Outward Hound vs Loving Pets Bowls: Plastic or Steel
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Quick answer
Choose plastic if you want the Outward Hound Fun Feeder Slo, a maze bowl listed at 8 ounces with a 2-cup capacity and a top-rack dishwasher rule. Choose steel if you want the Loving Pets Bella, a stainless bowl with a removable rubber base, listed at 27 ounces and sized for a medium dog. The Outward Hound stainless bowl sits between the two: it is a steel bowl with a removable plastic slow-feed insert, so the insert, not the bowl, decides how it cleans and wears. The material split is the main decision, and the listing data below shows what each material means for weight, cleaning and fit. Listing data dated 2026-10-11 and 2026-10-12.
Plastic or steel: what the listings say
The material split is the clearest difference between these bowls. The Outward Hound Fun Feeder Slo is listed as plastic. The Loving Pets Bella is listed as stainless steel. The Outward Hound stainless bowl is listed as stainless steel, plastic and silicone, with a plastic insert that carries the maze. The listed weights do not follow the material. The Loving Pets steel bowl is listed at 5.64 ounces, lighter than either Outward Hound bowl at 8 ounces, so weight alone should not decide the choice. The Loving Pets listing also describes a rubber base that keeps the bowl in place on a mat or floor. Neither listing says anything about the bowl’s effect on the dog’s health, and this guide does not add any such claim.
| Bowl | Material in listing | Listed dimensions | Capacity or weight in listing | Dishwasher note in listing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outward Hound Fun Feeder Slo, Blue, 8.8 in | Plastic | 8.5 x 8.5 x 2 in | 2 cups; item weight 8 oz | Dishwasher safe, top rack |
| Loving Pets Bella Dog Bowl, Blueberry, Medium | Stainless steel; removable rubber base | 6.75 x 6.75 x 2 in | 27 oz (bullet); 1.7 lb (capacity field) | Dishwasher safe; remove the rubber ring first |
| Outward Hound Fun Feeder Stainless Steel Slo Bowl, Medium, 8.3 in | Stainless steel bowl with removable plastic insert | 8.27 x 8.27 x 2.83 in | 2 cups; item weight 8 oz | Insert only, top rack safe |
Two rows need a note. The Loving Pets bullets describe a stainless steel design with a poly-resin exterior, which does not match a pure steel bowl, so ask the seller what the outside is made of. The capacity figures also use different units: 2 cups for the Outward Hound bowls and 27 ounces or 1.7 pounds for the Loving Pets. Those are not the same measure, so compare each bowl with the amount of food you serve rather than with each other.
Decision rules: which bowl fits your routine
- Pick plastic when you want a single molded maze bowl. The Outward Hound Fun Feeder Slo weighs 8 ounces, and its listing describes a maze design with three slow levels and multiple sizes. The bowl is shallow at 2 inches, which the listing says holds a full medium meal.
- Pick steel when you want a bowl that stays put. The Loving Pets Bella has a removable rubber base, which the listing describes as preventing the bowl from moving on a mat. It is listed for a medium dog weighing 20 to 35 pounds in its title.
- Pick the steel-and-plastic bowl when you want steel and a maze. The Outward Hound stainless bowl keeps the slow-feed maze in a removable plastic insert. Clean the insert separately, since the listing says insert only, top rack safe.
- Pick by food type if you feed wet food. The Outward Hound Fun Feeder Slo and the stainless Outward Hound bowl list dry and wet food. The Loving Pets listing lists its uses as feeding, indoor and outdoor, and does not single out wet food.
Fit and capacity arithmetic
Start with the amount you serve in one meal. The two Outward Hound bowls list 2 cups, and the Loving Pets lists 27 ounces. Those two figures are not the same measure, so the simplest check is to fill each bowl with the food you serve and see whether it fits with room to spare. The Outward Hound listings say their bowls are sized for a medium breed, and the Loving Pets title sets its size at 20 to 35 pounds.
Footprint matters on a small counter or a crowded feeding corner. The Loving Pets bowl is the smallest across at 6.75 inches, while the two Outward Hound bowls are 8.27 to 8.5 inches square. The bowls are all about 2 inches deep, except the stainless Outward Hound at 2.83 inches. Measure the space where the bowl will sit, and add a few inches for the dog’s head when it eats.
Product-by-product notes
Each card repeats the facts from the listing data dated 2026-10-11 or 2026-10-12. Claims that come only from the manufacturer are marked as such.
1. Outward Hound Fun Feeder Slo Bowl Dog Slow Feeder, Notch, Blue, 8.8 in (Plastic)
Listing data dated 2026-10-11:
- Material: plastic; made without BPA, PVC, lead or phthalates, according to the bullets
- Dimensions: 8.5″ x 8.5″ x 2″; item weight 8 oz
- Capacity: 2 cups of dry or wet food, per the bullets
- Slow level: the listing describes a SLOW level for small to medium breeds, and offers Slower and Slowest levels in other versions
- Care: dishwasher safe, top rack
- Breed recommendation: Boston Terrier, Pug, French Bulldog, Shih Tzu
Pros
- Its size and 2-cup capacity are stated in the same listing, which makes it easy to compare with a meal.
- The listing names both dry and wet food as uses.
Cons
- The listing says it slows eating up to 10 times. That is a manufacturer statement this guide does not confirm.
- The breed recommendation names short-nosed breeds, while the bullet describes small to medium breeds. Ask the seller about the size for your dog.
- The listing does not give a cleaning or wear note beyond the dishwasher rule.
Best for: a small to medium dog that needs a light maze bowl for dry or wet food.
Skip if: you want a steel bowl, or your dog chews plastic.
