Best Bowls for Small Dogs In 2024 – Reviews & Top Picks

If you’ve looked online or tried buying from a pet store, you’ll know there is a surprisingly wide range of bowls made from various materials and offering different features. You will need two bowls, one for food and one for water. The bowls need to be suitably sized, easy to clean, and shouldn’t retain odor or bacteria. You may also need a bowl with anti-slip and anti-spill features, while some dogs may also benefit from having a raised feeder.

To help you find the best bowls for small dogs, we have included reviews of the best options that are ideal for small dogs and easy for you to manage and maintain.

 

A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2024

The 10 Best Bowls for Small Dogs

1. Hepper NomNom Bowl – Best Overall

The best overall bowl for small dogs is the Hepper NomNom Bowl. The two stainless steel bowls, which measure 4 x 5 inches and are 1 inch deep, are seated in a PP plastic tray that is designed to catch water and stray food, meaning less mess on the floor. The two dishes can be used for any combination of wet and dry food and water. The bowls are raised slightly, making it easier to swallow and digest food, and the tray and bowls can be placed on the top shelf of a dishwasher. Stainless steel is easy to clean, it doesn’t retain odors, and the bowl sizes are comfortable for very small dogs.

The bowls are a little more expensive than most, but they are easy to clean and they make it easy to keep the surrounding area clean, too.

You might have guessed, this is our own product – but we love it so much we just have to share it, and hope you get to own one too!

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2. Loving Pets Bella Bowls Pet Bowl – Best Value

The Loving Pets Bella Bowls Pet Bowl is a single stainless steel bowl that has a poly-resin exterior with a paw print motif printed on it. The bowl measures 5.5 x 5.5 inches and is 2 inches deep. It can be put in the dishwasher to keep it clean, although you do need to remove the rubber base first, and it has a non-skid base.

The non-skid base not only prevents the bowl from being pushed around hard floors, but also reduces the scraping and scratching noise that accompanies some bowls. The Loving Pets bowl is inexpensive and because it can be put in the dishwasher, it is easy to clean, although it does require a little effort removing the base.

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3. YETI Boomer Dog Bowl – Premium Choice

The YETI Boomer Dog Bowl is on the larger side, as well as being on the expensive side, but it is a tough bowl that is especially well suited to dogs that like to throw their bowls around and cause a mess. The thick stainless steel bowl is dishwasher safe and it has a textured ring on the bottom that is designed to prevent it from being easily pushed around.

The extra thick stainless steel also means that it won’t be chipped, bent, or dinged if it gets knocked around. Its toughness also makes it a good choice for outdoor use or adventurous travels. The extra size can be useful if you need space to stir or mix food in the bowl: with smaller bowls, stirring the food can cause spillage.

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4. Frisco Silicone Stainless Steel Dog  Bowl – Best for Puppies

Puppies generally need to eat more often, but in smaller amounts, which means that smaller bowls are beneficial. The Frisco Silicone Stainless Steel Double Diner Dog & Cat Bowl set is a silicone tray, designed to catch stray food and spilt water, with two stainless steel bowls.

The bowls are small, holding up to half a cup of food, although there is a larger set that holds up to 1.5 cups. The tray not only catches stray food and water, but also helps prevent the bowls from being pushed around. The mat and the bowls can all be put in the dishwasher, on the top shelf, and the stainless steel bowls are safe and they don’t collect or retain smells from the food inside. The set is also really inexpensively priced, but the bowls pop out of the tray easily and the silicone is easily bent out of shape if your puppy is a little clumsy or a vigorous eater.

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5. Ethical Pet Stoneware Crock Pet Dish

The Ethical Pet Stoneware Crock Pet Dish is a heavy earthenware dish that can be used as a food or water dish. It is dishwasher safe and easy to clean, and its weight means that the dish is difficult to push around, although it doesn’t have an anti-slip base or tread. The size and weight of the bowl not also make it difficult to knock over.

