Go Beyond the Food Bowl with your Dog

How do you feed your dog and why does it matter? 

Why is it that we feed out of food bowls anyways? 

If I told you to ditch the food bowl, how would you feel? Would you question how else you could feed your dog? Would it feel like too much work… too time consuming? Cruel to the dog? Did you know that studies have proven that feeding out of enrichment toys decreases many behavior problems? Now, I can’t ask the dog how he feels but to me, that says that boredom is much more likely to cause behavior issues.

If our dogs are working at their food for a longer period of time, they’re using their brains, their problem solving abilities, their physical energy. What are they not doing? Barking, jumping, begging, digging, chewing, biting us, chasing the cat, and the list could go on and on. See what I’m getting at?

 I’ll be the first to admit that it feels much easier (and less messy) to just scoop food into a bowl-like container. My dog eats it in less than 30 seconds (that would be 5 seconds if I didn’t use a slow-feeder bowl) but either way, it fits into the routine, it’s nice and neat, and it takes very little effort on my part. It’s also a great job for my kids to have, since I’m not worried about safety here. ​

But what does the dog get out of it? A full belly? Maybe … but most dogs still act starving half the time. Then, if you want to add in training or enrichment time later in the day, you’re often going to be feeding them above and beyond their daily rations. So, instead of adding all those extra calories into our dog’s diets, why not incorporate their daily rations into a routine of more enriching ways to enjoy their meals?

As a side note for those gassy dogs... slow feeder bowls will greatly decrease the amount of air your dog is sucking in while they eat and well... less air in... less air out. Mostly.​

Ditching that bowl doesn’t have to be complicated. Here are 5 pretty basic ideas for you that you can easily expand upon to make harder, as you go. You can pick and choose and rotate through whichever ideas you and your dog prefer, whatever fits your day’s schedule:

Please note that this blog post contains some affiliate links. Same cost to you for the product but a little extra for me for telling you about them.

1. Puzzle Feeders:

Puzzle feeders require mental energy and output for our dogs, which is highly enriching. Start off easy so you dog doesn't get too frustrated. Help them solve the puzzle by encouraging them to try different movements (sometimes I'll go ahead and make a treat magically appear from the sky when they put some effort in. Other times, I'll put some treats under the toy so they have to push the toy to get to the treats) Some of my favorites are: Kong Wobbler, Tricky Treat Ball, Bob-A-Lot - Here is a video demo of those three. I also love the Tug-A-Jug, any Nina Ottoson puzzles. You could even make your own puzzle toys! 

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2. Snuffling:

Snuffling around and sniffing out things in the environment lowers arousal naturally. What dog wouldn't benefit from some of that?
​You could hide the kiddle in a towel and then let your dog unroll it and snuffle through it trying to find the food.
Similarly, you could just scatter some food in the grass outside or in a pile of blankets for your dog to snuffle through.
You could also grab a Snuffle Mat online or DIY one if you’re feeling extra crafty

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3. Stuff a Toy:

This is different than a puzzle toy. This is more about your dog settling down to chew and lick at the stuffed toy given, as opposed to trying to solve a puzzle. Sure, there is a slight overlap as your dog tries to figure out the best way to get the food but in my mind, they get to fall into separate categories:
This would be like stuffing a classic Kong, or any other hollow toy your dog can work at. I also love the Westpaw Topple toy and the Kong Genius Mike.
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​There are almost too many out there to list now but those are my go-tos.
​And you know, you can even make an ice toy. I think that, too, belongs in this category!

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4. Hand Delivery:

While this is a little more dependent on your participation, it doesn't require as much as you might think. 
​This doesn’t have to be just a kibble at a time but you can definitely take out part or all of your dog’s meal, place it in an easy to access spot on the counter, in a treat bag, or pocket and reinforce your dog for any good behavior.
You can also just toss food from a chair or couch. As soon as your dog comes back to you and sits or lies down, tell him YES or GOOD and toss some more. This becomes way more fun for our dogs than just handing over the treats. I mean, hey, you could even work on teaching your dog to “catch” a treat in his mouth! Or just treat them for being cute!

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5. Food Hunt:

You could also hide small piles of food around the house, in boxes, under tables in corners, etc and then tell your dog to find it. Let them hunt to their heart’s content. You just might want to keep in mind where you left food, you know...just in case

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Tell me in the comments -
​What other food bowl alternatives have you tried with your dog?

Looking for more enrichment and training ideas for your dog? Be sure to check out the Miss Behavior Virtual Membership to learn so much more to benefit both you and your dog!