****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
Folks,, I am a K9 trainer with 30+yrs of experience in training and raising large/XL/Giant breeds from everything such as SAR, Service, etc.. to simple house companions and have gone thru many different types (even second hand store old school stuff!) of bowls. I bought two of these bowls recently and must say, I'm impressed. These are the candy Apple red bowls in the 50oz size. For comparison, the puppy you see is "Caspian" (mine), he is a 12 week old purebred Newfoundland that is 41bs (at the time of this review 12/18). Not his best photo, but who has good photos at 3:20 in the morning? lol - Pics are REAL in use, photos of the product you get. You of course have to un-package the bowl(s), pull the tag off and wash it/them before use.Since Newfoundlands are considered XL/Giant breeds, their "bling" needs to be tough so I had to keep in mind that 90% of you reading this have much smaller animals and those that do? you need to know this from a one of THOSE owners.. So I'm giving you my full evaluation on how tough, durable, and "sheik" they are :0}1) I had read the previous reviews about the ring issue. I believe it may be a generic ring up to a certain size then another larger standard size ring is used. Mine came intact. It's easy to get off and washable for a thorough cleaning. I suggest using a cpl cotton swabs to do the job right. It does its job admirably in keeping the bowl from skidding on a hard wood floor and almost immovable on a carpeted floor.2) The finish is nice and uniform. Not perfect but who really worries about the finish of the bottom of an $11 dog bowl. ONLY USE soft but scruffy type of sponges (dollar store is good enough) on the cleaning of the bowl itself. Don't allow the food to harden up like glue. While I have not had a problem with it doing so, it's best for simple up-keep, longevity, sterility, and your sanity!3) They are light weight. These are not thick and heavy ("gauge" thickness) which is the only "con" I can really pick on. Newfs are gentle and huge. Some smaller breeds can be brutal on bowls which may make them (the bowls) subject to damage if bitten hard or treated harshly enough. Even then they will most likely take on only visual damage because the design won't really allow a dog's jaw to chew on them.4) They have a wide base which keeps them from tipping as well as skidding. A lumbering puppy such as a Newf can make any bowl look silly and unstable but these hold up to the task extremely well.Lastly?? get them singularly or a pair. While they might feel flimsy to some of us, they feel tough to others. So it's truly a matter of the pooch's "destructiveness" or lack thereof. I've had and have seen plastic bowls 2x thicker get destroyed, slip, tip, etc.. in short order. Under normal use, these are worth every penny and I'll be buying more again. I hope this has helped those of you out in making an informed decision on whether to get these or not.
