Metal Bowls are the most durable and easy-to-clean bowls available. Metal bowls don’t hold smells, can’t be chewed by puppy teeth, and are unbreakable.

Plastic Bowls come in more colors and patterns, and are lightweight and usually durable. However, some puppies like to turn them over and chew them. Some plastic bowls are shaped to make them harder to tip. Some of these bowls retain a faint food smell even after washing.

Ceramic bowls come in the largest variety of shapes and colors. If you have a dog who likes to spill water or dump over his food, the weight of a ceramic bowl may deter that. These bowls can break easily, however, and are best used with the calmer dog who is past the chew-everything stage.

Plastic double bowls come as long troughs with two sections, one for water and one for food. These can be a nuisance when only one side needs filling at a time.

Bowl Holders: Some bowls come with their own holders that elevate the bowl a few inches off the floor. This can be useful for a larger or arthritic dog. Also, having a bowl holder can prevent the more energetic eater from nosing his bowl around the room. A holder can also keep water from getting caught beneath the water bowl and damaging the floor.

There are many different types of dog food on the market. The most important thing is to find one that works well for both you and your dog.

Dry Kibble: This is the most common food available, has a long shelf life and is the most economical choice. However, different brands of kibble vary greatly in nutritional value. The first ingredient should be a specific meat (beef, chicken, lamb etc.). Avoid foods that have an ingredient simply called "meat." Also, if the first ingredient is a meat, but the next three are grains, chances are that food actually contains more grain than protein. If you can, choose a food without corn in it, as corn allergies are fairly common in dogs. Some foods advertise that all of their ingredients are human-grade (that is, they have passed a USDA inspection for human consumption), but these are also the more expensive brands. Most dry foods specify on the bag what life stage they’re intended for (puppy, adult, senior) and are nutritionally designed for that specific age.

Canned Food: Just like dry food, some canned foods are highly nutritious while others are not. Again, choose brands that are sold exclusively through pet stores and check the ingredients. The first ingredient should be a specific type of meat. If the first ingredient is "water sufficient for processing", choose something else. Canned food costs more per meal than dry, although most dogs find it tastier. To help stretch the canned food, try mixing a spoonful of wet food in with dry. If your dog eats exclusively wet food, you may want to consider brushing her teeth daily since canned food can get caught between teeth more easily than dry. Also, make sure your dog has plenty of things to chew on, because prolonged chewing (longer than 5 minutes) stimulates enzymes in your dog’s saliva that helps keep her teeth clean.

Dehydrated Food: These foods are raw fruits, vegetables, meats, and grains that have been dehydrated instead of cooked. To prepare them, mix hot water and let the food stand for a specified amount of time (usually around 10 minutes), then feed. The producers of these foods say that the dehydrating process leaves more nutrition intact than cooking, and allows for more convenient storage than frozen (a 3-4 week supply of dehydrated food for a 50 lb dog can weigh about 10 lb.). Most dogs love the taste, but dehydrated foods are very expensive.

Raw and Frozen Food: Some diets recommend feeding your dog only fresh, uncooked meats, fruits, and vegetables. Instead of offering a specific food, they instruct the owner to purchase their own ingredients and prepare food for their dogs. Some owners find this extremely satisfying, while others find it tedious. There are several brands of food that offer frozen patties of mixed meat, fruit, and vegetables. Most of these foods are frozen raw, which theoretically preserves more nutritional value. To feed, you can either thaw a patty overnight or heat it up a few minutes before mealtime. Owners should consult their vet as specific nutritional guidelines must be followed to ensure diets are balanced and appropriate.