Why Use Elevated Dog Bowls for Labrador Retrievers?

by Shannon Steffen on November 17, 2011

Chocolate Labrador Drinking Water

Veterinarians often recommend that large breed dogs she used elevated feeding bowls to help prevent bloat and other digestive disorders. However, there seems to be conflicting information as to whether or not elevated feeding bowls for dogs actually help with trapped gas or any other G.I. problems associated to either eating too fast or eating in the wrong position. So why do the Labrador Retriever brats use elevated feeding bowls?

At first we purchased the elevated dog feeding bowls because of all the stories of bloat gas and digestive disorders that come with large breed dogs. We wanted to protect our canine companions. But, ultimately, it came down to a simple need to keep our Labrador retrievers from trying to swim in their water bowls.

Shortly after we had brought Dakota home she began swimming with her front paws in her bowl of water. My kitchen was a mess! Water everywhere and my poor puppy not understanding what she did wrong.

I just couldn’t get angry and it isn’t the puppy’s fault for wanting to do what was in her nature – swim. Labrador retrievers are phenomenal swimmers and have the innate skill and the physical attributes to swim long distances while retrieving their hunting prey.

In order to save my kitchen floor and prevent myself from yelling “No!” at my poor puppy, I decided to move the water bowl out of reach. Seeing as we already had the elevated dog food bowls, we used what we had while allowing our Labrador Retriever to quench her thirst whenever she wanted. Thus, saving my puppy’s sanity as well as my kitchen floor.

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  • http://twitter.com/audaciouslady audaciouslady

    I use an elevated bowl for my dog because it stores the food as well. ;) I pop up the top and scoop out the food. It has a place for the water bowl and food bowl. Hope you are doing well. We met at Blogher12 in the hallway as we ran away from boring speakers. :)  

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  • http://dogshockcollarguide.com/ Boyan Silyavski

    Hi,
    I saw on G+ somebody was promoting a special bowl that makes the dog eat slower. I cant remember though what was the name of it or the brand.  Some clever people out there. It had some elevated part inside and was supposed to slow the dog eating. In fact i have never had problems with dogs boating, as my dogs exercise  a lot. Or we are just lucky, who knows.

  • John

    Great article. I have found that although young dogs can eat out of a bowl that is placed on the floor, as a Labrador gets older, they’ll start to need the elevated bowl simply because bending down that far to eat can become a challenge. So simple to do, and yet it has such a large benefit!

     – John Andersen

    Labrador Behavior Problems? Free mini-course teaches how to solve the most common problems…
    http://labrador.behaviorproblemssolved.com

    • Ann

      I have a large lab/great dane mixed puppy (11 months 0ld).  She is very intelligent and has been extremely obedient and easy to train.  She is very sweet, friendly and loveable.  However, when she decides she does not want to follow a command, she can be as stubborn as they come.  I just had such a row with her!!   She has happily retrieved her heavy plastic bowl at feeding time for 7 months, and until the last few months, she also retrieved my other dog’s stainless steel bowl.  But now she refuses to pick up the stainless steel bowl — she will obey the command to get it until she puts her mouth on it, then she draws back and absolutely refuses.   I get so frustrated with her — she obviously understands the command but will not follow it.  Could it be the texture? Or, could it be because it is the alpha dog’s bowl, and now that she is nearing adulthood, she instinctively won’t touch her bowl.  Or, is she just pushing my buttons?!  Any suggestions? 

      • http://dogshockcollarguide.com/ Boyan Silyavski

        Maybe she was frighten by something and you just did  did not see it, so now she has a negative association with the bowl

  • http://www.theyellowlabradorian.com Sally

    Oh, those silly water dogs! If you keep your water inside, it makes sense to elevate it. Our Lab’s bowl is BIG and it’s outside. He’s free to SCUBA dive if he wants–and he DOES when it’s hot. BUT, he’s big now. You’re right to exercise more caution with pups.

    I enjoyed your article.

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