Starmark Bob-A-Lot Feeder

The verdict

The most useful thing in this category for an adolescent, because it converts food you were going to give away for free into fifteen or twenty minutes of work. The bottom chamber holds up to three cups — a full meal for many dogs — and both the top and bottom openings adjust, so you start easy and make it harder as your dog gets good at it. The weighted anti-slip base makes it wobble unpredictably, which is what keeps a dog engaged rather than solving it once. Owners report it slowing eating and holding attention, with two consistent warnings: it is not chew-proof, and Starmark themselves say supervised play only. Use it for meals rather than treats and you sidestep the calorie problem entirely — the food comes out of the bowl allowance.

Drawbacks

• Not chew-proof — a determined chewer will breach it
• Noisy on hard floors

Researched from the manufacturer’s listing, its published specifications and what owners report. We do not test products on dogs.

What the listing says

• Holds a full meal, so it costs no extra calories
• Difficulty adjusts at both openings as the dog improves
• Weighted base makes the movement unpredictable

Specifications

Specs come from the manufacturer listing and Amazon’s public product data. A field that reads “Not stated” is one we have not verified — not one the product lacks. We research and analyse; we do not test products on dogs.