CALLA
8
297
As of: February 9th, 2009 - 11:56am
Date Added: January 26th, 2009
Medium to large breed dogs have a much easier time eating their food when it is raised to the height of their "withers" or shoulders. When searching for an appropriate food bowl for my own large breed dog I was struck by just how unattractive the choices were. There just did not seem to be anything that I wanted to have sitting in my home. A dog bowl stand is something that is pretty noticeable in a home after all and I thought their should be some better choices. Something easy to clean, that holds the food up, and keeps the water from splashing all over when the dog takes a drink.

The Calla bowl is what I came up with. I drew inspiration from one of my girlfriend's favorite flowers: the Call Lily. I was drawn to its attractive, flowing, vessel form. When the bowl is placed in the top the asymmetrical shape forms a perfect splash guard. And if some water finds its way over the edge of the bowl it simply runs down the flowing exterior and into the concave base where it can evaporate. It is a case of well balanced form and function using nature as its inspiration. The base also has a silicone footprint to prevent slipping across tile or hardwood floors. The bowl, stand, and base can all separate for simple cleaning, and Hi-Macs material cleans very easily.

Comments

Feb 04 2009 | 02:46 pm
Linda says:
Gorgeous! Where can I get one?
Feb 04 2009 | 02:52 am
yay! says:
i vote for bloat!
Feb 03 2009 | 08:21 pm
WandaPanda says:
BLOAT!
Feb 02 2009 | 06:43 pm
Sue says:
Gorgeous and very functional - I would buy these! My greyhounds are more comfortable with raised feeders, than stooping to eat from floor-level bowls.
Jan 30 2009 | 09:08 am
Cris M says:
This is a beautiful design -- just as much sculpture as function. I would love it because my dog is raw fed. I only need a single "bowl" for water, and everything I have found has two bowls. Yours is beautiful and space efficient.
Jan 29 2009 | 05:12 pm
Pete says:
Read just a few comments down, Sherry. BTW: The Hi-Macs material itself is an acrylic that has some pretty good heft to it. It's not marble or anything but the base ends up being a pretty good weight on its own.
Jan 29 2009 | 04:37 pm
Sherry says:
Have you had a dog actually eat out of something like that? A dog that eats forcefully? It looks to me like it would tip over if a dog was licking the sides or going for that stuck piece of food on an edge. Is there a weight in the bottom to prevent it from tipping over?
Jan 29 2009 | 05:23 am
Bob says:
And for every quote about bloat and raised feeders, there is another one disputing them. It's a personal choice, depending on the dog and owner. Many greyhounds eat laying down in their kennels.
Jan 28 2009 | 11:44 am
GHKennel says:
"Recent research suggests that raised feeders DO contribute to bloat. Greyhounds that have bad necks should be fed from a raised feeder, as it is more comfortable for them. Once their neck issues are resolved, ground level feeding should be resumed. Apparently the raised feeders contribute to the swallowing of excessive air, which contributes to additional gastric inflation and therefore a critical aspect of bloat." Rodger Barr, DVM, 2005- GH owner and GH vet Raised feeders are NOT used in GH racing kennels--think about it.
Jan 28 2009 | 10:18 am
Rachel says:
Beautiful! AND we wouldn't trip over it and spill the water everywhere, which is what happens with our on-the-floor bowl sometimes!
Jan 28 2009 | 08:41 am
Journa-ling says:
Purdue's School of Veterinary Medicine has found that use of the raised feeder increases by 110% the risk of bloat--The Glickman et al study
Jan 28 2009 | 07:22 am
Rickiesmom says:
Love it - and the bowls could come in different colors, while the base stayed the same - brilliant.
Jan 28 2009 | 07:18 am
Cello says:
I love your design! Do you have any idea of what price range these would be in once mass produced?
Jan 27 2009 | 10:32 pm
MingoLingo says:
Very interesting concept. There is no hardcore data to prove or disprove the corelation between bloat and raised feeders. We have had success with our raised feed/water bowls.
Jan 27 2009 | 09:14 pm
Donna says:
Not me--please see this article regarding Bloat, raised feeders and GHs http://72.249.106.227/~nlga/images/stories/resources/bloat_summer05.pdf
Jan 27 2009 | 08:57 pm
Dianne says:
i love this. its so funky and cool.
Jan 27 2009 | 08:21 pm
Courtney says:
Absolutely stunning! I would definitely buy this.
Jan 27 2009 | 08:17 pm
Holly says:
Gorgeous! I hope this finds it's way to market, I would certainly buy it for my Greyhounds!
Jan 27 2009 | 05:56 pm
greylyn says:
Very attractive!
Jan 27 2009 | 02:05 pm
Haig Khachatoorian, IDSA says:
