Canine Feeding Time – Turn
Feeding time into fun time for you dog!
Make dinner a winner for your dog
Written by our Vet Nurse Tegan Rozendaal Bsc Cert Animal Behaviour
If
there’s something most dogs love – it’s food! When a full bowl of food is placed
in front of them, most dogs will happily munch away until not a morsel is left.
However, how stimulating is this for your pooch?
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| Piper with her Kong Wobbler |
It’s
a startling statistic that the majority of pet dogs spend less than 15 minutes
of their entire day searching for and eating food. It is such a small amount of
time because they do not have to search out for food – we as loving owners hand
it to them on a silver platter (bowl :P).
However,
environmental enrichment isn’t only for the lions, tigers and bears! Your pooch
will love you for making meal time a little more interactive! For most dogs,
obtaining food is an immensely satisfying activity. Using food dispensing toys
can help keep your dog mentally stimulated and in the end, happy and well fed
too.
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| Piper again - another feeding toy! |
In fact, many involved in pet
care recommend that both cats and dogs receive their daily meals not poured
into a food bowl, but through 3 or 4 treat dispensing toys or used as treats to
reward good behaviour.
The
good news is there is no ‘wrong’ way to provide enrichment. The key is to find
out what works for you and your pet. Experimenting and trying new things will
ultimately lead to a happy and satisfied pooch!
Piper's Picks:
Piper
the Kelpie is Dr Liz’s dog, and boy does she need some stimulation in her day!
Being a young working dog, in addition to walks and playing fetch, she occupies
her time at home with these games and toys.
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| Don't let this sleeping Piper fool you |
Food Games
Treasure
Hunt!: Take a portion of your dog’s daily food and hide it in a few spots
around the house/backyard. The idea is that your dog will use their keen sense
of smell to find the hidden treasure. Difficulty can be moderated by where the
food is hidden, so no dog is left hungry!
Teaching tricks: use your dog’s
usual food instead of special treats as motivation to perform desired
behaviours.
Some of Pipers favourite tricks include sit, shake and spin!
Some of Pipers favourite tricks include sit, shake and spin!
Food Dispensing
Toys
Ice
Bucket: Great for hot summer days! Dissolve a stock cube in hot water, add dog
food and other tasty treats and freeze!
Cardboard
Tubes: use tubes such as toilet paper rolls or gladwrap rolls and fill with
treats. Cover both ends and the sides make holes large enough for the food to
roll out. As the tube rolls along the ground food should fall out.
Kong
Toys: Kong’s are easily stuffed with food (wet or dry) and can be left for your
dog to work on during the day. For maximum effect, moist food is best, seal
with end with peanut butter and freeze overnight.
Treat
Balls: Place dry food/treats into the opening provided and the dog has to roll
it around to get the food out.
Puzzle Toys: Puzzle toys are a
great test of a dogs intelligence and they make finding treats more
challenging. Most dogs will need some encouragement when first using a puzzle
toy, but they will soon love the extra challenge of finding tasty treats!
Did you enjoy Tegan's post?
I am Dr Liz, the vet from Russell Vale Animal Clinic. We are for happy, healthy pets, always.
Tegan, is a University of Wollongong Graduate (psychology), and works part time at Russell Vale Animal Clinic. She has a Certificate of Animal Behaviour, and is currently studying for her Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing (and she is my eldest daughter (proud mum moment)).
Did you enjoy Tegan's post?
 |
| Tegan with Piper at Puppy Preschool. |
Tegan, is a University of Wollongong Graduate (psychology), and works part time at Russell Vale Animal Clinic. She has a Certificate of Animal Behaviour, and is currently studying for her Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing (and she is my eldest daughter (proud mum moment)).
