Ditch the Bowl
Dogs will be dogs. Many of the things that drive us crazy, from chewing to digging, are completely normal and natural behaviors! Instead of getting frustrated with Fido and swimming upstream trying to stop it, we can use enrichment strategies to give him appropriate outlets. Believe it or not, it's perfectly okay to give your dog opportunities to rip, shred, chew, dig, and just be a dog! With a few simple additions, your dog can be a happier, calmer, and more fulfilled companion.
Did you know that feral dogs spend upwards of 70% of their waking hours foraging for food? You can probably guess how absurd it is to just dump kibble into a bowl and have Benji scarf it down in .02 seconds, then! So this year, we suggest you get rid of that boring old food bowl and turn mealtimes into something enriching and exciting!
In a phenomenon known as contra-freeloading, many species have shown a preference to work for food when given the option to obtain the same food “for free.” Stuffing kongs and puzzle toys isn’t just about keeping dogs busy for our own benefit (although it absolutely does benefit us, too!) Our dogs actually prefer to work for their food. You can test this yourself at home: put a handful of kibble in a regular bowl, and put the same amount in an interactive puzzle feeder or into your treat pouch to deliver during a training session. You might be surprised to find that your pup ignores the “free” food and opts to work for it instead.
So what if you’re on a tight budget, or maybe your schedule is jam packed and there’s no time for a complex new feeding ritual? Well good news! Developing an enrichment plan for your pup doesn’t have to be difficult, expensive, or time-consuming. Do you have an amazon delivery scheduled soon? Save the box and paper, sprinkle treats or kibble inside, and tape the box back up so Lassie can chew, shred, and snuffle to her heart’s content while she works for her meal. Do you have a spare hour on weekends? Prep a week’s worth of enrichment by stuffing rubber food toys all at once using a piping bag (or ziplock bag with the tip cut off) and storing them in the freezer. Maybe you have a backyard with grass? Measure out and toss a whole meal’s worth of kibble outside. Does your dog spend a lot of time at home alone? Hide kibble around the house for them to hunt for. The only limit to enrichment is your imagination.
If you’re not a DIY kind of person, there are countless commercial puzzle toys available for purchase. Of course we love our tried and true kong products, but it’s definitely worth checking out some some of the amazing different puzzle toys that are out there. We’ve added some of our favorites to our Amazon eStore.
The goal is to (safely) encourage your dog to chew, sniff, lick, dig, shred, and do all of the normal, natural dog behaviors that might otherwise get them into trouble. We believe so strongly in providing dogs with enrichment opportunities that we created a free ebook for all of you on the subject! Click the link below to get access to your copy:
Ditch the Bowl: Easy Enrichment for your Dog
What kinds of enrichment does your dog enjoy the most? We’d love to see it in action! Tag us in any social media posts of your pups having fun with your enrichment plans.