Raised bowls are sold as better posture for every dog, but for most healthy dogs a bowl on the floor is fine. Here you will find which dogs a raised bowl genuinely helps, which dogs should see the vet first, and how to measure the height correctly if you do get one. That way you do not spend money on a stand your dog does not need.
Are raised dog bowls better?
For most healthy dogs, no. Dogs naturally eat with their head down, and a bowl on the floor causes no problems. A raised bowl can help dogs with neck, back or joint problems and certain swallowing problems, on a vet's advice. In large dogs with a deep chest it has been linked to a higher risk of bloat.
Why the idea is so popular
The thinking makes sense: we would not like to eat off the floor either. A dog is simply built differently. His neck is made to bring his head to the ground all day long, for sniffing, digging and eating. A healthy Labrador or Border Collie who spreads his front legs a little to reach his bowl is not bothered by it.
Product pages often promise better digestion, less air swallowing or less mess. There is little evidence for any of it. Mess depends mostly on how your dog eats and how heavy the bowl is, not on how high it stands.
When does a raised bowl help?
A raised bowl genuinely solves something when bending down hurts your dog or costs him effort. Think of:
- Older dogs with stiff joints who visibly struggle to lower their head, or lie down to eat;
- Dogs with neck or back problems, for instance after a slipped disc;
- Dogs with swallowing problems, where the vet advises eating upright;
- Very large dogs such as a Great Dane or Irish Wolfhound who really have to stoop a long way.
In all of these cases the vet is the right person to decide. Some of these conditions call for a very specific eating position, and an off-the-shelf stand is not always enough.
The risk for large, deep-chested dogs
Large breeds with a deep chest, such as the Great Dane, Dobermann, Weimaraner, Setter and German Shepherd, are at risk of bloat (gastric dilatation-volvulus). The largest study of bloat in large breeds found more cases in dogs fed from a raised bowl, not fewer. That is exactly the opposite of what many shops claim.
Nobody knows the precise cause. But if you have one of these breeds and are considering a raised bowl, ask your vet first. Bloat is an emergency: a swollen belly, restless pacing and retching without bringing anything up mean you call immediately.
How high should a raised dog bowl be?
If your vet recommends a raised bowl, measure your dog, not the bowl. Measure his height at the withers: from the ground to the highest point of his shoulders. The rim of the bowl should sit about 15 cm lower, around the bottom of his chest. That way he eats with his head slightly down, not straight ahead or up.
A common mistake is a stand that is too high because it was bought in the largest size "to grow into". Too high is as awkward as too low. For a fuller chart of sizes by breed, see our dog bowl size guide.
The middle ground: a deeper, heavy bowl
Many dogs that have to stoop "just a bit too far" do well with a bowl that has a taller rim. A 16.5 cm bowl with a 7 cm rim brings the food a few centimetres closer to your dog without a stand. And because it is heavy, it stays put, even when your dog pushes it with his nose.
We do not sell raised bowls or stands. If your vet recommends one, put a heavy bowl on a stable platform that cannot tip, or choose a stand that holds the bowl firmly in place. A light bowl on a wobbly stand is the worst of both worlds.
Frequently asked questions
Does a raised bowl help with fast eating?
No. A raised bowl does nothing to the speed your dog eats at. If you want him to eat more slowly, use a slow feeder or spread his food over a snuffle mat.
Is a raised water bowl a good idea?
For most dogs it makes no difference. An older dog with stiff joints sometimes drinks more easily from a slightly higher bowl. Make sure the bowl is heavy enough not to tip, because water on a stand goes over the edge quickly.
From what age can a dog eat from a raised bowl?
A puppy grows so fast that a fixed height is wrong within weeks. Let a puppy eat from the floor unless your vet advises otherwise.
My dog lies down to eat. Should I raise the bowl?
Many dogs like to eat lying down, especially when they are chewing something. If it is new, or he seems to struggle to stand, have your vet look first before you change the bowl. Raising the bowl can mask a problem you want examined.
A bowl that works on the floor
See all stoneware dog bowls, in 14 cm for small dogs and 16.5 cm with a taller rim for medium and large dogs.
Want the whole feeding corner at once? The starter sets combine a bowl set with a placemat that catches what goes over the rim, from €44.95.
Still unsure about the material? Read what the best material for a dog bowl is.