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7 Best Dog Bowls for Labs – 2024 Reviews & Top Picks

Nicole Cosgrove Profile Picture

By Nicole Cosgrove

labrador and food bowl

Labrador Retrievers are one of the most popular dog breeds in the world, often considered America’s top family pet. Originally bred for hunting and retrieving, Labrador Retrievers are known for their balanced temperaments and loyalty to their families. They’re docile compared to other hunting dogs and usually easier to train than other working breeds, making them an excellent breed for first-time dog owners. Coupled with the fact that they’re surprisingly gentle around children and seem to be endlessly patient, it’s no wonder that these faithful canines have become so popular.

While it’s known that Labradors tend to be quite food motivated, the fact that they can be messy eaters is often found out the hard way. It can be tough to find the right solution to keep your Lab’s food inside the dish and off your floors. Some Labs may eat so excitably that they knock everything over, while others may enjoy tipping water bowls over for attention. Whatever the reason may be, your dog’s current bowls may not be the right choice. Thankfully, we’ve found seven different bowls and tested them out for you to see which ones are the best for your dog. Here are the 7 best dog bowls for Labs along with our reviews of each.


A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2024

Rating Image Product Details
Best Overall
Winner
MidWest Stainless Steel Snap'y Fit Dog Kennel Bowl MidWest Stainless Steel Snap'y Fit Dog Kennel Bowl
  • Snap-on holder to prevent spilling
  • Easy to assemble onto the crate
  • Adjustable to any crate
  • Best Value
    Second place
    JW Pet Skid Stop Basic Bowl JW Pet Skid Stop Basic Bowl
  • Made with stain-resistant hard plastic
  • The rubber trim on the bottom to prevent spills
  • Dishwasher safe
  • Premium Choice
    Third place
    Ethical Pet Stoneware Crock Pet Dish Ethical Pet Stoneware Crock Pet Dish
  • Made out of ceramic
  • Dishwasher safe and easy to clean
  • The heavyweight design prevents tipping
  • Loving Pets Dolce Double Diner Pet Dish Loving Pets Dolce Double Diner Pet Dish
  • Elevated for easy access
  • Rubber feet prevent skidding
  • Bowls are made of stainless steel
  • Petmate Silicone Round Collapsible Travel Pet Bowl Petmate Silicone Round Collapsible Travel Pet Bowl
  • Collapsible design for easy traveling
  • Made with BPA-free silicone
  • Comes in two sizes and colors
  • The 7 Best Dog Bowls for Labradors

    1. MidWest Stainless Steel Dog Kennel Bowl – Best Overall

    MidWest Stainless Steel Snap'y Fit Dog Kennel Bowl

    The MidWest Stainless Steel Snap’y Fit Dog Kennel Bowl is a high-quality bowl system for your eager Labrador’s crate. The snap-on bowl holder helps prevent water and food spillages while your dog is in the crate, especially for excited eaters that tend to flip over their bowls. The bowl holder is easy to assemble onto the crate with no tools needed to set it up, and it’s adjustable to any type of wire folding crate.

    The bowl itself is made with rust-resistant stainless-steel metal that is easy to clean and dishwasher safe, so your dog will always have a clean bowl to eat out of. There are multiple sizes available for you to choose and we recommend getting a larger size if you have a Labrador. The only issue with this dog bowl is that it’s specifically made for wire folding crates, so it’s not a great option for those who don’t crate train or have a different style crate. Aside from this, the MidWest Snap’y Fit Dog Kennel Bowl is the best overall dog bowl for Labradors.

    Pros
    • Snap-on holder to prevent spilling
    • Easy to assemble onto the crate
    • Adjustable to any crate
    • Made with rust-resistant stainless steel
    • Available in multiple sizes
    Cons
    • Made for wire folding crates

    2. JW Pet Skid Stop Basic Bowl – Best Value

    JW Pet Skid Stop Basic Bowl

    The JW Pet Skid Stop Basic Bowl is a great tip-proof dog bowl for eager eaters like Labradors without breaking the budget. It’s designed to prevent skidding and tipping over, keeping your floors free from kibbles and water. The bowl is made with a high-quality stain-resistant hard plastic, making it tough for bowl chewers and scratchers to destroy it. The JW Pet Bowl uses a thick rubber trim on the bottom of the bowl to prevent skidding and spilling as your dog eats, so this bowl is a great solution for sloppy eaters. It’s available in three different colors, making it easier to match your dog’s style and house décor. It’s also dishwasher safe and easy to clean by hand, which is important to prevent bacteria from building up. One issue we found is with the glue from the label on the inside, which is not easy to remove and can be a pain to clean for the first time. It’s also made with plastic, which can cause allergic reactions in some dogs.

