Should the bowl be level with my dog's chest?

The top of the shoulder blade is several centimeters higher than where the leg actually meets the body, so using shoulder height as your target often results in a bowl set too high. The lower chest point, sometimes called the brisket, more accurately reflects where a dog's head naturally sits when its neck is relaxed and level. On many dogs this difference between shoulder height and brisket height works out to roughly 8 to 12 cm, which explains why a shoulder based guess so often lands the bowl too high.

With your dog standing naturally, run a hand down the front leg until you feel it join the chest, and note that height. Set the bowl so the rim lands within roughly 2 to 3 cm of that point, then watch your dog's first few meals: a level back and forward facing head with no obvious stretching or tilting confirms the height is working. It helps to check this on a still, calm day rather than right after exercise or excitement, since a dog that is panting or shifting around makes an accurate reading harder to get.

A dog with neck or shoulder discomfort sometimes does better a centimeter or two lower than exact chest level, since even a small upward reach can be uncomfortable, while a very deep chested breed may need the reference point checked carefully since the brisket sits further forward on some builds. A very young puppy still building muscle and coordination can also look slightly off balance during this check, so repeat the measurement once it is a bit older and steadier on its feet.