English Setter Refused Slow Feeder Bowl? Better Fix

Slow-feeder bowls are one of those products that work brilliantly for some dogs and cause real problems for others — and English Setters, with their sensitive, sometimes stubborn streak, are exactly the type to dig in their heels and just refuse to eat rather than wrestle with a maze bowl. Food refusal is a genuine stress, so let's find something that actually works for your dog. Can you tell me a bit more about how he eats normally — does he hoover his food down in under a minute, gulp a lot of air while eating, or has there been any bloating or vomiting after meals? And is he on dry kibble, wet food, or a mix?

That's a really clear picture — she's a fast eater and the burping and discomfort are classic signs of gulping air with the food. The slow-feeder bowl was the right instinct for the wrong dog. Some dogs, especially sensitive breeds like Setters, experience the raised maze sections as an obstacle rather than a puzzle, and they find it genuinely stressful rather than stimulating. The good news is there's a simpler mechanical solution that doesn't require her to work around any barriers at all.

I'd go with the LickiMat Splash for her kibble meals. You spread the kibble across it — you can add a small amount of water or a scrape of wet food to help it stick — and she has to lick across the flat textured surface to get it. It slows eating dramatically without creating any physical obstacle she has to fight. There's no flipping it over because it sits flat and has suction cups on the base. Critically, licking is naturally calming for dogs neurologically, so instead of the meal becoming a stressful event it becomes a settling one. The Splash is the right choice over the standard LickiMat because the raised edge keeps kibble contained, which matters for a larger dog eating from a flat surface. It's around £10–12 on Amazon UK and genuinely durable. The burping should reduce significantly within the first few meals.

Fair question, and the answer is yes — but the first couple of times, wet it down a bit. A teaspoon of warm water mixed into the kibble before you spread it makes everything stick into the texture and gives it more scent, which engages her nose and gets her started. Once she's learned the behaviour — usually two or three meals — you can dial back the moisture and she'll work dry kibble off it without hesitation. It's a much gentler learning curve than a maze bowl because there's no frustration point; every lick immediately rewards her with food. English Setters are scent-driven dogs, so working with that instinct rather than against it is really the key difference here.

It's dishwasher safe, which is the main thing. If you're hand washing, a soft brush gets into the texture easily — don't use anything abrasive or it'll break down the rubber surface over time. Give it a proper rinse after every meal rather than leaving it to dry with food residue in the grooves, especially if you've used wet food or water to help the kibble stick. It'll last years with basic care. One more thing: keep her old bowl around for the first week in case she has an off day and just needs a straightforward meal — no pressure, just give her the option and go back to the LickiMat the next meal.