7 Ways To Slow Down Dog Eating

Introduction

Dogs are known as ‘man’s best friend for a reason. They provide us with companionship, love, and security. However, one not-so-lovable trait of many dogs is their habit of eating too fast. While it may not seem like a big deal to you, eating too quickly can actually be very dangerous for your dog. It can lead to choking, vomiting, and even obesity.

7 Ways To Slow Down Dog Eating

1. Get a slow feeder bowl for your dog

There are many different kinds of slow-feed bowls on the market. Some are plastic and throw out a constant stream of food, while others have reservoirs that can be filled with kibble. Slow feeders prevent your dog from eating so fast that he gulps down too much at once, which prevents him from choking or gagging on it. When you get your slow feeder, you will have to adjust the food amount to fit the size of your dog. For example, if your dog is a 10-pound Yorkie, you should fill up the bowl with about 5 oz of kibble.

2. Feed your dog more often

Feeding your dog more often throughout the day is one of the best ways to slow down his eating habits. Of course, it will also lead to him being more active and slimming down. You don’t have to feed your dog all of the kibbles in his bowl at once. As long as you are feeding him 3-4 small portions throughout the day, he will be satisfied. For example, if you feed him in the morning while you are running out the door, give him two small portions. Then in the evening, give him one more. This way he will be eating more frequently because each portion is only a few ounces of kibble.

3. Feed your dog lots of fruits and vegetables (and less meat)

Dogs love to eat fruits and vegetables as treats, so why wouldn’t they love them as their main source of nutrition? Just make sure you are getting lots of veggie parts instead of too many calories from the greasy edges of steak or chicken. Also, make sure to give them mainly veggies and not meats that have been heavily processed. If you are going to give them meat, choose lean cuts and mix them with veggies. Dogs have no need for salt, so avoid giving your dog table scraps.

4. Make your dog work for his meal

Giving your dog his dinner after he sits or lies down can help him eat slower. In this way, he will not be able to go running off to play with his toys immediately after dinner. Instead, he will have time to sit and think about the food in front of him- which is a good thing! If your dog gets very excited toward the end of dinner, you can also give him a chew toy that has food on the inside instead of at the end of dinner. This will help him focus more on the chewing toy than gobbling his food.

5. Hide your dog’s food around the house

If your dog is always able to find his kibble in the same place in his bowl, he is bound to start wolfing it down as soon as he sees it. To prevent this, feed him in the same place but mix up the hiding spots of his kibble throughout the day. Just make sure that you don’t leave too long of a gap in between feedings or give him too much food at once, or he will go looking for more! Dogs will also sometimes eat in a certain place and then leave it there to be found later. This can be very frustrating for you, but the dog is probably yours! You’ll just have to wait until he’s ready to move his food again. When you do move your dog’s food around places, you don’t want to do too much at one time. Don’t change all of the hiding spots at once and don’t change them often. The first couple of times you do it, try it just once a week.

6. Make sure your dog has plenty of exercises

One of the best things you can ever do for your dog is to make sure he is getting enough exercise every day. If your house is like mine and doesn’t have a lot of room for him to run around outside, try making sure he gets plenty of exercises inside. Running up and down stairs and chasing a ball will both work out your dog’s muscles, preparing him for a fun time to come. Even playing fetch inside with a soft ball will help your dog lose weight. By burning extra calories throughout the day, you can make sure that he won’t be wolfing his food down so fast at dinner time. If your dog’s kibble is buried, then you can make sure he spends some time digging around to find it. This will give him something to do other than eat at dinner time.

7. Go slow on the treats

When you get in the habit of feeding your dog a lot of treats and small amounts of food, he may be more likely to eat quickly at dinner time. You can avoid this by making sure that every meal is eaten very slowly. If you don’t always have time to feed him at the same pace, then put your dog’s kibble in a slow feeder and keep it in a different place than where his regular food is kept. If you do feed your dog extra snacks throughout the day, make sure these are healthy treats. Steer clear of things like donuts or cakes. These are just too high in calories for a dog to eat on a regular basis.

Conclusion

There are many ways you can slow down your dog’s eating habits, and one of the most important is to give him plenty of exercises. Give your dog some new toys to play with, and make sure he gets an hour or two of exercise each day. Also, sitting at the dinner table instead of running off while waiting for his food will help him eat slowly so that he is full after dinner instead of before. These tips will definitely help your dog slow down his eating habits so that he is less likely to be overweight.