Why are ceramic dog bowls better
The 6 Best Ceramic Dog Bowls: Tested & Evaluated 2024
The 6 Best Ceramic Dog Bowls: Tested & Evaluated 2024
Written ByVedrana Nikolic| Canine Coach, B.A Ethnology & Anthropology, M.A Semiotics.Edited & Fact Checked By Renae Soppe | B.A Journalism & Science.Last Updated: 10th January 2024
Our pooches deserve the best dog bowls. And when it comes to food and water bowls, that means high-quality ceramic. But with so many products on the market, how to pick the best one?
We have the answers here! To help you get the best information, we joined forces with canine nutritionists, veterinarians and dog parents to form a team of independent experts. We then researched the most popular ceramic dog bowls on the market, testing out dozens of contenders with the help of our faithful pooches. After several weeks and many, many ceramic bowls later, we were finally able to agree on the contents of this guide.
So in this article, well go over everything you need to know before buying. Join us on the quest to find the best ceramic dog bowl in Australia.
Our Number 1 Pick -Masterpet Stoneware Dog Bowl
- Heavy base to keep it in place
- Quite affordable
- Three size options
- Thick walls
Runner Up -Gummi Pet Ceramic Bowl
- Non-slip silicone base
- Cool design
- Two colour options
- Two sizes to choose from
Third Choice -DII Bone Dry Lattice Ceramic Pet Bowl for Food & Water
- Variety of colour options
- Silicone rim prevents skidding
- Different size options
- Sold in singles and pairs
Australia's Best Ceramic Pet Bowls Reviewed
Now you know what makes ceramic dog bowls so great and what to look for when shopping around for your pet. Next, we share our top choices when it comes to the best ceramic dog bowls in Australia. These are the bowls that wowed our team of independent experts and kept our dogs happy, fed and hydrated.
What sets this product apart from the rest?
- Heavy base to keep it in place
- Quite affordable
- Three size options
- Thick walls
A ceramic bowl worth this title doesnt need to have tons of bells and whistles. Weve put this bowl by Masterpet at the top of this list because it has a simple yet functional and durable design that comes at an affordable price.
Brown on the outside and blue on the inside, this bowls neutral tones will blend into practically any room decor. It only comes in the one colour scheme, so if you prefer more choices, we recommend you check out our number three choice below.
But aside from being stylish, this bowl is very high-quality. I appreciated that its made of durable ceramic and features a heavy base. This design prevented my pooch from "accidentally" tipping the bowl when using it (or in my case, trying to tip the bowl over in a madcap attempt to acquire more dinner).
This bowl comes in several sizes, the S being 13 centimetres, while L being 23 centimetres in diameter. This means that every member of our team of independent experts could find a suitable size for their canine companion, no matter what breed.
The thick walls of this bowl allow both food and water to stay cool for quite a long time. This is especially important if you live in a hot climate. Another quite convenient thing about this bowl is that it's dishwasher safe, so cleaning it was a piece of cake.
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- Non-slip silicone base
- Cool design
- Two colour options
- Two sizes to choose from
Coming up on a close second place are these beautiful ceramic bowls by Gummi Pet. Its no secret that they caught our eye because of their looks, but the quality of the design is nothing less important.
The bowl is made of high-quality ceramic thats built to last, like our number one choice. But what sets it apart is its base. Its embedded into a silicone base that keeps it in place at all times, even with bowl throwers like my dog. The silicone base is food-grade and easy to wash along with the ceramic part of the bowl.
The Gummi Pet Ceramic Bowl being tested by our independent expert team.
This specific bowl has a pink silicone base, but theres also a blue alternative if youre a proud owner of a furry boy. But regardless of the colour, these bowls feature cool phrases, like I licked it so its mine. The phrases are printed inside on the bottom of the bowl, visible only after your pooch eats the last bit of the dinner.
The bowl comes in two sizes, Medium and Large. The M has a diameter of 13 centimetres, but the large ceramic dog bowl is slightly smaller than the standard. Its still suitable for most large dogs, but we think it might be a bit small for Mastiffs and St. Bernards.
- Variety of colour options
- Silicone rim prevents skidding
- Different size options
- Sold in singles and pairs
Even though its just a bowl, thats not a good enough reason not to buy the most stylish option out there. If you like matching products, then youll surely love these ceramic bowls by Bone Dry.
The first that will surely grab your attention is a large choice of colours. From neutrals like grey and black to vivids like green and nautical blue, theres surely a shade that will look good in your home.