The bowl measures 4.75 x 4.75 inches and is 2 inches deep, and the small size has a capacity of 1.5 cups, although this won’t leave any room for stirring or mixing the contents of the bowl. It is a little on the expensive side, but this is to be expected with ceramic bowls, and overall, it is a good option for those who prefer stoneware dog bowls. It is on the heavy side for a single bowl, though.

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6. Frisco Marble Design Non-Skid Ceramic Dog Bowl

The Frisco Marble Design Non-Skid Ceramic Dog & Cat Bowl is an attractive ceramic bowl with a marble-looking finish. It has non-skid feet to prevent slippage and noise, and the bowl is both microwave and dishwasher-safe.

The bowl is a little expensive for a simple bowl, but its ceramic design is heavy and difficult to damage while its non-slip feet keep it securely in place, and the design is different from the utilitarian look of stainless steel bowls. The small bowl is said to hold two cups, but it is a squeeze to fit that much food in and if you need to mix or add any topper to the food, it will spill out.

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7. Cosmo Furbabies Single Dog Diner

The Cosmo Furbabies Single Dog & Cat Diner is a single ceramic bowl that comes with a wooden X-shaped stand that the bowl fits into. The 6-inch stoneware dish is bigger than most on this list, holding up to four cups of food, but this does allow for food and supplements or toppers to be properly mixed. The frame also serves to raise the bowl off the ground a little way, so the bowl is an elevated feeder. This same feature also eliminates the damp layer that can easily form under the bowl.

The bowl is dishwasher safe, although the wooden frame isn’t and will need to be hand-cleaned to get rid of any debris.

The Cosmo is quite expensive because you are paying for a ceramic bowl and a wooden frame, and as well as being a little large, it would benefit from having non-slip feet. If you feed your dog on a carpeted floor, it shouldn’t slide around, though.

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8. Frisco Silicone Collapsible Travel Bowl with Carabiner

The Frisco Silicone Collapsible Travel Bowl with Carabiner is portable; one to carry with you when you’re out walking or on a day’s adventure. It folds down, concertina style, into a frisbee shape and is made from BPA-free silicone. It comes with a carabiner attached so the bowl can be easily fixed to a backpack or other bag.

The silicone is easy to fold but it is small, and the silicone can become misshapen and easily damaged if you don’t take care of it. It is dishwasher safe, and the texture of the silicone material means it is naturally non-slip and anti-skid. It isn’t meant for everyday use, but the Frisco Silicone Collapsible Travel Bowl is a convenient, portable bowl that is useful for travel and adventures and it is very reasonably priced.

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9. MidWest Stainless Steel Snap’y Fit Dog Kennel Bowl

The MidWest Stainless Steel Snap’y Fit Dog Kennel Bowl is designed for use in kennels and crates. It snaps firmly onto the wall of the crate and can be used to hold water or food. It is reasonably priced for the type of bowl and because it snaps onto the walls, it doesn’t get knocked over and cause spills in the crate. You can also buy a two-pack of the bowls so you can provide one for food and one for water.

However, it is a very small bowl holding up to one and a quarter cups, and while it can be cleaned with warm water and soap, it isn’t dishwasher safe so it does require manual cleaning between each use.

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10. JW Pet Skid Stop Basic Pet Bowls

The JW Pet Skid Stop Basic Pet Bowls are basic, plastic dog bowls. Although they have a 7-inch diameter, this is the external diameter and because of the shape of the bowl, the inside is much smaller, so it is a struggle to fit two cups of food or water in the bowl.

While it does have a non-slip rubber base, the bowl still slides around, likely because it is so lightweight. However, the basic bowl is inexpensive, it can be put in the dishwasher to keep it clean, and it is lightweight and easy to move around and fill when required.

 

Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Bowl For Your Small Dog

Choosing the right dog bowl is just one decision you will have to make when getting the right equipment for your pup. But it is an important step. The wrong bowl may put your dog off eating or drinking, thus preventing them from getting their required daily nutrition and staying hydrated. Choosing the right bowl can also make your life easier, eliminating noise, making maintenance easier, and negating the need to have to fill the bowls too often.

