Company of Animals Green Large Slow Interactive Feeder for Dogs

Why it's worth it

A tuft of flexible rubber grass blades that your dog has to nose through to find kibble. It holds a big-dog meal and stays interesting far longer than a maze, but you'll be cleaning it by hand with a brush.

It's one of the few slow feeders actually sized for a big dog. The large version has a wide footprint and holds a full meal for a Lab, a shepherd or a Dane — the breeds most likely to need slowing down in the first place. Most maze bowls top out well below that, which means two servings or a frustrated dog. Here you sprinkle the portion across the blades and walk away.

Foraging beats a maze for dogs that have outsmarted mazes. A channel bowl rewards one efficient route, and clever dogs find it. The grass blades don't work that way — kibble scatters unpredictably down into the base, so your dog has to nose through different zones each meal. That irregularity is why owners of smart, food-driven dogs tend to stick with this one long after a maze bowl stopped working.

From our review of 8 slow feeder dog bowls, by James Bennett, Associate Editor

What we like

• +It's one of the few slow feeders actually sized for a big dog
• +Foraging beats a maze for dogs that have outsmarted mazes
• +The engagement is mental, not just mechanical
• +It doesn't look like pet gear

What to know

• –Cleaning is the real cost of ownership
• –Don't put wet or raw food in it
• –It's the most expensive option in this guide