Does feeding time at your house go something like this: Empty food into dog’s bowl, put bowl down, 5 seconds later remove empty bowl?
It’s possible you have one of those rare dogs who likes to graze throughout the day. But odds are, you can relate to the above scenario.
Whatever type of eater your dog is, I am going to suggest something that may sound off the wall to you: Get rid of your dog’s food bowl.
Here’s why:
Tens of thousands of years ago before dogs were domesticated, did they wander into the woods to find a bowl filled with food waiting for them?
Of course not.
They spent their entire day searching for prey; stalking it; chasing it; bringing it down: killing it; tearing it apart; consuming it.
It was an all-day activity, and the dog’s survival depended on doing it effectively. He’d rest and then get up to start the whole process over again.
Now let’s look at how most of our dogs spend the day: Wake up at the foot of your bed or on some cozy fleece bed; go outside to relieve themselves; come inside and eat food from a bowl; get depressed while you get ready for work; lie on the couch for 8 hours waiting for you to come home; get let out in the yard or go for a walk; come inside and eat food from a bowl; get yelled at for wanting to play when you’re exhausted and settled in to watch TV; go to bed.
Your dog’s life may not be exactly like this, but I’ll bet it’s something like this.
The bottom line is that our dogs need more to do. They crave stimulation, and they crave having their basic needs met. And yes, that includes chewing, digging, tearing, etc. In a word: WORKING.
Our dogs want to work. They need to work.
So why not take an activity that’s going to happen every day anyway, and turn it into something your dog will find stimulating and enriching? (And help tire them out!)
I began feeding my dog from a Kong about 3 years ago, and I’ll never go back to using a bowl.
My dog has gone from making mealtime a 10-second event to a 15-minute activity. That may not sound like a huge difference to you, but from the very first time I fed her from a Kong, I noticed a change: She was relaxed after she ate.
This is a dog who in addition to her reactivity and anxiety, had energy coming out her ears. Working to get her food out of her Kong, licking it, digging at it, tossing it around when a piece of kibble would stick inside, was engrossing work for her … and she loved it. Still does.
All I can say is to give it a try. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Here are some tips to keep in mind:
- It’s helpful to make the food a little mushy, otherwise the kibble just falls out. I add to my dog’s dry kibble one tablespoon each of plain yogurt and pumpkin puree. (Check with your vet first, but I’d be surprised if they objected to yogurt or pumpkin. Both are great for your dog’s digestive system.)
- Since you’re going to make your dog work to eat, take advantage of it. Ask your dog to sit, say, “Wait,” and put the Kong down. If your dog moves toward it, pick it up and start again. When he eventually doesn’t move toward the Kong, release him with, “OK!” and let him eat. Trust me: Your dog will get it very quickly. He wants to eat, and he’ll do what it takes!
- Worried about it making a mess on the floor? I use a place mat — check the photo above. My dog pretty much stays right on it. (And the orange stains you see on the mat? That’s not from pumpkin — I also add ground turmeric to her food to help with arthritis.)
- Never leave your dog unsupervised with a Kong or any kind of chew toy. It’s unlikely something will happen, but I’m not about to take that chance with my dog — I know you aren’t, either.
If you’ve been following this blog, you know I’m big on respecting dogs for who they are and fulfilling their needs as dogs.
Making your dog work for his food isn’t mean. It’s satisfying to them because you’re helping fulfill their basic instincts. Your dog will love you for it.
Try it, and let me know how it goes!
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