Dear Miss Behavin’: Our new puppy, Theo, is so much fun and a voracious eater! Recently, he ate his meal so quickly, it came right back up. What can we do to help him slow down?
New puppies are always full of fun surprises! A hearty appetite is a good thing, but will only go so far if Theo can’t keep his meals down. Fortunately, there are a few tricks you can try.
For one, try swapping out his training treats for kibble during your training sessions. This way, he isn’t taking in too many extra calories from training treats, and his kibble will be delivered at a rate that you control. This is also a good option for puppies with sensitive stomachs who may not do well with lots of treats.
If you don’t want to turn mealtime into training time, there are plenty of puzzle feeders on the market for exactly this purpose. Puzzle feeders come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and levels of difficulty. The goal is to slow your pup down at mealtime, and this comes with the added bonus of some mental stimulation as they work out the puzzle and think about what they are doing. One example is a Kong, which can be filled with kibble and sealed with a little bit of peanut butter, plain yogurt, or pumpkin. These can be prepared in advance and stored in the freezer for added difficulty.
Additionally, you can make your own puzzle feeder at home. This can be as simple as scattering kibble on the grass in the backyard or hiding food in boxes for Theo to sniff out. Another idea is to put his kibble in a muffin tin, and cover each cup with a tennis ball. A popular method in my house is filling a paper towel tube with kibble and letting the shredding ensue. Get creative, and use whatever you have handy!