Have you watched the video of a Golden Retriever vs German Shepherd spaghetti-eating competition? This video perfectly illustrates how our dogs eat at different speeds. Some dogs take their time to chew the food, while others eat it in seconds.
Why do some dogs eat fast? Some dogs eat quickly because they fear that someone else will eat their food if they do not get it first. Others eat rapidly due to medical conditions or medications. And others eat quickly out of excitement. If you have more than one dog and they are all fast eaters, I suggest separating the dogs for meals. This will help to reduce the feeling of dinner being a competition.
Fast eating can cause stomach upset, gagging, choking, vomiting and a life-threatening condition called a bloat. Fast eating can cause stomach upset, gagging and choking. It can also lead to a potentially life-threatening condition known as Bloat. (Large breeds with deep chests, such as Great Danes, are more susceptible to bloat).
You can slow down your dog's eating speed if you are concerned. Here are 3 ways to help slow your dog down.
Use a food dispenser toy for their meals
They are great for keeping your dog stimulated. But they also have an additional benefit when it comes time to feed your fast-eating dog. Food dispensing toy dispensers are only designed to let out one or two pieces at a given time.
These are available in most pet shops (and on Amazon), they're simple to use, fill, wash, and reuse the following day. The Bob A Lot is my favorite because it is heavy duty and has an adjustable hole. Fill it with the dog's food, give it to them, and encourage them to play with it. The food will spill out as they roll the container.
My dog takes about 10 minutes to eat her Bob A Lot meal, as opposed to 30 seconds if I simply put it in her dish. It's a great way to slow her down and she loves it. She starts to dance and get excited as soon as I take it.
There are a few considerations to make when choosing a treat dispenser to give your dog . The toy that you are considering is it going to be durable enough for your dog to play with? Some toys, especially the ones that look like balls, are made from soft plastic and won't last very long if your dog chews a lot. Does your dog's meal fit through the hole? Is it adjustable or not? It is dishwasher-safe and/or easy to clean. You've probably found the perfect one if you can answer yes to all of these questions.
Buy or make a Slow Feeder Bowl
If you have any doubts about how widespread this problem is, just look at the many slow feeder bowls available on Amazon. There are many different sizes and shapes, but all of them have ridges to prevent your dog from gulping down the food.
A slow feeder bowl is a great way to slow down your dog's eating. It takes little effort and can be used quickly. Fill it up with food for your dog as usual, but the bowl does the rest. The raised ridges are obstructions that slow your dog down when eating.
It's important to keep in mind that some slow feeder bowls are more complicated than others when choosing one for your dog. You may want to choose a bowl with a complex design if your dog is good at solving puzzles and eats fast. A bowl that has just three solid raised ridges will not slow your dog down as much as a maze-like design.
You can feed your dog using a muffin pan if you are looking for a simple DIY solution. Spreading out their food between each “hole” in the muffin tin should slow them down. You can add some tennis balls to the top if it doesn't work.
Make Mealtime a Time to Play or Train
You can slow down your dog's eating by turning their mealtime into a training or game. Just measure your dog's food as usual and then set it aside to play a game or train your dog.
If your dog is new to this game, start with “easy” hiding spots that are in plain sight. If your dog is new at this game, start by hiding in “easy” spots that are visible. Once all the treats have been hidden, I will tell her to “find the treat” and encourage as she finds them. This is mentally stimulating and prevents her from eating her food all at once.
You can also slow your dog down by using their food in the training session. With your dog, you can practice some new tricks like weaving between legs or brush up on basic skills. You can use your dog's meal as a reward for training. It will not only help them eat less, but it will also boost their confidence and keep them mentally active.
Is your dog a fast eater?
Is your dog eating too quickly? How have you tried to slow their eating down?