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2. Loving Pets Bella Dog Bowls, Stainless Steel, Spill Proof, Medium 20 to 35 lbs, Blueberry
Listing data dated 2026-10-12:
- Material: stainless steel, described in the bullets as having a poly-resin exterior
- Dimensions: 6.75″ x 6.75″ x 2″; item weight 0.16 kg (5.64 oz)
- Capacity: 27 oz in a bullet; 1.7 lb in the capacity field
- Base: removable rubber base that the listing says prevents spills and keeps the bowl steady
- Care: dishwasher safe; remove the rubber ring before placing it in the dishwasher
- Other: food grade material and non-slip, according to the listing; size Medium, 20 to 35 lbs in the title
Pros
- Steel, with a removable rubber base, and a listed 27-ounce capacity.
- The listing gives a specific dishwasher step, so the cleaning routine is clear.
Cons
- The poly-resin exterior statement conflicts with a steel-only description. Confirm the outside material with the seller.
- The bowl is shallow and small in diameter, so it suits a smaller meal or a dog that eats quickly from it.
- The listing’s claim that it is veterinarian recommended is a manufacturer statement that this guide does not confirm.
Best for: a medium dog who needs a steel bowl with a rubber base that stays put.
Skip if: the outside material matters for your choice, or you need a maze or slow-feed design.
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3. Outward Hound Fun Feeder Stainless Steel Slo Bowl for Dogs, Medium, 8.3 in, Silver
Listing data dated 2026-10-11:
- Material: stainless steel bowl; the removable insert is plastic; the material field also lists silicone
- Dimensions: 2.83″ x 8.27″ x 8.27″; item weight 8 oz
- Capacity: 2 cups of dry or wet food, per the bullets
- Slow level: the SLOWEST level with the most challenging maze, according to the listing
- Care: the insert is top rack safe; the listing care line refers to the insert only
- Fit: fits raised feeding platforms, according to the bullets
Pros
- It gives a steel bowl and a maze in one set, which the other two bowls do not.
- The listing gives 2 cups, which matches the Fun Feeder Slo.
Cons
- The insert is plastic, so the bowl is part steel and part plastic. The listing does not say which part is dishwasher safe beyond the insert.
- The listing’s claim that it slows very fast eaters is a manufacturer statement that this guide does not confirm.
Best for: a medium dog that needs the Slowest maze with a steel outer bowl.
Skip if: you want an all-steel bowl or a fully dishwasher-safe set.
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Cleaning and wear
All three listings say the bowl can go in the dishwasher, with a condition for each. The Fun Feeder Slo is dishwasher safe on the top rack. The Loving Pets Bella can go in the dishwasher once the rubber ring is removed. The stainless Outward Hound’s listing applies its top-rack rule to the plastic insert only. For a maze bowl, the grooves are where food collects, so a brush or a fine-tipped cleaner helps more than a quick rinse. Check the grooves after each wash, and replace any insert that shows cracks.
The rubber base on the Loving Pets bowl is a part that can wear. Look at the base for splits, and replace it if the bowl starts to move on the floor. The listings do not give a replacement-part price or schedule, so ask the seller before you buy if the base matters to you.
Limits and conflicts in the listing data
- Loving Pets: the bullets describe both a stainless steel design and a poly-resin exterior, and its capacity appears in two units.
- Outward Hound plastic: the breed recommendation names short-nosed breeds, while the bullet describes small to medium breeds.
- Outward Hound stainless: the bowl is steel with a plastic insert, so the listing’s dishwasher rule applies to the insert.
- All three: the listings make health and slow-feeding claims. This guide does not confirm those claims. Whether a slow feeder suits a particular dog is a question for your vet, especially for a dog with a history of bloat or fast eating.
Related guides
For a steel-only slow feeder, read best non plastic slow feeder dog bowl, which covers the stainless and ceramic options. For a closer look at the plastic Outward Hound, bowls that slow dogs down at meals goes through its sizes and maze levels. If you are comparing a raised bowl instead, water bowls for dogs with no spilling compares a steel bowl with an elevated stand.
Frequently asked questions
Which bowl is easier to fit on a small counter?
The Loving Pets Bella is the narrowest, at 6.75 inches square. The two Outward Hound bowls are 8.27 to 8.5 inches square. Measure the space where the bowl will sit before you choose, and allow room for the dog’s head.
Does the Outward Hound hold more than the Loving Pets?
The listings do not compare on the same measure. The Outward Hound bowls list 2 cups. The Loving Pets lists 27 ounces in a bullet and 1.7 pounds in its capacity field. Fill each bowl with your dog’s usual meal to compare.
Can the Loving Pets bowl go in the dishwasher?
Yes, according to the listing, but remove the rubber ring before placing the bowl in the dishwasher. The listing does not say whether the ring itself is dishwasher safe.
Is the stainless Outward Hound bowl all steel?
No. The listing describes a stainless steel bowl with a removable plastic slow-feed insert, and the material field also lists silicone. The insert is the part marked top rack safe, so clean the two parts according to the listing.
Should I choose a bowl by its slow-feeding claim?
Choose on material, size and cleaning first. The listings describe slow-feeding levels and health benefits, but this guide does not confirm those statements. Ask your vet whether a slow feeder suits your dog before you rely on one.
Sources
- Amazon listing for the Outward Hound Fun Feeder Slo Bowl
- Amazon listing for the Loving Pets Bella Dog Bowls
- Amazon listing for the Outward Hound Fun Feeder Stainless Steel Slo Bowl
Specifications come from the Amazon listing data dated 2026-10-11 and 2026-10-12. Sizes, capacities, materials and dishwasher notes may change, so confirm them on the product page before you buy. Slow-feeding and health statements are the manufacturers’ own and are not endorsed here.