The DII Bone Dry Lattice Ceramic Pet Bowl for Food & Water being tested by our independent expert team.
When it comes to sizes, they range from S to L. But theyre a bit smaller than the standard, with the smallest being 12 and the largest being 19 centimetres in diameter. Still, even large dogs belonging to members of our independent expert team, like German Shepherds, could easily use the L version without trouble.
Similar to our second choice, the bowl features a silicone rim at the bottom that keeps it from sliding around the floor when your pooch is eating and making a mess. This means you dont have to use a non-skid mat underneath as well. To clean the bowl, you can just put it in the dishwasher on the top rack.
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- More than one pet can use at a time
- Can hold up to 2 litres of water
- Carbon filters keep the water clean
- Rather quiet
Depending on where you live, tap water might not be of the best quality. And while we might not notice it, our pets surely do see the difference in taste and smell. To give them the best drinking water possible, invest in a good pet fountain, like this ceramic one by PetSafe.
This fountain comes in two colour options, taupe and blue. It comes in a single size, with dimensions of 27 x 31 x 21 centimetres, meaning its pretty similar to standard bowls for large dogs. And with a capacity of 2 litres, this fountain is one of the best extra-large ceramic dog water bowls out there.
The PetSafe Drinkwell Ceramic Pagoda being tested by our independent expert team.
The fountain features an upper and lower dish as well as two water streams. This allows the dogs to drink in any way they want, whether its from the flow or the bowl itself. With a 12-voltage system and submersible pump, you dont have to worry about this fountain making much noise.
What makes the water fresher is not just the fact that its constantly moving. The fountain also comes with a replaceable carbon filter that removes all the bad things that give water odour and flavour. And when its time for cleaning, I was able to simply put it on the top rack of my dishwasher and it came out as new.
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- Affordable
- Cute design
- Quite heavy
- Two sizes available
Even though a good ceramic bowl can last a pretty long time with proper care, the initial cost is usually way bigger than with bowls made of other materials. Of course, there are exceptions. This product from Petface, for example, doesnt break the bank.
The design of this bowl is pretty simple. Its blue on the inside and white on the outside, with the lettering doggy which clearly indicates that your pooch is the owner of the bowl. This makes it similar to our number one choice in terms of only being available in one style.
Luckily, there are two sizes available, M and L. The former is 13 centimetres in diameter and suitable for small and medium pooches. For dogs like Golden Retrievers and bigger breeds, the latter size is a better option.
The bowl is quite heavy, so it stays in place even if your pooch is aggressively cleaning food leftovers from it. Its also quite thick, so it keeps the water and food cool for quite some time. Like most ceramic bowls, its also easy to clean. You can hand wash it or put it in your dishwasher.
- Thick walls keep water cool
- Generous depth
- Freezer and microwave-safe
- Quite heavy
Most ceramic dog bowls on the market are suitable to be used for holding both food and water. But its the little things that make the difference, and thats pretty clear with this water bowl by Mason Cash.
At the first glimpse, you can easily see that this bowl is taller than most other products on the market. It has a generous depth of 9 centimetres and can contain as much as 900 milliliters of water. This makes it a perfect product for those always-thirsty pooches.
The Mason Cash Cane Lettered Water Bowl being tested by our independent expert team.
But even though its tall, this bowl is by no means easy to tip over. Its made of heavy-duty stoneware and weighs almost 1 kilogram when empty. I was happy to discover that this makes it suitable even for the largest and clumsiest of pooches, like mine.
The bowl has rather thick walls, so it keeps water cool for longer. But during hot summer days, that might not be enough. Our team of experts loved how its freezer-safe, so you can quickly cool your poochs water whenever needed. Plus, the bowl is also microwave-safe, so you can use it to warm up your dogs food as well.
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Why Is A Ceramic Bowl Better?
Ceramic bowls have grown quite popular in recent years, and not without reason. Heres why our team of independent experts say theyre better than bowls made of other common materials, like steel and plastic.
Its Heavy
Whats that weird creaking sound? Oh, thats just your dog pushing the bowl around. Dogs generally do this for a variety of reasons, from stashing food away to simply trying to reach that tiny piece of kibble in the corner (1). Whatever the intention might be, whats sure is that light bowls get pushed around the room a lot.
Furthermore, some dogs like to play with practically anything. This can also include carrying a food bowl in their mouth all around the house. With some materials, like plastic, it doesnt end there. Especially for puppies, plastic bowls can also be appealing to chew on while teething.
