3 Ways to Maximize Your Dog's Mealtime for Better Behavior | Pupford
23 Comments Filed under enrichment+ pup parenting
Twice a day (or more often if you have a puppy) you have your dog's undivided attention... mealtime!
Unfortunately, we often let that opportunity pass by without using it to its full advantage. Because truthfully, mealtime should be much more than just something to check off your to-do list!
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3 POWERFUL WAYS TO MAXIMIZE YOUR DOG'S MEALTIME
Your dog's focus and attention during mealtimes is valuable time. And often, the best way to maximize that attention is to stick to a puppy feeding schedule from day 1. In most instances, we recommend against free feeding your dog.
Here are 3 ways to make use of that time:
- Mental exercise and enrichment
- Training and tricks
- Impulse control
Let's look at each below. 👇
1- MENTAL EXERCISE AND ENRICHMENT
Mental exercise, enrichment for dogs, brain work... whatever you call it, it's extremely important!
And during mealtimes, your dog's food drive is often at its peak, so take advantage. Whether you use a snuffle mat, Kong toy, lick mat, or any other puzzle toy, just make sure your dog gets some much-needed mental exercise during their meals.
Not only is it good for their brain, but it also helps slow down your dog's eating to help avoid bloating and other digestive issues.
Related Reading: Guide to Dog Bloat
Every meal should include some brain work. Don't miss it!
Here's a quick video with a section about enrichment during your dog's meal.
Related Reading: 5 Types of Enrichment for Dogs
2- TRAINING AND TRICKS
Again, right before mealtime your dog is hungry and anticipating food. So you should take advantage!
Grab a few pieces of their food (if you feed dehydrated or raw this might be a challenge) and set it aside to do some training. You can practice new tricks, reinforce recall, or just work on focus behaviors and listening.
And while I'm not promoting using ALL of their food for training, it's beneficial to use some.
When you have their focus and their food drive is high, it is the best time to reinforce and train new or challenging behaviors. Use their meal as a reward!
Do you need some structure in your training routine? Sign up for the 100% free online video course, 30 Day Perfect Pup here.
3- TRAIN IMPULSE CONTROL
This one is similar to the previous point, but it's important to specifically train impulse control as part of your dog's meals.
That can be as simple as waiting for a second before eating, or even staying in their place while you prepare the meal until being released.
Another fun game to play is the "See-Saw Game". Here's how to play!
Kneel or stand above your dog with the bowl of food in your hand. Start to lower the bowl.
As you lower, quickly raise the bowl the instant your dog lunges towards or tries to get the food. (Keep a safe distance so you can remove the bowl fast enough from your pup.)
Repeat this behavior until you can successfully lower the bowl all the way to the ground. Once that occurs, mark and reward that behavior by giving the meal!
This can often take many attempts and continued practice, so don't be afraid to just go for partial success in the beginning (ie, lowering the bowl to waist height without your dog moving) and reward for that.
🐶 Don't miss out, get access to 21 easy-to-play & effective impulse control games. Get access to 21 Impulse Control Games now!
MAXIMIZING MEALTIME RECAP
No matter what you feed your pup, make sure you do it with a purpose!
Use that valuable mealtime as an opportunity to give mental exercise, extra training, and even some impulse control practice.
The simplest way to improve your dog's mealtime is to use a slow feeder or puzzle toy for enrichment. Shop our full line of enrichment tools here!
What's your favorite thing to do to maximize your dog's mealtime? Tell us in the comments.
23 comments
Leave a CommentAnother great idea. I gave a question for 3 days tucker has pooped on the carpet then he wakes me up and I go see it. I know it’s been exciting company and all any suggestions
We have moved to giving our dog his food in an enrichment toy, never in just a bowl any longer. We’ve only been at it a few weeks so time will tell on improvements but definitely going to start adding in some training pre dinner and redoing the see-saw games. He’s normally very good with his dinner and waits until we say, but does struggle with impulse elsewhere so we’re going to reinforce in all actions
My female border collie is almost 2. She had feeding problems at first (she was a litter runt and in retrospect, I would have put her on goat milk at first). Now that she is on a low dose or Prozac to address noise phobia, I can finally predict that she will eat a meal shortly after returning from the dog park. So I focus on some recall and other training while she is at the park. I appreciate this article, because I was always hoping to utilize her appetite for training times, but now I realize that I am.