You are the "dog" !!! The design transcends the mundane world of petdom and facilitates a new way of maintaining your canine, while creating an aesthetic experience for the Master.
Jan 27 2009 | 01:27 pm
Nan Z says:
Just beautiful. I'd be proud to have them in my home. Great job. I love Calla Lillys too!!
Jan 27 2009 | 01:18 pm
JCC says:
There is an appropriate height to raise a bowl. Some dogs are tall enough that stooping to the floor to eat causes swallowing problems. Raising the bowl does help, but if a particular dog is a fast eater then bloat is always possible, but it depends upon the dog. Not all dogs eat too quickly. There is definitely a happy middle-ground however.
Jan 27 2009 | 01:07 pm
Georgina says:
There is much controversy about whether raised bowls cause bloat--I believe they do and would never use one.
Jan 27 2009 | 12:17 pm
Emily says:
I have a coonhound mix and he is notorious for dribbling water in huge puddles. I can see how this would reduce the puddles on the floor. I'd love a couple red ones!
Jan 27 2009 | 11:59 am
rsqdogsmom says:
Where can I get these....and HOW SOON?! :-)
Jan 27 2009 | 11:36 am
Shannon Sisler says:
As an owner of 3 greyhounds and a Galgo Espanol, I love these! I would buy them for my pups.
Jan 27 2009 | 11:32 am
Alane McCann says:
Fantastic idea! Love the colors.
Jan 27 2009 | 11:27 am
LBass says:
Those are quite attractive and appealing. Very graceful.
Jan 27 2009 | 11:16 am
Diane (Burpdog) says:
Gorgeous! Absolutely love it! Of course, I want several :)
Jan 27 2009 | 11:12 am
PhillyPups says:
where can I get 4 for my greyhounds?? they are awesome, no more kibble on the floor (lol)!!
Jan 27 2009 | 09:56 am
Joanne says:
Looks more like art than a dog bowl. Beautiful! I definitely want to buy a couple of these.
Jan 27 2009 | 08:55 am
Robin Frymire says:
As an owner of two large greyhounds, I think this idea is simple and wonderful, thank you!
Jan 27 2009 | 08:35 am
Allyson Binnicker says:
Pete, This is not only functional but so beautiful AND cool looking in design! Way to go!
Jan 27 2009 | 08:29 am
Jennifer Sigling says:
I love the modern design. It would be something I would put in my modern kitchen and it would add to my decor.
Jan 27 2009 | 08:19 am
David Castle says:
It looks as attractive as a nice flower vase.
Jan 26 2009 | 10:16 pm
Kmartell says:
Fantastic! i have a great use for this! I want one, so when you go into production, I get the 1st one, KM
Jan 26 2009 | 08:59 pm
Pat Bodine says:
This is a really cool design and, yes, it is both practical and attractive. Dogs often like to sneak a drink from seemingly out-of-the ordinary spots. I think they sense it as a kind of fun. Your product looks like a delightful place to do just that. With a weighted base it would not be an easy item to tip over and spill. And I just noticed that the color scheme even matches our "boys" decor! Great job!
Jan 26 2009 | 08:07 pm
spoon says:
bout time they put yours up here. love it man. got the vote!
Jan 26 2009 | 07:34 pm
AO says:
Great job!
Jan 26 2009 | 04:57 pm
Mark says:
Good job Pete!
Jan 26 2009 | 04:00 pm
Pete says:
That was a consideration. Without building a mock-up using a material of similar weight I did not want to speculate as to how big or how heavy such a weight would have to be. There is space in the base that could accommodate a weight though....if necessary.
Jan 26 2009 | 03:48 pm
Lesley says:
Is the bottom of the stand weighted with something so that the dish does not get top-heavy and easily tip over?
Jan 26 2009 | 03:24 pm
Cori says:
This looks great! Functional, elegant and easy to clean, I'm sure!
Jan 26 2009 | 02:48 pm
janet irwin says:
very cool
Jan 26 2009 | 01:51 pm
JLM says:
Wonderful! -- it is not only an attractive option to the ugly, wobbly plant stand; it is also medically valuable for anyone who has a tall or large dog. Bloat is a real problem for large breeds, who tend to develop heart problems from eating and drinking off the floor. Save on those vet bills.
Jan 26 2009 | 01:23 pm
EWC says:
If I owned a big dog I would order 4. Nice work!
Jan 26 2009 | 12:48 pm
Sara says:
Nicely done Pete! This would go great with my doggie pooper scooper... maybe we should go into business ;) Good luck!!
Jan 26 2009 | 11:56 am
--------- says:
Angie: There was a problem with the website for the last three hours of the entry time. This and some others were submitted via email and the time-stamps all check out just fine. No need to get upset.
Jan 26 2009 | 11:23 am
Angie Nelson says:
How did this project get submitted after the deadline? That doesn't seem fair to the rest of the contestants
Jan 26 2009 | 11:13 am
patrick says:
dude the splash guard and drip-catcher are awesome features. my dogs sling water all over the floor like it's their job.