Eyeballing a scoop of kibble is how most dogs put on weight. A handful becomes a generous handful over a few months, nobody notices, and then the vet does. Printed graduations take the guesswork out at the point where it actually happens, which is at the food bin at seven in the morning rather than at the weigh-in three months later. Consistency is the whole trick with portion control.

The scoop is clear, so you read the level from the side while the food is still in it rather than peering down into the bowl of it. The shape is wide and shallow instead of deep, which lets you level a portion off with a finger and makes it far easier to rinse out and dry properly. The handle is curved to sit in the hand at the angle you naturally hold it, and it takes a large dog's meal in one go.

• Clear body with printed graduation marks
• Wide, shallow bowl for levelling off a portion
• Large capacity for bigger meals
• Ergonomic curved handle
• Easy to rinse and dry between uses
• Suits dry food for dogs and cats

A scoop measures volume, not weight. Kibbles differ in density, so the same line on the scoop can be a different number of grammes from one bag to the next, and it changes again when you switch food. If your pet is on a weight-loss plan set by a vet, weigh the first bag on kitchen scales and mark where that weight comes to on the scoop.

Who it's for: Households feeding dry food who want the same portion every time, or several people taking turns to feed the same pet.