Puzzle Toy Review: Paw5's Rock N Bowl

The Paw5 Rock N Bowl combines the convenience of a bowl with the enrichment of a puzzle toy. I know, some nights it's just too much work to funnel kibble into a toy. I've definitely been there. Apparently so have the folks at Paw5, because they've basically invented a self-filling food puzzle. Sure, it's shaped like a bowl, but it's way, way easier to fill and clean than the puzzle bowls you see everywhere.

Photo by Erin Koski

I think this is also a cool way to introduce the concept of puzzle feeding to both dogs and humans unfamiliar with the concept. It's not some wacky shape you have to screw together. It's a nice, familiar bowl with some extra features.

The Rock N Bowl is made in the USA from recyclable plastic. Paw5 uses a closed-loop, zero-waste manufacturing process. Sustainability is awesome!

Here's how it works: You dump the food on top and set the bowl down for your dog. Some of the food falls into the lower chamber, which has a flat floor. The kibble can then slide out the holes in the side of bowl. There is a ridge in the middle of the chamber floor that prevents the food from sliding freely across the bottom. Too easy? That flat floor can be removed, so that the kibble falls into the rounded bowl bottom instead. It's more difficult to get the food out the side holes that way.

Puzzle Toy Rating

Capacity: 5/5

Holds up to four cups of kibble at a time, more than enough for any meal. It can actually be used as an everyday feeding bowl.

Photo by Erin Koski

Loading Speed: 5/5

As fast as dumping kibble in a bowl. That fast.

Unloading Speed (standard dog): 5/5

It's really easy to get some kibble out of the Rock N Bowl, but fairly difficult to get all the kibble out.

Unloading Speed (superdog): 5/5

With the chamber floor removed, it took Godzilla at least 15 minutes to eat a cup of kibble out of this bowl.

Size: 5/5

It's big enough for a giant breed dog to use, but light enough for Ru to push around without getting squished. Ru has been way more interested in the Rock N Bowl than our other puzzle toys.

Photo by Erin Koski

Durability: 5/5

Sturdy yet flexible plastic. It's not made to be gnawed, but it should be able to handle an infinite amount of being batted around the house or yard.

Noise: 5/5

I know, it looks like hard plastic that would be super noisy on hard floors. Someone at Paw5 must have hardwood, because they thought to make the bottom out of rubbery material. The bowl is not weighted, so it doesn't make those super heavy rolling sounds either.

Locatability: 5/5

It doesn't fit under the furniture, and I pick it up after dinner just like I do all the other dog bowls. The dogs aren't inclined to pick it up and carry it around, either.

Washability: 5/5

The bowl comes into three pieces for super easy washing. There are no crevices or hard to reach areas, and it's dishwasher safe.

Versatility: 3/5

Obviously this is a feeder designed for dogs, and smaller kibbles fall out easier than larger pieces. For that reason, it's difficult to use the Rock N Bowl with cats, bunnies, or rats. The super easy washing aspect means it can be used for animals that get things super dirty, but I suspect Xhuuya the raven would just take the whole thing apart. I'm pretty sure it would work for toddlers though. Might have to load it up with Cheerios and visit some friends.

Total: 48/50