Mindful Eating
Engage your dog’s natural hunting instincts at mealtime. The Rock 'N Bowl is a dog food puzzle that gets your pup to working and thinking—while slowing down eating.
Pour dog food in and some pieces will fall through the holes into the compartment underneath. To get that food out, your dog will need to nudge and rock the bowl. It’s a mental and physical challenge that turns feeding into a game.
When co-founder Dennis O’Donnell got a new puppy, he realized the importance of making everyday activities more engaging. He wanted an interactive food bowl, but didn’t find much—so he created the Rock 'N Bowl.
Made in the USA, this bowl is completely recyclable and free of BPA and phthalates. It’s made in a woman-owned facility that produces zero waste, too.
To appease humans, the bowl comes apart for thorough cleaning and it’s even safe in the top rack of your dishwasher. Most dogs look forward to feeding time. Now they’ll look forward to their feeding bowl as well.
Dennis
Hey there, Grommet’rs! I’m thrilled to launch the PAW5 Rock ’N Bowl on The Grommet today, and would love to hear your questions!
Kimberly
3/11/2016 10:25 AMI have a miniture Dachshund who 'wolfs' down her food like she hasn't eaten in ages! I put chopped carrots in with her Science Diet dry food ( mini bites) to help slow her down. Will you be making a smaller Rock N' Bowl for small breeds? This would definitely slow Maggie down!
Dennis – Special Guest
3/11/2016 10:29 AM@Kimberly Hi Kimberly! We're definitely considering a smaller version in the future - it's one of our top requests. With that said, we've seen a lot of small breeds (including Dachshunds!) really enjoy the Rock 'N Bowl and get creative with the puzzle. We even have some cats who are fans of the bowl. Thanks for the question!
Ruth
3/11/2016 10:33 AM@Dennis I think we were writing simultaneously! Thanks for thinking of cats
Dennis – Special Guest
3/11/2016 10:36 AM@Ruth Ha! What are the chances;)? We tried to design with research-based enrichment in mind, Ruth - and a lot of it, turns out, is universal. Food puzzles are a cornerstone of any environmental enrichment program - so whether you're a cat or a dog, it's always a good idea. We definitely designed for dogs, but it works just as well with our feline friends!
lynn
3/11/2016 12:20 PM@Dennis Rats! I was looking at this hoping for something to keep my cats out of the dog food bowls!
Ruth
3/11/2016 10:31 AMI'd also like a smaller one for cats.
Dennis – Special Guest
3/11/2016 10:41 AM@Ruth I know I answered this above, Ruth - but I wanted to address the question again here for other cat owners. Food puzzles are a cornerstone of any environmental enrichment program - so whether you're a cat or a dog, it's always a good idea. We definitely designed for dogs, but it works just as well with our feline friends!
snype
3/11/2016 10:34 AMThis is a great idea for older pets (mental stimulation) and overweight pets(physical effort/portion control). It would be great down the line if you created some kind of snap together border, frame or perimeter control to keep the bowl and it's food from being batted around the house and uneaten food ending up in places you don't want it.
Dennis – Special Guest
3/11/2016 10:39 AM@snype Hi! Interesting you bring up mature pets and overweight - it's definitely a topic we wanted to help with using the Rock 'N Bowl. There's an older, less excitable Golden Retriever in my family who tried the Rock 'N Bowl - and it got him excited about food again! His pet parent said later on "he probably walked a mile just using the bowl". We did put a grippy bottom on the bowl, too, so it shouldn't slide all over the house.
snype
3/11/2016 10:44 AM@Dennis Thank You.
Barbara
3/11/2016 10:40 AMDoes the PAW5 Rock'N Bowl com in a smaller size for smaller dogs?
Dennis – Special Guest
3/11/2016 10:43 AM@Barbara Hi Barbara! The Rock 'N Bowl currently only comes in one size, which is pretty universal - we have all dogs of all sizes using it and loving it. With that said, we do hope to release another version soon that is a little smaller. Thanks!
Denise
3/11/2016 10:53 AM@Dennis Is this bowl plastic and is it somewhat heavy? This would be great for my senior Boxer, a breed that is prone to bloat/gastric torsion. Slowing down their eating really helps as a preventative.
Dennis – Special Guest
3/11/2016 10:57 AM@Denise Hi Denise! The bowl is 100% plastic, and it is BPA-free, phthalate-free, and FDA compliant. I wouldn't call it heavy, but it's not lightweight, either - we wanted it to be durable and sturdy. It is about as heavy as a stainless steel dog bowl.
Justanother
3/11/2016 10:52 AMMy Aussie LOVES her puzzle toys. This will be a great addition. Very cool!
