Deep or shallow: how to pick a slow feeder
Pick a slow feeder by the shape of your dog's face and the size of their meals. A deep feeder like the SodaPup Honeycomb eBowl (about 2 inches deep, holds about 4 cups) suits medium and large dogs. A shallow one like the SodaPup Mandala eTray (less than an inch deep, holds about 1 cup) is the one for flat-faced breeds, small dogs, and puppies, because every pocket is within reach of a short snout.
If what you're after is less a slower dinner and more something slow for your dog to work at while you trim nails or run a bath, that's a lick mat, and the SodaPup Honeycomb eMat does that job. All three are made in the USA by SodaPup, and all three go on the top rack of the dishwasher.
What does a slow feeder actually do?
A slow feeder breaks one open bowl of food into lots of small pockets. The ridges spread the food out, so instead of scooping up a mouthful at a time, your dog has to work each piece loose with nose and tongue. Most fast eaters slow down, and dinner turns into a small puzzle instead of a race.
That's the whole job, and it's worth being straight about: a slow feeder changes how food comes out of the bowl. It isn't a treatment for anything. If something about the way your dog eats worries you, ask your vet. They outrank any bowl, and any blog post.
When is a deep slow feeder the right pick?
Go deep when your dog is medium or large. The Honeycomb eBowl is sized for exactly that dog, and at about 4 cups it holds a lot more than the shallow tray.
- About 8" across and 2" deep, holds about 4 cups
- Rigid BPA-free plastic, made in the USA by SodaPup
- Yellow or blue
- Top-rack dishwasher safe and freezer safe
The one real limit is that depth. At 2 inches, it's hard going for small dogs and flat-faced breeds like pugs and Frenchies. If that describes your dog, skip ahead.
Why do flat-faced dogs and small dogs need a shallow feeder?
Because a slow feeder only works if your dog can reach the food. A pug or a Frenchie can't get a short face down into deep ridges, and 2 inches is a long way down for a small dog, too.
The Mandala eTray solves that by being only less than an inch deep. Short snouts reach everything, but the ridges still spread the food into dozens of small pockets that take time to clean out. It works with kibble, wet food, raw, or anything soft enough to smear, and it suits puppies, small dogs, and older dogs who find deep bowls awkward.
- About 8" across and under 1" deep, holds about 1 cup
- Rigid BPA-free plastic, made in the USA by SodaPup
- Blue, pink, green, purple, or yellow
- Top-rack dishwasher safe and freezer safe
The tradeoff is capacity. It holds about a cup, so a bigger dog may need two rounds, or the deeper eBowl.
How do the three compare?
| Feeder | Depth | Holds | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honeycomb eBowl | About 2 in | About 4 cups | Medium and large dogs |
| Mandala eTray | Under 1 in | About 1 cup | Flat-faced breeds, small dogs, puppies |
| Honeycomb eMat | Flat | A spread of soft food | Nail trims, bath time, a slow snack |
Where does a lick mat fit in?
A lick mat isn't a bowl. It's a flat mat covered in honeycomb cells that you spread with something soft, like plain yogurt, pumpkin, wet food, or peanut butter (a brand without xylitol). Your dog licks it out of the cells a little at a time, which gives them something slow and absorbing to do while you trim nails, give a bath, or just need twenty minutes to yourself.
The Honeycomb eMat is made in the USA by SodaPup from flexible, BPA-free TPE. It lies flat with no suction cups, so it goes on the floor, a plate, or a tray.
- Large: about 8" x 8"
- Small: a smaller mat for small dogs and puppies
- Yellow
- Top-rack dishwasher safe and freezer safe
Stay nearby while it's in use. Some dogs decide the corners are the treat, and a lick mat isn't a chew toy, so pick it up once the licking's done.
Can you freeze food in a slow feeder?
Yes. All three of these are freezer safe. You can freeze wet food in the eBowl or the eTray, or freeze a spread on the eMat, and a frozen meal or spread takes longer to work through than a fresh one.
How do you clean a slow feeder, and when should you replace it?
All three go on the top rack of the dishwasher, which matters more than it sounds: ridges and cells hold on to food, and a feeder you can't get clean is one you stop using.
None of them is a chew toy. Pick the bowl or tray up after meals, especially if your dog likes to gnaw, and replace it if it cracks. Replace the lick mat if the edges get chewed.
Which one should you get?
Start with your dog's face, then their appetite. Medium or large dog with a regular-length snout: the Honeycomb eBowl. Flat face, small dog, or puppy: the Mandala eTray. Something slow to lick at during grooming time: the Honeycomb eMat.
You can see all three side by side in Feeding Gear. It's gear only, no food or treats, so everything there works with whatever your dog already eats.