Bowl Material

The material the bowl is made from will determine how easy it is to clean but also how easily it can become damaged and potentially even whether your dog will like it. The materials most commonly used are stainless steel, ceramic, and plastic, although some travel bowls are also made from silicone.

Bowl Size

As well as looking at the material of the bowl, you will need to choose one that is an appropriate size. Generally, bowls are measured according to how many cups of food or water can be placed inside. Bear in mind that the measurements are usually calculated when filled right to the limit, so while a two-cup bowl can hold two cups of food, you will likely have to put less in than this otherwise the food or water will spill. You can also check the dimensions of the bowls and ensure that they aren’t too deep because this makes it difficult for your dog to get to the last few drops or morsels.

Anti-Slip Feet

Even small dogs can end up pushing their bowls around the floor. Not only does it make a loud noise that can unsettle dogs and people, but a moving bowl is more likely to spill its contents. Anti-slip feet, or an anti-slip base, are made of rubber or another textured material that provides grip and prevents the bowl from moving. This is especially beneficial with stainless steel bowls but also useful for ceramic models. If you have a carpeted floor, anti-slip feet may not be as important.

Anti-Spill Trays

Some bowl sets offer two bowls that slot into holes in a tray. This keeps the bowls together, which is generally fine for dogs, and the tray acts to catch bits of stray food and spilled water. An anti-spill tray is beneficial for those dogs that make a lot of mess when they’re eating, although it is difficult to completely eradicate all mess.

Dishwasher Safe

You will need to keep your dog bowls clean, and this means cleaning them every few uses, if not every single day. Many bowls are dishwasher-safe. Some are said to be safe to put in the top rack of the dishwasher, where temperatures do not get as high and there is less risk of melting or damage being caused to the glaze or surface of the bowl. If a bowl doesn’t say it is dishwasher safe, you will need to clean it by hand, typically using warm, soapy water.

Crate Bowls

Crate bowls are those that are designed so that they can be clipped or hung from the metal bars of a dog crate. Using a standard bowl will typically mean that the dog knocks the bowl over and causes spillage. Healthy adult dogs don’t need water in their crate overnight, and you should be getting up to let a puppy out for toilet breaks and water breaks, so unless it is very hot out or your dog is in their crate for extended periods during the day, there isn’t really a need to put a water bowl in a crate. If you do need one, it is better to choose a bowl designed specifically for this purpose because it will be less likely to get knocked over and cause a mess.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Should Dogs Use Elevated Bowls?

Elevated bowls can be beneficial for some pups. They can help slow a frantic eater and make it easier to digest food. Because they are housed in a frame, elevated bowls can also stop the bowl from sliding.

Do Dogs Like Metal Bowls?

While most dogs will happily use a stainless steel bowl, some may not be as comfortable with this material. They might not like the reflective surface or the fact that the metal clanks and makes a noise. If your dog doesn’t like stainless steel, try a ceramic bowl. If it is the noise, try a bowl with anti-slip feet because these do help reduce the scraping and scratching noises.

Is Plastic Safe for Dogs?

There are some potential dangers associated with plastic bowls. If your dog is a destructive chewer, you should avoid plastic bowls because chewed-up pieces of plastic can cause gastrointestinal problems if swallowed. Always ensure that you clean plastic bowls thoroughly. Plastic is porous and bacteria can get in the tiny holes.

 

Conclusion

Getting the right dog bowl is important, and there is a large selection of bowls in different materials and with different features. The reviews above should help you find the best bowls for small dogs that meet your criteria, and those of your dog.

We believe the Hepper NomNom Bowl is the best overall because the double bowl set includes an anti-spill tray to catch any debris and water, while the Loving Pets Bella Bowls Pet Bowl is a cheap stainless steel bowl that is dishwasher safe and has an anti-slip base to prevent noise and accidents.

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Featured Image Credit: New Africa, Shutterstock