    Plastic and label glue aside, the JW Pet Skid Stop Basic Bowl is the best bowl for Labradors for the money.

    Pros
    • Made with stain-resistant hard plastic
    • The rubber trim on the bottom to prevent spills
    • Dishwasher safe
    • Available in three different colors
    Cons
    • Plastic may cause an allergic reaction
    • Label glue in the inside is hard to remove

    3. Ethical Pet Stoneware Crock Pet Dish – Premium Choice

    Ethical Pet Stoneware Crock Pet Dish

    The Ethical Pet Stoneware Crock Pet Dish is a premium alternative to metal and plastic dishes, which both have their pros and cons. It’s made out of ceramic with a polished glaze finish, giving your dog a more luxurious dining experience. The heavyweight design helps prevent tipping and spilling with the weighted bottom since it can be too heavy to tip for some dogs. The bowl is dishwasher safe and easy to hand clean, keeping it free from germs and bacteria.

    The Ethical Pet Crock Pet Dish is also available in multiple sizes and it’s great for Labs of all life stages. The problem with stoneware and ceramic bowls is that they’re fragile and easily broken, so it’s not recommended for hyperactive or rambunctious Labs. Because of the fragility of this bowl, we kept it out of our top two spots. The only other issue we found is that the colors may vary from the picture, which can be disappointing. If your dog is calm and you don’t mind the slight color variation, the Ethical Pet Stoneware Crock Pet Dish is a great premium choice.

    Pros
    • Made out of ceramic
    • The heavyweight design prevents tipping
    • Dishwasher safe and easy to clean
    • Available in multiple sizes
    Cons
    • Stoneware is fragile and easily broken
    • Colors may vary from picture

    4. Loving Pets Dolce Double Diner Pet Dish

    Loving Pets Dolce Double Diner Pet Dish

    The Loving Pets Dolce Double Diner Pet Dish is a water and food dish set with a plastic stand. This is a great bowl and stand combo for dogs that need their dishes elevated for easy access, making mealtime a more comfortable experience. The stand itself is plastic and has rubber feet at the bottom to prevent skidding and moving as your dog eats. The bowls on the inside are made of stainless steel and are dishwasher safe, so the bowls themselves aren’t hard to clean.

    The problem is that the plastic stand is hard to clean and it is not dishwasher safe, which can cause bacteria to build up. Another issue is that the size of the bowls is on the smaller side, so we don’t recommend them for larger Labs. One last concern we had is that the plastic material of the stand feels fragile and weak, which may break from rough and aggressive eaters. For older, calmer Labradors that need an elevated dog bowl setup, the Loving Pets Dolce Double Diner Pet Dish is a good option.

    Pros
    • Elevated for easy access
    • Rubber feet prevent skidding
    • Bowls are made of stainless steel
    Cons
    • The plastic stand is hard to clean
    • Bowls are on the smaller side
    • Plastic material seems fragile

    5. Petmate Silicone Collapsible Travel Pet Bowl

    Petmate Silicone Round Collapsible Travel Pet Bowl

    The Petmate Silicone Round Collapsible Travel Pet Bowl is dog food or water bowl that’s great for people that go camping and hiking with their dogs. The bowl has a collapsible design that makes it easy for traveling, fitting in virtually any backpack or purse while you’re on the go. It’s made with BPA-free silicone that is dishwasher safe and easy to wipe clean in a pinch, so you can pop it in the dishwasher after a long day hiking with your Lab. It also comes in two different sizes and colors for a more personalized touch.

    Although it does come in large, it is on the smaller side and may not work for bigger Labs. The silicone itself is flimsy and will tip over easily, so it may not work for puppies or clumsier dogs. It also has some weaknesses at the seams and will tear eventually, so it’s not the most long-lasting option. While it’s a great bowl for traveling and works in a pinch, we recommend trying one of our top three picks first for better overall results.

    Pros
    • Collapsible design for easy traveling
    • Made with BPA-free silicone
    • Comes in two sizes and colors
    Cons
    • Seams weaken and tear over time
    • Flimsy silicone tips over easily
    • The large size is on the smaller side

    6. Frisco Stainless Steel Bowl

    Frisco Stainless Steel Bowl

    The Frisco Stainless Steel Bowl is a set of two metal bowls for your dog’s water and food. Each bowl is made with stainless steel metal, which is a good alternative for dogs allergic to nonmetal materials. The base on the bowls is made with rubber to help prevent skidding and movement while your dog eats, keeping your floors clean. The bowls are dishwasher safe and easy to clean, so they can be washed and sanitized when needed.

