Switching Up Mealtime: Creative Ways to Feed Your Dog for Mental Stimulation
Ok, so maybe don't let your dog sit at the table for spaghetti dinners, but let's talk about ways to switch up mealtimes for your pup to engage their senses and create a bit more enrichment.
Food Scatter
Take mealtime outside (or even on a shaggy rug or pile of laundry) , toss your pup's food into the grass, and let them hunt! Foraging for food activates their noses and brains in a way that a bowl simply can't provide. They get fulfillment in a natural way and helps slow down the eating process as well, so they aren't "wolfing down" mouthfuls of kibble all at once.
Hand Feeding
Another great way to draw out mealtime, build engagement between you and your dog, and nurture a positive association between your hands and food is hand feeding. It's as simple as feeding your dog their meal like you would treats, but with a calm energy, rather than hyping them up. You can practice calm energy, patience and personal space, and reinforce that your hands provide food (rather than trying to take things from them). You can, of course, add in obedience cues or tricks to make it more engaging, but simply being present and calm with your dog while hand feeding is a great bonding activity.
Towel Knot
Got a pup that loves solving puzzles? Give the towel-knot game a try and watch them push, prod, paw at, and shake up the towel to find those snacks! Simply lay out an old towel, scatter food inside, then roll up and secure into a loose knot. They'll use their nose to scent out the food and their paws and mouth to open up the towel and get to the food.
4. Scavenger Hunt
Another fun game to get your dog's nose working and feeling fulfilled is to hide his food bowl in the yard (or within the home if you don't have a yard) and let him go on a scavenger hunt to find it. Don't be discouraged if your dog takes a bit to work out the scent trail, just give him time and assist only if he seems extra lost or confused. If your dog typically eats kibble, you can help him out by adding a few tasty smelling additions to the bowl like fish oil, sardines, fresh cooked veggies, or a little scrambled egg.
5. Obstacle Searches
Similar to the Scavenger Hunt game, this Obstacle challenge also involves hiding food. Rather than hiding all the food in one location, this game involves multiple obstacles such as boxes, ball pits, filled baskets, and general randomness to allow your dog to experience different textures and challenges in order to get to their food. Have an old kiddie pool laying around? Throw some kibble in the bottom, then add plastic balls, lightweight toys, or even towels to partially cover the food; then let your dog explore! You can also use those delivery boxes that pile up throughout the week and add kibble into a few of those of different sizes to get your dog's nose working to find their food. This game encourages bravery, curiosity, rooting, digging, snuffling, and problem solving. This is especially wonderful for young puppies who are building confidence and resilience along with proprioception/body awareness.
All in all, there are a multitude of ways to add enrichment to your dog's mealtime. Whether you're hiding food or simply enjoying dinner out in nature, we encourage you to have some fun, explore the world together, and get those noses to work! And if you're in the Erie, Colorado area and are looking for training and fun ways to add enrichment to your dog's life, reach out to sam@myadventurek9.com to set up your FREE 30-min training consultation. Happy Training!
-Sam
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