FUN WAY TO FEED THE DOG

Honestly, how much fun do you think your dog finds it to have their food served in a standard bowl—over and over again, day in and day out? Make mealtime more engaging and active by using a little imagination and perhaps some helpful tools. Here, you’ll find various options that encourage your dog to eat more slowly and use their nose—an activity that is both natural and stimulating for them.

Three reasons why you should occasionally—or even more frequently—set aside the traditional food bowl in favor of an enrichment feeder:

1. Put their nose, tongue, and paws to work
With an enrichment bowl or a lick mat, your dog or cat gets to use their mind and engage in natural behaviors to access their food. Dogs can sniff and lick, while cats can also use their paws to "fish out" their meal.

2. Create a moment of calm
Licking and figuring out how to reach the food can provide a calm, focused activity. Adjust the difficulty level so that your pet can experience the joy of success.

3. Help those who eat too quickly
When food is a bit more challenging to access, the meal takes longer to finish. This helps your dog or cat slow down and ensures that the food provides a longer-lasting, engaging activity.

What is food enrichment and how does it work?

Enrichment is when a dog is allowed to use what comes naturally to it. Like using their nose to look for food. Or by chewing and tasting different things and textures. The difference between activation and enrichment is simply that the former is something we dog owners make up, while the latter is an innate need.

It doesn't have to be more difficult than letting the dog look for its food. In the wild, food is rarely served in a bowl, but the wolf has to look for its food. Food enrichment allows the dog to exercise its innate behavior. Use an activity blanket and hide treats in it. Or let your dog figure out how to get to the treats in a puzzle. Or why not smear gooey food on a lick mat.