How To Train Your Dog To Eat More Slowly
January 12, 2023
Some dogs can be picky eaters, while others like to savour every morsel, crunching their way through their kibble with great relish. It’s the dogs that gobble down their food like it’s their last meal on earth that should cause concern.
Just like humans, dogs who eat their food too fast can experience stomach upset and indigestion. There’s also a serious risk of choking.
Gulping down their food without even chewing it can also cause bloating, discomfort and vomiting.
If it is a habit of your dog to wolf down their food at mealtimes, they could develop more serious gastrointestinal conditions over time. Stomach bloat is a serious condition in dogs. When the stomach fills up too fast, it will expand suddenly and this can be very painful.
There’s also the danger that the stomach could flip and get twisted, causing immense pain. In this severe circumstance, your dog would need emergency surgery and hospitalization.
So it is important to teach your dog to take their time eating their food. Here are some simple solutions that you can try to get your dog to eat their food more slowly:
How To Stop Your Dog From Gulping Down Their Food
Hand feed your dog - this is an easy solution that is particularly helpful in the puppy stage. Not only does it help to get your dog to chew their food, but it allows you to combine feeding time with training time. Measure out how much food they're allowed to have and use the kibble instead of treats to reward good behaviour during training.
Use a kibble ball - these iteractive devices are both a toy and a treat; a great way to slow down feeding time. Your dog will get the enjoyment and mental stimulation of chasing the ball and the reward of kibbles that drop out along the way. If you feed your dog wet food, instead of serving it up in a bowl, use a Kong. It will keep them occupied for hours.
Get a slow feeder bowl - you’ve probably seen these bowls in the pet shop. They look like a miniature maze puzzle. Simply add their food to the feeder and watch them chase it around through the maze, kibble by kibble.
Add a tennis ball - dropping a tennis ball into their bowl of kibble presents your dog with an obstacle. The only way to get at the kibble is to eat around the tennis ball. Any ball will do, as long as it’s big enough. Works wonders.
Freeze their food - this works well with wet food, but kibble with added water works just as well. Frozen food requires a little more chewing and a great deal more licking. Your dog will love it.
So if your dog inhales their food at mealtimes, try some of these tips and slow down their feeding habits. Not only could it save your dog’s life, but it can boost your dog’s health. Properly digested food provides more nutrients to the body and allows it the time to absorb the nutrition it needs for healthy bones and muscles. Slow eating is good for everyone.