    However, the bowls are made with cheap quality metal that feels flimsy and weak, so the longevity of these is questionable. They’re also too lightweight and can be tipped over easily, making a mess if your dog tends to tip bowls over. The bowl sizes are another issue that we found since they’re advertised for large dogs, but they’re barely big enough for medium-sized dogs. While we recommend trying one of our top three choices first, the Frisco Stainless Steel Bowls may work for your dog.

    Pros
    • Made with stainless steel metal
    • Rubber base to prevent skidding
    • Dishwasher safe and easy to clean
    Cons
    • Cheap quality metal is flimsy
    • Lightweight design is easy to tip over
    • Bowl size is too small for big dogs

    7. Outward Hound Fun Feeder Dog Bowl

    Outward Hound Fun Feeder Dog Bowl

    The Outward Hound Fun Feeder Dog Bowl is a modern alternative to the traditional feeder. It’s designed with grooves to help slow down dogs that eat too fast, giving them the challenge to slow their eating. It also helps encourage natural foraging instincts, which can be a fun confidence booster for your dog. Aside from slowing your dog down, there aren’t many other benefits to the Outward Hound Fun Feeder. It’s notably hard to clean in between the grooves and may develop a film over time, even being washed in the dishwasher.

    Another problem is that the plastic grooves are a bit uncomfortable, making it awkward for some dogs to eat from. Some dogs may even struggle to eat from this bowl, especially wide-muzzled Labs that need bigger bowls to eat from. It’s also too lightweight for some dogs and can be picked up or flipped over easily, defeating the purpose of a slow feeder.

    Unless your dog eats too fast and needs to be slowed down, we recommend trying our other picks first for better quality and results.

    Pros
    • Helps slow down fast eaters
    • Encourages natural foraging instincts
    Cons
    • Hard to clean in between grooves
    • Plastic grooves are uncomfortable
    • Some dogs may struggle to eat
    • Can be picked up and flipped over

    Divider 2

    Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Dog Bowl for Your Lab

    When it comes to shopping for a dog bowl for your Lab, there are a few things that you want to keep in mind:

    Size

    Labs are considered to be large breed dogs, which means they eat a decent amount of food. As such, you’re going to want to make sure that the bowl you buy is large enough to hold the amount of food needed for each meal and large enough that your Lab can eat comfortably from it. Luckily, many bowls come in different sizes, so just choose the bowl that holds the amount of food you need it to.

    Material

    You’ll also want to carefully consider the material that the dog bowl is made of. If your Lab is one that eats more clumsily, moving the bowl all over the floor and knocking it into things, you may wish to choose one made from stainless steel or plastic rather than ceramic. You don’t want the bowl to crack, especially if it’s going to hold water.

    On the other hand, you also want to be careful with plastic, as plastic can be made with harmful chemicals that can leach into the food over time. Fortunately, most plastic dog bowls these days are made without BPA, so they are safer for dogs to eat from. But again, stainless steel will also be heavier than plastic if you don’t want your Lab to be able to move the bowl around while they eat.

    Anti-Slip Bottom

    Going along with moving the bowl around while they eat, you may wish to choose a bowl with an anti-slip bottom. These bowls usually contain rubber on the bottom, which keeps it from being moved around and knocked over easily. They’re good for messy eaters.

    Divider 2

    Conclusion: Finding the Best Dog Bowls for Labs

    After carefully testing and reviewing each product to see which bowl is best, we found the MidWest Stainless Steel Snap’y Fit Dog Kennel Bowl to be the best overall dog bowl for Labradors. The adjustable bowl clip can be used on any wire folding create and helps prevent tipping. The bowl is also made with high-quality stainless steel and is even dishwasher safe.

    Overall, it’s a great dog bowl for Labs that tend to be messy eaters. For the best value, we found the winner to be the JW Pet Skid Stop Basic Bowl. It’s a dishwasher-safe hard plastic bowl with a rubber base to stop it from moving around. This is the perfect bowl for Labs that push their bowls as they eat.

    We hope that this list will help you find the right dog dish for your Lab. It can be tough to find the right product for your dog, especially with the endless amount of dog products online. While we tested each product with your dog’s safety and wellness in mind, we can’t guarantee that they’ll work for your dog’s specific needs. If you’re wondering what size dog bowl for Labradors, we hope this has answered your questions!

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