Collapsible Dog Bowls: The Ultimate Guide

Traditionally, foldable dog bowls were looked upon with skepticism since they were new ”smart” technology that would change how it ”used to work”. Even I was skeptical at one point in time, believing that these new bowls would be unstable, fragile and unsafe for the dog. However times have changed and since then so has my opinion about collapsible dog bowls.

Collapsible dog bowls give dog owners new possible solutions to otherwise cumbersome or impractical problems. I have created this guide to answer the most commonly asked questions that we receive about foldable dog bowls.

The advantages of a collapsible Dog Bowls

The collapsible dog bowl is a convenient dog bowl alternative that we recommend all dog owners to look into. Since you can fold the bowl it basically takes up no space in your luggage, a great convenience for many reasons. Lets look at the advantages and different occasions when it stands out as a great optionality.

Perfect for Hiking and for Outdoor Activities

First of all, folding dog bowls are great for when spending days in the outdoors, camping or if you are on the move and need a flexible alternative for feeding or giving water to your dog. There have been many occasions when we have spent full days with our dogs hiking in the Swedish nature when we have been on the move constantly.

Now if we would have used say traditional stainless steel dog bowls our backpacks would have been basically full only from these items and the hiking experience would have much more of a hassle. Foldable dog bowls however solve this problem by default, and suddenly you have more space for other necessities.

Collapsible Dog bowls for Travel

Have you seen a dog owner packing his stainless steel dog bowl in the preparation for a flight? Hopefully you never will. For flying or doing long travels by car or by train none of us should have to fill our hand luggage with one or several steel bowls.

I can actually also see some cases when you have to bring your dog on the move to places where it is suboptimal to bring other kinds of bowls. Say you are hastily called in to work in the office and you are unable to leave your dog at home, in this case it would be a more subtle alternative to the otherwise loud alternatives.

In summary, collapsible dog bowls are great when:

• · Doing outdoor activities for a longer period of time with your dog
• · Hiking or other activities where you and your dog are constantly on the move
• · Travelling by airplane, car or train with your dog
• · Finding yourself and your dog in formal environments where you can’t bring much baggage with you

Different kinds of Collapsible bowls

Foldable bowls are offered in a range of different materials, sizes and functions depending on your preferences. Lets compare them and find the best one that suits your dog.

Silicone the best material?

Silicone or siloxane is quite a recent material to be used in dog bowls. Silicone bows has a rubber-like feel and are not quite as firm as plastic bowls. In comparison to some of the alternatives, silicone is confirmed to be nontoxic, a great assurance for us dog owners who are afraid of accidentally poisoning our dog with lead or other dangerous substances. Silicone is also not easily breakable like plastic, and unlike with plastic bowls you do not have to fear your dog chewing the bowl, eating it and hurting itself.

There are also good options to choose in fabric materials. Fabrics are perhaps the lightest material and many of these bowls are easily carried in pockets.

Collapsible Bowls with lid

A great idea is to get a collapsible bowl that you can fully close and use as a package. This way, you can even store dog food or treats in the bowl while on the move, and then when you stop your hike to regain your stamina the dog food or snacks are prepared.

For fabric materials, most of the foldable bowls are fully closeable. Many of these have the great function of either zippers or drawstrings that fully close the bowl.

Different sizes: which size should you have?

Remember to get a collapsible bowl that is large for your individual dog. Some breeds require larger than others, and it is a good idea to also plan ahead on what kind of activities you and your dog will be doing.

Depending on your other luggage, what activity you will be doing and how long you will be on the move, you might want to consider having a larger or smaller sized bowl. Many bowls come in the sizes small, medium or large, so just make sure to read the manufacturers recommendation carefully before making your choice.

Finally, remember that your best furry friend might not be as flexible as you are. Many pups and dogs get used to a certain type of bowl, and they might find it uncomfortable or even refuse to eat from a certain new bowl if they don’t like how it looks or sounds. Therefore, try the bowl at home first to get your dog used to it.

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