Dennis – Special Guest
3/11/2016 10:55 AM@Justanother Thanks so much!! We designed this as a complete dog bowl replacement, so you can easily turn every mealtime into an enriching puzzle - I hope your Aussie loves the upgrade from her normal dog bowl!
Ash
3/11/2016 11:04 AMI too have a small dog - a 2 (yes 2) lb. poodle. He gobbles his tiny kibble and I would LOVE to have something like this in his size (he gets fed about 1/4 cup of food a day) to keep him engaged yet slow his eating. I love that your product is made in a zero waste facility & that it's dishwasher safe.
Dennis – Special Guest
3/11/2016 11:08 AM@Ash Wow, 2 pounds - that's amazing! We'll keep your pint-sized poodle in mind when we go for our smaller version;) Thanks!
Ash
3/11/2016 11:18 AM@Dennis Yep he's a true teacup dog! Thanks - I look forward to hearing more about your products!
MELINDA
3/11/2016 11:28 AMHi Dennis, I have Lucy, a 2yr-old Chinese Shar-Pei who is not food oriented. In fact, I have had to reward her for eating. Currently she is given a blend of 1/2 "Only Natural Pet Canine PowerFood" and half "ZiwiPeak air-dried Daily Cuisine Dog Food Lamb."
Lucy prefers to put a mouthful of food in the floor and then eat off the floor, so this bowl is probably just what she would like.
The powerfood is a kibble, so shouldn't be a problem. I wonder about the 1/2-inch size squares of ZiwiPeak though. Will the bowl work for the squares of jerkey-like food?
Dennis – Special Guest
3/11/2016 11:37 AM@MELINDA Hi Melinda! The holes on top of the bowl are .75", so it should work really well with the ZiwiPeak. We've found that some dogs just love a challenge, and the Rock 'N Bowl definitely made mealtime engaging for some picky eaters out there!
Paula
3/11/2016 11:39 AMDoes this product also perform with moist or wet foods? My dogs get a mixture of canned and dry food, plus coconut oil, pumpkin and stringbeans. If strictly for dry, I would probably separate meals by content.
Dennis – Special Guest
3/11/2016 11:42 AM@Paula Hi Paula! The Rock 'N Bowl is definitely designed for dry food and kibble - I wouldn't recommend it for wet dog food. But you've got a great idea - if you want to separate out the dry food, that'll work! Thanks for the question!
Dana
3/11/2016 11:44 AMI've been feeding my small-breed dog kibble in interactive wobble toys and puzzles for years to slow her "vacuum-like" eating, stimulate her mind, give her a little extra exercise, and give me at least a 10-minute break while she's busy. Your product is great, especially since it's BPA and phalates free, but I don't see an indication in the video about adjusting the size of the holes and see that the kibble can fall out in large amounts at a single push. Only giving my dog 1/4 cup at both mealtimes (in addition to wet food), she could conceivably be finished in 5 seconds. Is there a way to adjust the hole openings around the bottom of the bowl?
Dennis – Special Guest
3/11/2016 11:48 AM@Dana Hi Dana! This is a great question. While you can't adjust the hole sizes, we do have a way to make the Rock 'N Bowl more challenging. There's a tray inside the bowl that keeps the kibble near the holes in the side - you can easily just click this out, and that makes it much harder to get the kibble out! My yellow lab Dory has gotten pretty good with the Rock 'N Bowl, so I always keep that bottom tray out. Thanks!
Dana
3/11/2016 11:58 AM@Dennis Thanks Dennis. I watched the video again but only see the top paw print tray and nothing underneath when the top tray is removed. Is there, in fact, a SECOND tray normally inside the bowl...I wonder whether it was in when the video showed a large number of kibble dispensing? Thanks.
Dennis – Special Guest
3/11/2016 12:21 PM@Dana The inner tray was in there during the filming - it is how the bowl is assembled when we ship it out. With that said, if you look closely around the 35 - 40 second mark in the video, you can see this 2nd tray I'm talking about - it is blue, and has a little tab on the top of it (so you can easily remove it).
clare
3/11/2016 11:44 AMHi Dennis,
Could I use this with a cat?
Thanks! Clare
Dennis – Special Guest
3/11/2016 11:51 AM@clare Hi Clare! We have a lot of people that use the Rock 'N Bowl with their cats. Food puzzles are a cornerstone of environmental enrichment for any animal, and our bowl definitely creates a fun, safe, unique challenge for cats. We just find they interact differently with the bowl - while dogs will nudge and paw the bowl, cats generally try to "grab" the food out with their paw. It's an enriching puzzle either way!
clare
3/11/2016 12:40 PM@Dennis Thank you so much for your detailed response, Dennis! This comes at a perfect time. My little boy cat is a scarf and barfer. I feel terrible for him. It's been happening almost every night recently. Thank you for coming up with, what might be a fun and healthier way for him to eat! Best, Clare
Dennis – Special Guest
3/11/2016 12:45 PM@clare It's our pleasure, Clare - we love our pets, too, and want the best for them!
