DIY Dog Bowl Pedestal
I’m resurrecting this post because it’s one of my favorites and our dogs still use these pedestal bowls almost a decade later. Here’s how Emmett built the DIY dog bowl pedestal for our fur babies. I’ve always struggled to find pet products that I actually want to leave sitting out in our home, so designing our own made the most sense. These have a painted pedestal base, soapstone top (to match our countertop), and stainless steel bowls, so they feel more like a piece of furniture than a typical dog feeder. Click through for the detailed tutorial.
Emmett and I have tackled so many DIY projects together. Most recently, I shared how to add fabric behind glass cabinet doors: he built the cabinet and I added the fabric. We’re spending a lot of time renovating the cabin so look for more of those posts: the deck, main bathroom, front door and more.
Why We Built Our Own Dog Bowl Pedestals
There aren’t a lot of well designed pet feeders out there. They’re either bulky, ugly, or the wrong size. At the time, when we decided to make these, we had two dogs… Finn (our giant schnauzer) and Cash (our fox terrier). I’m not going to lie— it makes me so sad to see Finn in these photos; I miss him. He was the largest dog we’ve ever had, which is why we needed a custom height feeder for him.
It made sense to create new matching feeders for each dog that were custom to their height. Luckily, we now have Crosby (a setter / retriever mix), and he is about the same height as Finn, though much more lanky. Regardless, the feeder height works well for him, so we didn’t have to do any adjusting.
Did you know it’s healthier to feed your pets from an elevated feeder? Obviously, we want our boys to live long, happy lives, so that’s how we landed on the pedestal / elevated route to begin with. I also care about the design and aesthetic. I specified soapstone for the top and Emmett did the rest. I gave him free reign to design the pedestals and he didn’t disappoint. I’m really happy with how they turned out!
Before You Build a Dog Bowl Pedestal
The beauty of building your own dog bowl stand is that you can customize the dimensions for your dog, bowls, and space. Determine the appropriate feeding height for your individual dog before deciding on the pedestal dimensions, then purchase your bowls before having the stone fabricated. You’ll want the openings cut specifically for the bowls you plan to use. We chose stainless steel bowls with a flange so they sit neatly inside the stone instead of falling through the opening. I also like that these are freestanding, so they can move with us.
Supplies & Tools
Here’s a list of what you’ll need for this DIY dog bowl pedestal project…
- soapstone (pre-fabricated… we had our preferred fabricator cut the holes for us)
- stainless steel dog dishes with flange
- 1/2″ MDF
- primer
- paint
- wood glue
- 3/4″ pocket screws
- silicone
- tape measure
- table saw
- miter saw
- pocket screw jig
- power drill
- paint sprayer
- nail gun
You certainly don’t have to use soapstone. We had a remnant from our countertop fabrication. Here’s how to save money and shop stone remnants in a slab yard. Marble, quartz, granite, or another durable stone could give you a similar custom look.
Step 1: Cut the MDF
Measure and plan your dimensions, then cut the four sides and trim pieces to the appropriate size. We used a table saw for this, but you can also use other tools to cut the MDF. This is where customizing the project really comes into play. The finished dimensions should make sense for your dog, bowl size, and the area where the feeder will live.
Step 2: Drill the Pocket Holes
Using the two smaller rectangular pieces for the base and the pocket hole jig, drill your holes. It should look something like this once your holes have been drilled…
Step 3: Assemble the Pedestal
Begin by assembling the corner two pieces with glue, then reinforce with pin nails. The pin nails will hold the piece together while you add the pocket screws. Repeat the process on the opposite side until all four pieces are connected and secure.
Step 4: Add the Trim
Miter the ends of the trim pieces and affix them to the pedestal using glue and finishing nails. Trim pieces are definitely optional, but they add nice visual interest! Your project at this point should look something like this…
Step 5: Attach the Stone Top
Put a bead of silicone around the top edge and adhere the stone to the MDF. Allow it to completely dry before painting or moving the piece.
Step 6: Prep and Paint
Prepare the piece for paint by sanding and filling any holes. We used a handheld paint sprayer to paint the piece, but you can use your preference of paint supplies. Once the paint has completely dried, add the stainless steel bowls and your DIY dog bowl pedestal is finished! That’s really all there is to it. You can easily customize this to fit your needs… size, color, design, etc.
Questions?
Absolutely. The stone is one of my favorite design details, but it isn’t essential to the construction. You could adapt this DIY using another durable material that works with your skill level, budget, and home. Wood works, too.
You definitely can. We put extra bags of treats inside them, tucked away out of sight. We also use them to cycle out toys seasonally.
Yes! We went with stainless so they’re easy to clean. I pop them into the dishwasher a few times a week.
Related posts
We’re dog people and if you read this far through the post, you probably are too. Here are some more pet related posts you might find fun or helpful…
- How to Remove Scratches from Hardwood Floors
- 10 Tips for Helping Your Dog Through A Renovation or Remodel
- How to Clean and Care for Natural Fiber Rugs (Without Ruining Them)
- The Story Behind My Dog Portraits + A Peek at Crosby’s
- National Painting Week Humane Society Makeover
- How to Deep Clean Upholstery and Refresh Your Living Room for Spring
- Family & Pet Friendly Sofas
I’ll wrap things up by saying this… having well planned and nicely designed pet products makes a big difference in the overall aesthetic of a room, especially when it’s something you leave out on a daily basis. I like for everything to be intentional and I tend to focus on the little details. These pet pedestals have been a favorite for over a decade. If you have any DIY questions or comments in regard to the DIY feeders, drop us a line below! Emmett and I are always happy to help. What do your pets eat from?
First of all, I LOVE these feeders and how you’ve incorporated your dogs into the laundry space. It’s beautiful, functional, and well designed.
One question about the feeders and having two dogs: do your dogs eat the same food? Do they have any food aggression? Our dogs eat different food (puppy food for the pup, adult food for our 13-year-old dog) and we have to separate the dogs at mealtime because they try to ‘steal’ each other’s food and can sometimes get aggressive about it. Wasn’t sure if you had this issue or if they are perfectly fine eating next to each other. :)
Thanks Emily!! Our dogs eat different food (they both have special diets and sensitive stomach issues / food allergies). Luckily, neither of them have food aggression or a high food drive… in fact, sometimes they won’t even eat all of their food. Therefore, they’re totally cool eating next to one another and don’t try to steal each other’s dinner. I think we lucked out in that department because it makes it easy to keep all of the “dog stuff” in one shared area. However, the dog feeder pedestals are easy to move should we ever need to separate them someday. xox
This is a lovely DIY dog feeders, I like those two artworks of your dogs hanging on the wall, but why is it hang top and bottom, not left and right?
Great question! I liked the visual weight of the artwork stacked better than side-by-side and it was more appropriate for the space. It also draws your eye downward to their pedestal feeders- which I really liked. xo
I have loved your pedestal bowls for about as long as I’ve been following you. I completely understand the struggle with an above-average-height dog. I currently have a pedestal that was purchased from TJMaxx, and while it works it could be slightly higher. I bought it for the sleek wood frame and the marble top. What I love about yours is the ability to store items inside! I hate typical dog food storage options, and would love for it to be integrated. That’s actually one of my kitchen meanderings: designing the dog station in my head, ha! Ricky eats out of stainless steel bowls like yours, but I recently found a stainless steel slow feeder bowl that I can’t wait to swap to. He is that dog, but after going through the cleaning process of using a plastic slow feeder, it had to go. Thank you for this tutorial- I think I might try my hand at building a custom one and repurpose the top from the one I currently own. This is super cool! Happy Friday Gibson family!