Elevated Dog Dishes

Michelle
by Michelle
3 Materials
My silly dog has this dirty habit of "rooting" through her food which pushes it out of the dish and all over the floor. I got her when she was 3 years old and she has done this since I've had her. icon So I came up with the idea of elevating her food dishes to see if she would stop rooting. I had a serving tray on legs that had gotten broken (No one seems to know how...icon ) and I'm not one to throw out something I think I can repurpose.
This has been a daily battle for 10 yearsicon
I used one of her dishes as a template. I turned it upside down on paper and traced around it.
I cut the circle out and folded it in half, then in half again and again.
I wanted the dishes to sit down into the tray so they wouldn't move. The lip on the dish is 1/2 inch so I cut 1/2 inch off the folded template and then when I opened it I was left with my final template.
I put it over the dish to make sure it was a good fit.
Then, after doing some math to figure out exactly where to place the bowls so they would be centered, I drew around the inside of the template. You can see here where the tray is broken.
Then I used my handy dandy jigsaw and cut out the circles.
Now the fun part. I bought this contact paper to use for this project. I really like the wood grain look.
On the back of the contact paper there are markings making it so easy to use. I just measured the top of the tray and cut the contact paper a little bigger than the tray.
I smoothed it into place. This took a little doing but, I worked from the middle to the outside and got it done. I was able to lift and readjust it until I got it smooth and worked out all the air bubbles.
After I got it smoothed into place I took my razor blade knife and trimmed of the excess.
Then I cut the center of each circle and made several cuts to the edge of the cutout circles and folded them under.
This is the what the underside of the tray looks like.
I placed the dog dishes in the holes......
...extended the legs and now we wait and see if she approves. icon
Suggested materials:
  • Broken serving tray
  • Contact paper   (99 cent store)
  • Jigsaw   (Home Depot)
Frequently asked questions
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3 of 4 questions
  • X X on May 13, 2017

    Would it help to wet the food ?

  • Kay Green Kay Green on May 13, 2017

    Please if your dog is a gobbler a heighten bowl can lead to gastric torsion. Consult with your vet before raising the food and water bowls.

  • Alice Alice on May 18, 2017

    No question-just a comment.

    This is GENIUS!!

Comments
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3 of 42 comments
  • Laura M. Ginn Laura M. Ginn on May 17, 2017

    My kittie (all six pounds of her) has her dry food all over the floor around her dish. I use two sheets off the paper towel roll under her food and water dish. After she eats I just shake the food off into the trash. Replace the paper every few days, works for me.


  • Carol darden Carol darden on May 17, 2017

    I love this idea. My little pooch makes such a mess!!

    • Michelle Michelle on May 18, 2017
      I'm finding out that I don't have the only messy dog :) This has worked pretty well so far
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