Great Danes may be one of the world’s tallest dog breeds, but what elevated dog bowls are best for them? In addition to the bowl height, what else should someone take into consideration when selecting the best elevated dog bowl for a Great Dane?
Because the best feeder for you will be dependent on your own budget and need, I’ll list a winner for each major category that I see Great Dane owners looking for.
Best Overall Elevated Dog Bowl
1. PawHut ($)
- Maximum height: 18.5 inches
- Adjustable: Yes, 1.25″ – 18.5″
- Materials: Stell frame, stainless steel bowls
- What we like: Price, adjustability, small footprint
- What we don’t: Not the sturdiest option available
If I could only pick one elevated dog bowl to go with, it would absolutely be the PawHut. Thanks to its affordable price and adjustable height, the PawHut makes for the best all-around elevated feeder for Great Danes.
While it certainly has it’s own shortcomings, this one has the advantage of being able to serve your dog from puppy through adulthood.
Its small footprint allows it to take up less room in your house but does sacrifice somewhat on stability.
For the record – I’ve personally used this feeder for several years and have never had an issue with it getting knocked over. However, with a particularly rambunctious dog, I could definitely see that happening.
If your Great Dane is a zealous eater, you may find that the PawHut scoots around a little bit. Even with this little bit of movement, it still has not caused any problems for us.
Click here to take a look at the PawHut Adjustable Height Dog Bowl on Amazon.
Best Looking Elevated Dog Bowl
2. Modern Ironworks ($$$$$)
- Maximum height: 21 inches
- Adjustable: No
- Materials: Steel frame, stainless steel bowls
- What we like: Stylish looks, fantastic height, extremely durable build
- What we don’t: Price
If you’re interested in finding the nicest, best-looking elevated dog bowl for your Great Dane then this is without a doubt the one to go for! Not only does it set the bowls at a wonderful height of 21 inches, but it’s beautifully styled.
Plus – who can say no to a feeder with engravings of Great Danes on it?! There’s no question that this dog bowl set was made for a Great Dane.
It’s constructed from steel and has a powder-coat finish to guarantee that this feeder withstands the test of time (and Dane). The legs of the stand also come with leveling feet to ensure that it’s able to remain level on all surfaces.
Unfortunately, the high quality of materials and finish also comes with an increased cost compared to the competition.
The metal construction and detailing also prevent it from being adjustable, which means that it will likely be too tall for most Great Danes until they’re approximately one year old.
Click here to take a look at the Modern Ironworks dog bowl on Amazon.
Best Elevated Dog Bowl with Food Storage
3. Iris USA ($)
- Maximum height: 15.04 inches
- Adjustable: No
- Materials: Plastic (Polypropylene resin) frame, stainless steel bowls
- What we like: Price, variety of color options, substantial food storage
- What we don’t: Wish it was a bit taller
If you’re looking for the convenience of integrated food storage, then this is the feeder to go for. In addition to the easy access, it has snap-lock latches to prevent your dog from sneaking in a few extra meals while you’re not watching 😉
These handles also make the storage area airtight to ensure that your dog’s food stays as fresh as possible.
Because food is stored in the base of the feeder, the entire setup is rock solid. There are no worries about this one tipping over or being pushed around.
While it’s not as tall as I’d like to see, it’s reasonably close to the proper height for an adult Great Danes. The one other downside is its lack of adjustability, but that’s really to be expected when you’re looking for a feeder with built-in food storage.
Click here to take a look at the Iris USA elevated feeder with storage on Amazon.
Best of the Rest
4. OurPets ($$$)
- Maximum height: 16 inches
- Adjustable: No
- Materials: Plastic frame, stainless steel bowls
- What we like: Very sturdy, spill ridge
- What we don’t: Wish it was just a little taller!
While it didn’t rank as the best overall, we found the OurPets feeder to be a great all-around option. Its lack of adjustability held it back, but it does have certain features not found in the PawHut.
For example, it’s spill ridge does a great job of containing food bits sent flying and will also contain some of the water spilled by our messy drinking Dane friends.
