Best slow feeder bowl for Akitas

Dogs that eat too fast are at real risk of bloat — which can be life-threatening in large breeds like Akitas — as well as vomiting and chronic digestive discomfort, but a well-chosen slow feeder can genuinely cut eating speed in half. It sounds like you've already tried the LickiMat route and found it wasn't up to the job — too small and quickly destroyed. Before I point you towards something more suitable, can you tell me roughly how much your Akita eats per meal, how fast they're getting through it, and whether the shredding was during feeding or between meals? That'll help me make sure the next recommendation actually holds up.

That's a completely valid concern — Akitas are exactly the breed where bloat goes from theoretical risk to genuine emergency, and a dog that clears a bowl in under a minute needs something that meaningfully forces him to work. The LickiMat failing makes total sense for a dog his size and with that kind of drive — they're designed for licking soft food, not standing up to a powerful chewer attacking dry kibble. Can I ask: does he eat from a raised stand, or off the floor? There's some nuance around raised feeders and bloat risk that's worth factoring in here.

Good instinct — the evidence on raised feeders and bloat in large deep-chested breeds does lean towards floor feeding being safer, so keep that as it is. For a 40kg Akita who eats aggressively and has already destroyed a LickiMat, I'd go straight to the PAW5 Rock N Bowl. It's a large, heavy, rubber-based slow feeder with deep maze-like ridges that's specifically built for powerful dogs — the thick rubber construction is genuinely chew-resistant rather than the thin silicone you get with most lick mats, it sits flat and stable on the floor without tipping, and the maze pattern is complex enough that a fast eater like yours will take four to six minutes to get through a meal rather than under one. It's widely available on Amazon UK, holds a big enough portion for a dog his size, and it's one of the few slow feeders I'd actually trust with a breed that has real jaw strength. The rubber won't shred into dangerous pieces the way a LickiMat can — that's the key difference here.

Yes — for the first few meals, put it on a non-slip mat or a damp tea towel so it doesn't slide around, which reduces the frustration that makes dogs want to flip things. Start by scattering the kibble loosely across the maze rather than packing it in tightly — once he's used to the concept and slowing down naturally, you can start pressing it in more. Some owners also lightly dampen the kibble for the first week, which makes it sit in the grooves better and slows things down even more without him feeling defeated. Given his age, just watch the first couple of sessions to make sure he's engaging with it rather than trying to carry it off — Akitas are problem-solvers and he may test it. But the weight and rubber base should hold up well.

Great choice — it should make a real difference to his eating speed and your peace of mind around bloat risk. If for any reason he does manage to damage it, PAW5 have good customer service and it's covered under their warranty, so keep your order confirmation. Hope it works well for him.