Feeding Tips

Feeding Tips to Slow Dog Eating

IT takes love, patience and a little knowledge to help your dog learn to eat slower. Make a commitment to help huim slow down his eating. Help him calm down if he is nervous.  Feed him by himself - not around another dog which makes him feel that he is competing for food.  Be calm, comforting but in control.  Talk gently but firmly, if needed. 

You may need to feed him by hand to help him relax and realize it’s not a race.  To do this, take a few pieces of food in your hand, have your hand closed, talk to him gently as you open your hand and let him eat.  Keep the rest of his food where only you can get it. 

Repeat this process slowly so that he eats his meal over several minutes, not 15 seconds or less!

Continue this process of feeding by hand until your dog realizes eating is not a race.  Be committed to helping him learn to eat slower.

When you do go back to feeding with the dog dish, do not stack up the food, where he can grab a whole mouthful and gulp it down!  Keep the food spread-out so that he must use his tongue, lips and teeth, slowing the eating time and changing the eating style.

Great idea! Dorothy (testimonial page) put Denali's 2-cup Dishes on the bare floor. Now Denali walks around the Dishes and eats from each section to keep the dishes from sliding! I tried it with Jed and it slowed him another 15-20 seconds. He also walks around the dish and is less aggressive. Give it a try!