It’s four legs create a wide base that makes it extremely sturdy. While some are quick to shy away from a plastic constructed feeder, it makes it very quick and easy to clean compared to metal stands.
Price-wise this feeder falls into the middle of the pack. While I wish it was just a couple inches taller, it still makes for a great all-around option at a reasonable price.
Click here to take a look at the OurPets elevated feeding station on Amazon.
The Contenders
After taking a look at all of the available options, I was able to come up with a shortlist of the seven best elevated dog bowl feeders for Great Danes.
I did not include feeders under 15 inches in maximum height as they are frankly just too short to be of use to the average-sized adult Great Dane.
While shorter feeders are certainly useful for younger dogs and puppies, most Great Danes will be tall enough by the age of one to surpass feeders under 15 inches in height.
From a cost standpoint, it will be cheaper in the long to purchase a good feeder that your adult Great Dane can use for many years instead of a short period of time.
You could also choose to purchase a cheap, adjustable height feeder that bridges the gap into an adult-sized feeder.
Below is that shortlist of contenders that I narrowed the search down to before making selections for each category.
| Maker | Max Height | Adjustable Height | Price |
| FOREYY | 15 inches | No | $$ |
| Iris USA | 15 inches | No | $ |
| IdePet | 15 inches | Yes | $ |
| OurPets | 16 inches | No | $$$ |
| Platinum Pets | 18 inches | No | $$ |
| PawHut | 18.5 inches | Yes | $ |
| Modern Ironworks | 21 inches | No | $$$$$ |
Should Great Danes have raised bowls?
While the answer to this question would seem an obvious yes, there is debate amongst the experts as to whether they are harmful or helpful. To the eye, it seems pretty obvious that a raised feeder increases comfort during eating.
However, some argue that this only allows Great Danes to eat faster than normal, therefore increasing the amount of air swallowed. This is relevant because some are concerned that this is a causative factor for bloat but this has never been proven.
For older or injured Great Danes, the use of an elevated food and water bowl seems incredibly practical to me. I would sure have a hard time imagining asking my elderly grandparents to eat off the floor because “it’s better for them”!
Even if it were proven to be the case, limiting their nutritional intake because it’s quite literally too painful to reach doesn’t seem like it’s doing any good either.
If you’re curious to learn more about the controversy around raised bowls/feeders, make sure to take a look at our article on the topic here.
We have the Iris feeder you have listed and it has been a blessing. Our boy was so uncomfortable eatting with his bowl on the floor that he started to lay down to eat and then throw it all up. So I looked on Amazon and found that one. Good price (less than $25) and it does hold about 40lbs of food. Only thing I dont like is how small the dish is. He shares his water with his kitties and it is empty at least 3 times a day. Other than that it doesnt scoot and is sturdy.
Glad to hear that he’s liking it! I’m not sure there’s a bowl in this world big enough to satisfy the Dane thirst 😉
We have a 10 year old Mastiff/St Bernard, and she has always eaten laying down. She has never had issues with bloat, although her breeds aren’t as prone to bloat. What are your thoughts on training them to eat laying down instead?
This is my third Great Dane and I have always done raised feeding. I’ve tried different raised feeders in the past. I needed a new system this time around and starting looking as soon as I brought my puppy home. I wanted to incorporate storage without having to take the bowls off to access the food and I wanted it to look nice, be sturdy and last. I bought the IKEA Hemnes bench to feed from. It has worked GREAT.
Product size Length: 32 5/8 ” Width: 14 5/8 ” Height: 20 7/8 ”
It attractive and I store her food in bins on the shelf underneath. I have two stainless steel and rubber kong feeding bowls for food and water. They grip and don’t move when she eats. I am thinking of looking for a plastic mat to place on top of the bench to protect the surface, but the wood is holding up. It cleans easily too. She is already 32″ at the shoulder at nine months so the height of the bench is good.
Did you cut holes in the top of the bench for the bowls to sit inside of, or are they just sitting on top of it? Either way, I like the creative approach!