Design of a Modern Dog Bowl

Just over 160 years ago, dog-owners were still feeding their furry friends scraps from the table. It wasn’t until 1860 that modern technology allowed for the development of the first commercially available dog biscuit. Our understanding of animal science and nutrition has continued to evolve throughout the 20th century, and veterinarians have since placed great scrutiny on what goes in our pet’s food. 

While much research has gone into improving the quality and safety of what our pets eat, the research into how our pets eat is just now catching up. 

With pet health and safety in mind, WeatherTech has conducted extensive research and collaborated with top veterinarians and animal scientists to develop the innovative design of our Pet Feeding System. The high-quality bowl and stand features numerous benefits that ease the process of daily feeding for dogs and also keeps them safe and healthy.

Customized Elevated Design 

One of the most important aspects of the design of the WeatherTech Pet Feeding System is its customized sizing options. The research and science into whether an elevated feeder is beneficial for all dogs and all breeds is a highly debated topic among animal scientists and veterinarians alike. The commonly accepted response to that controversial question is that it depends upon each individual pet’s specific needs. If your dog is healthy, feeding with a standard, low profile dog bowl is completely acceptable. Dogs have evolved to eat off the ground, so eating from a floor level pet bowl is perfectly natural for them. However, if your dog has certain health issues or behavioral concerns, an elevated pet feeder may be highly beneficial for them and help aide in their feeding time. 

Elevated dog bowls can aide with common health issues such as: 

Many dogs afflicted with osteoarthritis, hip dysplasia or other joint conditions find discomfort when bending over to eat due to pain or soreness in the muscles and joints. This is an especially common problem found in older dogs. The elevated pet feeder alleviates some of this pain and stress by bringing the bowl closer to their natural standing position and promotes better posture for your pup.

Another common issue that veterinarians come across is problems stemming from poor digestion – namely gastric discomfort, bloating and excessive gas. The source of these problems often lies with the angle at which they are eating and the effects it has on their eating habits. If a dog is uncomfortable when eating from a low level, they may find themselves rushing through mealtime, causing indigestion. Similarly, some larger dogs have a tendency to lie down to eat, also causing digestion problems. One way to effectively correct many of these digestive issues is by raising the pet’s head above their stomach when eating to make for a much smoother eating experience.

When dogs eat from the floor, their head is facing down towards their feet, making some dogs feel territorial and possessive when eating because they cannot see anyone that may be approaching. This can lead to behavior problems such as being aggressive when other people or pets come near their food bowl. Raising the bowl can provide them the ability to see around during mealtime and mitigate aggressive tendencies.

Ergonomic Bowl Design 

Working with animal scientists, WeatherTech assessed the most comfortable shape for a pet’s feeding experience and health. The elongated, tear-drop shaped bowl is designed around your pet’s snout and provides a natural, strain-free access to their food and water. With a standard deep dish bowl, pets tend to eat quickly as the quick motions help them grasp the food, which often causes problems such as indigestion and bloating. The more natural angled bowl design allows your pet to take its time feeding and enjoy its mealtime – all the while reducing strain, gas/bloating and potential messes making for a cleaner, healthier eating environment for your pet.

Designed to Eliminate Mess & Clean Easily 

The sloped surfaces of the bowl stand and the pitched mat design of the mat work together with the outer lip barrier to direct food and water onto the mat and off of the floor. The stand and mat lock into place when in use so the stand won’t move, shift or tumble over during mealtime, causing unwanted messes. Also, all three pieces of the Pet Feeding System are 100% dishwasher-safe.

Designed with Pet Health in Mind 

All of the materials used in the Pet Feeding System’s design were carefully chosen with the health and safety of your pet in mind. The stainless steel pet bowls are free from lead, mercury, cadmium, radiation and other toxins. WeatherTech understands the dangers these have on our pet’s health so they only use high quality food grade 304 stainless steel. The stainless steel bowl is 100% Non-Toxic and NSF Certified, making it safe for even human food! The plastics used in creating the stand and mat are FDA approved featuring both antifungal and anti-microbial additives to provide a safe and germ resistant eating environment for your pet.

From the ergonomic design of the bowl and elevated stand, to the mess-containing features of the mat, to the use of the safest and highest quality materials, WeatherTech’s Pet Feeding System has set the standard for the modern dog bowl design.