat bigger meals and need a stated 3-cup capacity.

4. Company of Animals Green Mini: Best for Small and Flat-Faced Dogs

Why it stands out

Company of Animals pitches its Green slow feeder as a way to turn mealtimes into a challenging game. It makes the Green in two sizes, a Regular and the Green Mini , and describes the Mini as “perfect for small dogs, flat nosed breeds dogs and puppies.” The feeder is made from polypropylene.

That small-dog and short-muzzle fit, stated by the maker, is the reason it’s on this list.

The catch

Company of Animals’ page doesn’t list capacity, dimensions or dishwasher instructions, and it makes bloat and digestion claims that are the maker’s own. The maker page is its UK site. The Amazon listing linked here is the Mini, sold by Amazon.com.

Best for

Small dogs, puppies and flat-nosed breeds.

5. Messy Mutts Universal Slow Feeder Bowl Insert: Best for Converting a Bowl You Own

Why it stands out

If you already like your dog’s bowl, the Messy Mutts insert turns it into a slow feeder. According to Messy Mutts , its flexible TPR wings bend to fit an existing bowl, or can be cut down. Six suction cups hold it in place on non-porous bowls such as stainless steel, plastic or ceramic. It’s dishwasher safe.

The catch

It needs a bowl with a base at least 5 inches across. The solid base is 4.5 inches, and the wings extend to 7.5 inches, so very small or very large bowls may not fit well.

Best for

Owners with a stainless or ceramic bowl they want to keep, especially for cats as well as dogs, since Messy Mutts says it works for both.

How to Choose

Match the maze to the eater. Outward Hound’s Slow, Slower and Slowest levels are the clearest way to do this. Start easier than you think. AVSAB says to make a new food puzzle very easy at first, use the easiest level, and build up gradually so the dog stays successful.

Fit the meal. The stainless Slo Bowl holds 2 cups, the Messy Mutts bowl up to 3 cups, and the Large plastic Slo Bowl 3 to 4 cups. If your dog’s portion is bigger than the bowl, choose a bigger bowl.

Fit the face. Company of Animals makes its Mini for small and flat-nosed dogs, and Outward Hound offers a design for flat-faced breeds.

Plan the cleaning. Four of the five picks list dishwasher cleaning; Company of Animals’ page doesn’t say. Follow each maker’s instructions: Outward Hound specifies the top rack, plus low heat for the stainless version.

Treat bloat claims as marketing. Outward Hound, Messy Mutts and Company of Animals all market their bowls for bloat or digestion, and those are the makers’ claims. A slow feeder changes how fast a dog eats. For a dog at risk of bloat, ask your veterinarian.

For a moving food dispenser instead of a bowl, see our KONG Wobbler review (Search Amazon for KONG Wobbler ). For the food itself, our dry dog food guide covers what to check on the bag.

FAQ

Do slow feeder bowls prevent bloat?

Makers such as Outward Hound and Company of Animals say their bowls help reduce bloat, but those are the makers’ marketing claims. AVSAB describes slow feeder bowls as a way to make a dog eat more slowly. Ask your veterinarian about your dog’s bloat risk.

How do I get my dog to use a slow feeder?

Start easy. AVSAB advises making a new food puzzle very easy at first, using the easiest level and tasty treats, then building difficulty gradually. With the Outward Hound range, that means starting with a Slow design before moving to Slowest.

Are slow feeder bowls dishwasher safe?

Four of the five picks list dishwasher cleaning; Company of Animals’ page doesn’t give care instructions. Outward Hound says top rack for its plastic Slo Bowl and top rack on low heat for the stainless version. Messy Mutts lists its 3-cup bowl and insert as dishwasher safe.

Sources