Gulping is not just bad manners. A dog who inhales a bowl in fifteen seconds swallows a great deal of air with it, which brings burping, regurgitated meals, and in deep-chested breeds a raised risk of bloat. Putting an obstacle between the dog and the food is the simplest fix there is, and it costs nothing in feeding time beyond a few extra minutes of your dog working out where dinner has gone.

This one is moulded from flexible food-grade silicone in a spiral maze, so kibble scatters into the channels and has to be chased around the curve rather than scooped up in mouthfuls. Silicone rather than hard plastic means it grips the floor instead of skating across kitchen tiles, and there are no sharp moulded ridges to catch a nose. The same surface works for wet food, yoghurt or paste as a lick mat, and the whole thing goes in the dishwasher. Six colours are available.

• Spiral maze moulded in flexible food-grade silicone
• Doubles as a lick mat for wet food, yoghurt or paste
• Grippy underside that resists sliding on hard floors
• Dishwasher safe
• Six colours: beige, mustard green, charcoal ash, grey blue, mango yellow and red
• Ships in a package measuring 19 x 19 x 3.8cm, weighing 317g

On the claims and the wear. Silicone is also chewable, so a dog who attacks the bowl rather than the food will eventually take a bite out of it.

Who it's for: Fast eaters and food-obsessed dogs, and anyone wanting a lick mat and slow feeder in one washable piece.