Howard
3/11/2016 11:47 AMThis looks like an excellent choice for large dog breeds that are susceptible to bloat. Bloat is the #2 killer of large breeds and owners are advised to let the dogs eat slowly and not to eat off of elevated platforms. This product promotes both habits. German Shepherds and Rottweilers are particularly susceptible to bloat. I think this is an excellent idea (but probably most will want some sort of tray under the bowl to keep the food from soiling the floor).
Dennis – Special Guest
3/11/2016 11:55 AM@Howard Hi Howard! Thanks so much for the thoughtful info - we definitely designed the Rock 'N Bowl with proven research and environmental enrichment in mind. I use the bowl every day with my yellow lab, and the floors are cleaner than ever;)! Of course, we use environmentally friendly and pet-safe cleaning products on our floors, but that also eliminates the need for a tray under the bowl.
Denise
3/11/2016 12:08 PMI would be very interested in a bowl for cats. I have one who eats too fast then throws it up. This would be ideal.
Dennis – Special Guest
3/11/2016 12:18 PM@Denise Hi Denise! Thanks for sharing - there's definitely no reason this bowl couldn't be used for cats, technically speaking - it's perfectly safe, and in line with foundational environmental enrichment methods. It just has a dog paw on the top! With that said, we'll definitely consider a cat-centric version in the future. Thanks!
Janet
3/11/2016 12:23 PMSeriously--$30 for a bowl with a hole in the bottom? Can't possibly be worth that.
Dennis – Special Guest
3/11/2016 12:32 PM@Janet Hi Janet! I appreciate the feedback - I'm a price-sensitive shopper myself. When we set out to make this product (and later set a price for it), there were some key decisions that would effect price. The things that are the foundation of our promises to you: Made in the USA, safe, FDA-compliant plastic, zero-waste manufacturing, etc - these are definitely way more expensive than making a cheap bowl overseas. In the end, though, we wanted the product to be a model for sustainable business. I definitely understand where you're coming from - but in short, we needed to choose the sustainability initiatives I mentioned at a higher price, or get rid of those and be able to sell cheaper. I can't say one way is right or wrong - this is just what we wanted to do, and we weren't willing to give those things up. Thanks for the question!
henry
3/11/2016 1:06 PMGreat if you don't mind dog slobber all over your house. My dog drools on everything enough already.
Dennis – Special Guest
3/11/2016 1:11 PM@henry Hi Henry! Yeah, not much anyone can do about dog slobber - it's just part of having a dog:)
Edna
3/11/2016 1:34 PMHi Dennis. I have a cat that eats almost constantly. I bought a food bowl for him that would force him to reach his paw into the holes to pull the food out, but most of the time, he just lays down next to the bowl, jams his nose into the hole as far as he can, and sticks his tongue inside as far as he can to get to the food . Will you be making something like this for cats that would make him move around a little more to get his food?
Dennis – Special Guest
3/11/2016 1:41 PM@Edna Hi Edna! In the future, we'll likely have a smaller version for small breed dogs, and it'd be a good fit for cats, too. With that said, we know of several cat owners using the Rock 'N Bowl daily, and they love it! Just because it's a little big for a cat isn't necessarily bad - it just makes the challenge a little different. Thanks!
teri
3/11/2016 4:42 PMHi Dennis....great idea for those dogs who need additional mental stimulation! I am a huge volunteer with Lulu's Rescue, a small non profit foster based rescue in Bucks County PA. Often our dogs are not using their brains enough and can exhibit problematic behavior...your bowl could help alleviate some of their boredom. Would you be kind enough to donate a lot of this great product and help the dogs in our rescue? We would be happy to acknowledge your generosity on our FB page along with a photo of your product. In addition, we could make mention of this great new product on our radio show "Dogs Rule" and display it at our adoption events every week! Thank you in advance for your consideration...Teri Berman...please email at [email protected]
Dennis – Special Guest
3/11/2016 4:55 PM@teri Hi Teri! We'd love to pitch in at Lulu's Rescue! Charitable giving is a huge part of our sustainability goals, and we have a dedicated program for donations. I'll reach out to you via email, and we'll go from there!
Reg
3/11/2016 9:31 PMHow do you stop your dog from tipping over all other bowls full of food?