Stella’s dog bowls.
Giant breed dogs can’t bend over too much to eat because djdkdkelele. Bossy isn’t sure exactly why, except it involves words that usually apply to horses, like bloat.
When Stella joined the family, Bossy perused many pet catalogues looking for elevated dog bowls, and it should come as no surprise Bossy wasn’t having any of them.
So Bossy’s husband rigged the above setup, which utilizes a shutter Bossy trash picked years ago. He simply punched out a couple of holes in the thing and Bossy purchased stainless steel bowls to fit. Or maybe it was the other way ’round.
And while on the topic of Stella and her dog bowls and eating and gah look at her exposed ribs — Great Danes need to stay on the thin side because an overweight giant breed dog is bad news for leg joints. In whatever case, Bossy can assure you, Stella eats plenty, but she also takes a long walk each night which seems to keep her at the fighting weight you see above.
MidLifeMama says
September 16, 2009 at 9:19 amStella is a beautiful dog! And most domesticated dogs, i.e. those who don’t work for a living, are overweight and it is bad for all of them, regardless of size. She is a lucky gal to be so well cared for!
The Domestic Goddess says
September 16, 2009 at 9:19 amStella is ten kinds of awesome.
Lizzy says
September 16, 2009 at 9:21 amBossy? Did you know that you have a deer eating on your porch?
Debby says
September 16, 2009 at 9:23 amStella is the perfect weight!
carson says
September 16, 2009 at 9:33 amWe should all be so lucky as to have Stella’s, or Bossy’s for that matter, metabolism.
RuthWells says
September 16, 2009 at 9:34 amSuch a nice little pony.
Momish says
September 16, 2009 at 9:37 amWow, I did not know that about Great Danes. Stella is just too adorable and that whole set up is way cool. You are one good mama.
Acher says
September 16, 2009 at 9:52 amI would love to have a food set up like that for my dogs. I feel like it would keep some of the mess off of the floor. But, oh, wait. Basset hounds. Yeah. They are practically on the floor themselves.
BossysMom says
September 16, 2009 at 10:12 amoh archer…do you have a Basset. My favorite of all the doggies. LOOVE them.
BossysMom says
September 16, 2009 at 10:13 amAnd Stella…she’s just a basset with a leg problem.
L says
September 16, 2009 at 10:17 amBossysMom….. I had a Basset hound beagle mix. Beagle head with a basset body. Kind of strange looking. Wonderful dog.
Tuli says
September 16, 2009 at 10:18 amStella is Awesome (with a capital A!).
I’m fostering a Basset Hound for a man who is at USMC Boot Camp on Parris Island. I lurve this Basset so much. There is a TON of dog packed into his vertically-challenged frame.
Christine says
September 16, 2009 at 10:53 amAh, thank you Bossy, for setting the record straight on Stella’s weight. Is it bad that I would get my panties in a wad every time someone said she was “too skinny,” or, “Feed your dog, Bossy!” or “Stella looks a little thin”? Our dogs don’t have to look like the typical obese American! Because when they do, it means more health problems and shorter life span.
I hope that with your correct feeding and daily walks, that Stella lives a long Dane life.
*steps off soap box*
Reeb says
September 16, 2009 at 10:55 amI always smile when I see a Stella-part on the thumbnail photo.
Saw a great dane emerging onto the sidewalk of the main street of my little town the other evening. “What’s that Stella-look-alike doing out by itself?” I wondered. Then the next deer came into view. Oh. I see.
Reeb says
September 16, 2009 at 10:56 amIs she a relatively neat eater? That jute rug below her table doesn’t look all that washable. I have to have washable rugs under my rambunctious eaters.
Grace says
September 16, 2009 at 11:44 amStella is beautiful and her weight looks perfect.
Just FYI, the newest bloat research indicates that the elevated bowls actually hurt more than they help, but really, the speed at which the dog eats is the most important thing. Or at least that’s what I recall from the latest Bark.
Sorry if I sound preachy–we lost our first dog to bloat, so I’m kinda obsessed.
Melanie @ Mel, A Dramatic Mommy says
September 16, 2009 at 12:37 pmLove that you got the shutter from the trash. I don’t have such sophisticated neighbors!
Katie says
September 16, 2009 at 1:27 pmI have a very thin Golden Retriever – Honey. Goldens also have a proensity for obesity/joint issues/etc as well. I get so irritated when people comment on her thinness (usually when walking a very overweight lab).
Why is it okay to comment on people’s (my Golden is a person) thinness but rude to comment if they are overweight?
sMhunter says
September 16, 2009 at 1:38 pmI want a Stella … she’s perfect and gorgeous!
Julie says
September 16, 2009 at 1:57 pmI love Stella! I also have a basset and the main problem is the ears dragging in the food, and on the ground and getting stepped on.
Sofia says
September 16, 2009 at 2:16 pmI love Stella 😀
The Know it All says
September 16, 2009 at 3:47 pmCan Bossy’s husband make one for my Alaskan Malamute, Cocopuff? She really needs it! I love seeing pix of Stella–she reminds me of my childhood doggie, Creampuff…Hmm…do I have a problem with food names?
Mimi says
September 16, 2009 at 5:13 pmOooh thanks for the advice about the elevated bowl for my parents Great Dane Boo Boo, I’ll have to tell them. But how will the little Corgi, Yogi, get to it? Maybe a little ladder!
Golden says
September 16, 2009 at 5:40 pmYou are so smart to feed your house-pony on the porch. When my sister’s Golden Retriever comes to visit, oh my goodness does that dog make a mess while drinking water!
Randy says
September 16, 2009 at 10:48 pmBossy, I don’t want to toot my own horn, but I built this really awesome dog bowl stand for my mother’s Dane last year. I have since stained it and it has gotten pretty slobbery, but it still looks pretty decent: http://www.flickr.com/photos/45066845@N00/2895607479/in/set-72157603531145805/ (and the previous picture in the set for a better look at the legs).
Bonnie says
September 16, 2009 at 10:55 pmI wonder how often you have to wipe dog spew off the nice brick wall behind her bowls? I used to love the flappy lips thing with my danes – especially after a yummy meal!
ree (the other one) says
September 16, 2009 at 11:00 pmStella is one of my favorite things, too.
Liz Dranow says
September 16, 2009 at 11:29 pmWhen our standard poodle got sick we got him elevated bowls so he wouldn’t have to bend over so far, and even though we lost him, we have stuck with the raised bowls – our big dog (a goldendoodle) is a midget compared to Stella, but it puts less stress on her neck. And, interestingly, out 19 year old Maine Coon cat loves the elevated dog dishes as well – they seem to be right at his mouth level. So everyone is happy!
Ms. Cranky Pants says
September 17, 2009 at 12:00 amI pink-puffy-heart Stella.