Licking settles a dog in a way that chewing does not. It is a repetitive, self-soothing action, and a bowl that turns a meal into several minutes of steady licking will visibly calm an anxious dog before a bath, a nail trim or a stretch of time alone. That is a different job from a simple slow feeder, though this bowl happens to do both, which is why it is worth having near the grooming kit as well as by the food bowls.

The interior is spherical and ridged with a ball sitting in the centre, so wet food, yoghurt or a supplement gets pushed into the grooves and has to be worked out with the tongue rather than swallowed in one. That same design makes it genuinely useful for giving liquids, medication mixed into food, or post-operative soft diets when a dog is off their appetite. A non-slip base keeps it planted rather than skidding across the kitchen, and it rinses clean or goes in the dishwasher. Four colours.

• Ridged spherical interior with a central rolling ball
• Suits wet food, yoghurt, supplements and soft diets
• Non-slip base stops it sliding on hard floors
• Rinses out quickly or goes in the dishwasher
• Suitable for both dogs and cats
• Four colours: black, yellow, grey and blue

On recovery feeding. If your dog is eating from this after surgery or illness, it is a tool for making the food easier to take, not a substitute for watching how much actually goes in. Weigh or measure what you put in the bowl, and tell your vet if the amount finished is dropping.

Who it's for: Anxious dogs, fast eaters, and owners nursing a pet through a period of soft food or supplements.