Within a month of getting a dog, it becomes apparent that their approach to food is quite different from ours as humans, apart from a few human gluttons. When dinnertime is announced for humans, there is civility and reservation, but for dogs there are excited barks, excited jumps, and excited pants, and excited wolfing down of food in large quantities. As one would imagine, this would cause quite a mess. And while humans tend to know what is good for them and what is not (most times), dogs would occasionally inhale substances that are not good for them. To many dog owners this is a cause for concern. However, not much worry should be diverted to this; there are various ways in which it can be ensured that your pet feeds properly.
Appropriate mealtimes and diet
Dogs have perfected the art of begging for food and once in a while, should be given treats but it is the consensus that scraps should only make up about 5-10% of your dogs daily diet. Adult dog diet should be rich in protein, vitamins and omega fatty acids, vegetables, and whole grains. Puppy diets should be different with more vitamins and calories on the menu. Canned food helps to keep them hydrated too.
Depending on the behaviour and size of your dog, there are different ways of administering food to your dog by time. If your dog is a calorie-burner, restless and walkways walking around, it would be well-advised to leave food out for them all day and allow them to feed when they feel like it. Feeding their lethargic partners however should take on a more conservative approach, with portions controlled and administered at a 12 hour interval (or at least twice per day), to prevent them from getting overweight. It is important to not that under certain circumstances, like a pregnancy, nursing, or change in behaviors leading the dog to become more active or needing more calories, the administration of food should be adjusted accordingly.
Dog bowls
There are various dog bowls built with certain dogs in mind that help them to curb their excessive, messy, or strenuous eating habits. For instance, dogs that eat aggressively have been know to hurt themselves while doing that. There are dog bowls with small openings that limit an excited dog from continuously inhaling portions at dangerous speeds. There are dog bowls designed with a stand that help large dog breeds to reach their bowls easily without straining their bodies and joints to reach the grounds. It is also common for dogs to cause their bowls to skid across the ground. This can be resolved by using metal bowls with a rubber base to increase friction, or by using weighted dog bowls. These bowls in particular are usually designed to be heavier than traditional plastic and steel bowls. Some of them have a base that is fillable with water or sand. When water or sand is added, the weight of the filler weighs down the whole bowl, preventing the dog from making a mess around the house.
