Dogs Can Hunt for Dinner

Read Rock Star Dog Owners Make Mealtime Engaging

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Shout Out of the Day

Shout out of the day goes to Memphis the Lab, who telepathically told his owners to give me a bagel with cream cheese and lox as an unexpected gift after our lesson on Sunday morning.

Wow.  That made my day.  I was running behind and would never have had time for lunch in between the lessons I had back-to-back the rest of the day.  I just unwrapped that baby and chowed it on the go.  It was NYC-DEE-licious.

Thanks Memphis and the gang.  : )  -Real Deal Dave

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Tip of the Day: Lab Coats and Rubber (The Right Brush)

Heads up!  Are you using a common wire brush on your dog? A wire dog brush is NOT a good choice for certain coat types.  Watch today’s quick grooming tip to learn more.

Share with your friends who have close-coated dogs:

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Top Signs You’re a Rock Star Dog Owner – #1: You Make Mealtime Engaging

“If you plop my food down in a bowl, yes, I’ll eat it, but – BOOORING.” -Lenny the Lab (2002 – present)

This Food is So Lame I Could Sleep Next to It

Some dogs eat so fast that when they’re done they look at you and say, “You kidding me? That’s it?”

Others won’t touch the food you put down because it’s SO lame for a predatory animal to eat something that just sits there.

The Myth: Feeding is feeding.  Just give the dog a meal – she’ll eat, drink, and be merry.

The Real Deal: Mealtimes are a great opportunity to stimulate your dog’s mind, build a deeper bond with you, satisfy her natural hunting instincts, and increase the appetite of a dog who seems to have said the hell with dog food.

Rock star dog owners turn mealtimes into engaging activities. Here are a few easy ways you can do it:

1) Ditch the food bowl.  Put the meals in a Busy Buddy toy.  Just fill the toy with food and then your dog has to play with it to make the food fall out.  Hint: set up the toy so it’s easy at first.  Increase difficulty as your dog figures out smarter ways to dispense the food faster. Very fun to watch.

2) Scatter your dog’s food all over the backyard.  This was a favorite of my Husky-Shepherd mix, Eli.  He would hunt down every last piece of kibble.  It is amazing to see how talented dogs are with their noses.  Believe me, if your dog is into his meals, he will find every bite.  Yes, even in the uncut grass.  Like all new games, make it easy at first, then increase difficulty.

3) Check out the Eat Slow Bowl.  This will make meals last longer.  More fun for the dog and also safer for dogs who are prone to bloat from gobbling too much, too fast.

4) Make mealtime a training session and use the food as a reward. Teach basic obedience.  Or how about tricks? Just make it fun and interesting. Use one piece of kibble (or one lick of wet food off a spoon) as a reward for each task well done.  This practice will really enhance your bond and give your dog a chance to learn new skills.

One of My Favorite Busy Buddy Toys, the Twist-n-Treat

The Wrap: Mealtimes are a chance for your dog to do more than just stand over a bowl.  Try the ideas above that best fit your dog and your lifestyle.  You’ll see for yourself that the increased mental exercise will make your dog happy and improve his behavior.   If he’s a really naughty pooch, at the very least he’ll be out of trouble during the time he’s eating.