There Are No Bowls!
Don’t Use a Bowl To Feed Your Dog.
The olfactory system, the sense of smell is how your dog collects most of its information. It’s how dogs communicate. In today’s world, many of our dogs do not get enough time spent in this ever-important activity of foraging, hunting for, and working for food.
I do a lot of "work for food" activities with puppies, seniors, dogs who have behavioral issues, and dogs who need a little fun fulfillment in their day. Use these options for dogs who have anxiety, or confidence, fear & trust issues. There are also ways to leverage these protocols for dogs who resource guard or dogs who don’t get along, but I recommend coaching for before you try that.
I do not recommend free-feeding your dog. Free-feeding means leaving the bowl down all-day and refilling as it becomes empty. This can promote a finicky eater and inhibit your house-training effectiveness. Meal time also gives you an opportunity to practice some of the new skills you’re working.
There is nothing that says your dog needs to eat out of a bowl! Want to challenge him a bit more (remember, mental stimulation can be a great thing for a developing puppy or one with lots of energy). Try these options:
Frozen Kong® – Stuff a Kong with a mixture your dog’s food (or portion of), add in some veggies and fruit if desired, and some peanut butter/canned pumpkin/canned sweet potatoes, and freeze it! It will take him a while to eat the food, keeping him relaxed and calm, and mentally stimulated.
Got a fast eater – try using a Bunt Cake Pan, Muffin Tin, or cookie sheet to put his food on. It will slow him down.
I’m a huge fan of licking mats for puppies and small dogs to simulate natural instincts and enjoyment. https://amzn.to/3BUc2Va
Also try snuffle mats for puppies – foraging simulates natural instincts, keeps them busy for a while & are lots of fun https://amzn.to/3QMffea
Puzzle Games – while you can buy products that hide food in little compartments for your dog to figure out how to get to the food.
Feed the Chickens: You can also just scatter some food around the yard or patio, and let him venture out to find it. Now you’re teaching him to use his nose – a natural instinct. https://amzn.to/3BSOC2w
They use their nose and enjoy the exercise vs a free bowl of food inhaled in about 10 seconds. Let your dog use their nose to find and enjoy dinner!