Puzzle Feeders for Bullmastiff and Whippet

A Bullmastiff and a Whippet sharing a feeder is a real problem — the size gap alone means the Bullmastiff could accidentally injure the Whippet just by leaning in, and food guarding between dogs of such different sizes can escalate fast. Puzzle feeders do two genuinely useful things: they slow down fast eaters (which reduces bloat risk and improves digestion) and provide mental stimulation. But the right difficulty level matters — too easy and your dog loses interest, too hard and they give up frustrated. Before I point you toward the right setup, can you tell me: which dog is the faster eater, what's the Bullmastiff's persistence level like when they want something, and is your main goal slowing feeding down or giving them enrichment?

That vomiting after meals is a classic sign Rex is eating too fast, and in a deep-chested breed like a Bullmastiff it's worth taking seriously — bloat risk is real. The good news is that persistence is exactly what you want in a dog using a puzzle feeder, so Rex is a great candidate. Given his size and the fact that he bulldozes through things, I'd skip the flimsy plastic maze-style feeders — they'll slide across the floor and could be chewed through. What I'd recommend is the LickiMat Wobble for Rex specifically. It's a heavy rubber bowl with a textured interior that you can pack with wet food, raw, or soaked kibble. The wobble base slows him right down without frustrating him, and the rubber is tough enough to handle a Bullmastiff. For Nell, can you tell me whether she eats quickly too, or is she more of a grazer?

Feeding them in the same room is almost certainly making Nell's anxiety worse — even if Rex isn't being aggressive, his size and speed will put her on edge. The single most important change you can make is feeding them in separate rooms or with a baby gate between them. That alone will reduce her stress noticeably. For Nell's enrichment, a standard LickiMat Classic would suit her well — it's flat, calming (licking is naturally soothing for anxious dogs), and appropriately sized for a Whippet. So the setup I'd suggest is: LickiMat Wobble for Rex to slow him down, LickiMat Classic for Nell as a calming enrichment tool, and separate feeding spaces so neither dog is stressed by the other. Both are available on Amazon UK and the rubber construction means they're dishwasher safe, which matters when you're cleaning two feeders daily.

For Rex, use it every meal — the slowing-down benefit is the whole point and you want to eliminate that post-meal vomiting consistently. For Nell, you can use it every meal too, or just once a day if you want to keep it feeling novel and engaging for her. The LickiMat Classic works especially well as a settle tool — smear it with a bit of wet food or natural peanut butter (xylitol-free) before you leave the house and it becomes a positive association with alone time, which can help an anxious dog long-term. One tip for Rex: start with soaked kibble or wet food rather than dry — it sticks in the ridges better and makes the puzzle more effective at slowing him down.

Great choice — you're solving two different problems with one simple system. Separate rooms plus the right feeder for each dog should make mealtimes much calmer all round. If Rex's vomiting continues even after slowing his eating, it's worth mentioning to your vet in case there's an underlying issue, but in most cases the feeder alone sorts it. Good luck with Rex and Nell!