Ceramic bowls are the heaviest type of bowls out there, so theres less chance of you having to search the house trying to find out where it ended up. Likewise, the tough material will discourage your dog from trying to chew on the bowl.
Its Easy To Clean
This is a pretty obvious reason. After all, most (if not all) of your plates and mugs are ceramic as well? Then, you already know that thats one of the easiest materials out there to clean. It only takes a bit of soap and mild water, and even the toughest food remains will be gone.
Whats more, ceramic bowls are usually dishwasher-safe, so you can put them in the same cycle as your other dishes.
Its Hygienic
Ceramic is non-porous and scratch-resistant, meaning theres no place where bacteria can hide and grow (2). Of course, they still need to be cleaned every day, but you dont have to worry about your dogs health.
With that being said, keep in mind that ceramic can crack under impact. In case of a bigger crack, dogs can accidentally hurt themselves while using the bowl. But in most cases, the cracks are minimal but still dangerous. Thats because they create a room where bacteria can potentially hide and grow.
Factors I Consider When Buying A Ceramic Dog Bowl
Before you go ham and buy the first ceramic bowl that catches your eye, you should know there are things to consider when shopping, aside from colours and patterns. These are the factors our panel of experts weighed when researching the best ceramic dog bowls:
Size
The most important factor has got to be the size. Ideally, a bowl should contain the right amount of water and food. Now obviously, different breeds have different daily intakes, but you shouldnt stick to it blindly. Thats especially true if youre not home most of the day, meaning you cant refill the bowl when needed.
Depth
Another important feature of a ceramic bowl is depth. Whats the point in buying the best bowl out there if your canine companion cant even fit the snout inside? Likewise, you dont want to get your pooch a bowl that can double as a swimming pool.
When it comes to food or water, depth is a bit more important in the case of the latter. Most dogs splash when drinking, so high walls prevent creating a water puddle around the bowl. Whats more, depth is rather important for dogs with long snouts, like Greyhounds or Dachshunds, as they allow them to easily access their food in the bowl without chasing it.
Non-Slip Bottom
Since theyre heavy, ceramic bowls arent easily moved around. Still, a large dog determined to get the last bit of food out of it can move it from spot A to spot B. To avoid that from happening, many products come with a non-slip bottom, usually made of silicone.
Additional Features
While expensive, water fountains are the best thing you can buy your dog for hydration. Even though they use the same water from your tap, they contain purifying filters to make it cleaner. Whats more, continuous movement keeps the water cool for a longer time.
If youre an owner of an elderly or injured dog, then getting a raised bowl is worth considering. It allows your pooch to reach food and water without strain on their neck from lowering.
My Final Verdict
Everyone on our team of independent experts could agree that the ceramic bowl by Masterpet stands out from the rest with its simple yet durable design. And with different sizes available, you can surely find the one suitable for your pooch.
Alternatively, you cant go wrong by choosing Gummi bowls either. With a silicone base and funny quotes, theyre surely unique enough.
Should I throw away a cracked ceramic bowl?
Once scratched, chipped or cracked, a ceramic bowl can be a potential source of bacterial growth. Even with a dishwasher, its hard to clean these tiny areas 100%, so its always better to get rid of the bowl and buy another one.
Can ceramic contain lead?
Most ceramic does contain lead, but in such small amounts that its not dangerous to health, be it ours or our pets. To have peace of mind when buying, look for a sign that says the bowl is food-safe.
How often should I wash my dogs ceramic bowl?
Regardless of the material a dog bowl is made of, it should be washed after each use. And by washing, we mean cleaning it with hot water and soap. Then every once a week, you should also do bleach sanitizing to make sure the bowl is free of any pathogens (3).
References
- Jones, C. What Does It Mean When a Puppy Pushes His Bowl Away? The Nest. Retrieved February 18, 2023. https://pets.thenest.com/mean-puppy-pushes-his-bowl-away-12362.html
- Khoriaty, A. February 9, 2017. What is the best material for pet food bowls? PetMeds. Retrieved February 18, 2023. https://blog.petmeds.com/1800petmeds/what-is-the-best-material-for-pet-food-bowls/
- McMahan, D. August 10, 2020. You Arent Cleaning Your Pets Bowls Often Enough The Kitchen. Retrieved February 18, 2023. https://www.thekitchn.com/how-often-the-best-way-to-wash-pet-bowls-253830
