Do slow feeder bowls actually slow eating, or do dogs just figure them out?

Both, according to specialist communities. r/dogs and r/DogAdvice users report that maze-pattern bowls like the Outward Hound Fun Feeder cut eating time meaningfully at first, but fast eaters often adapt within weeks. r/OpenDogTraining commenters note the effect varies a lot by dog. The consensus is that they help most dogs at least somewhat, but they are not a guaranteed fix for bloat-risk gulpers.