5 Reasons to consider board-feeding your dog
16th Mar 2023 Animals & Pets
A canine behaviourist explains why bowl-feeding could be causing dinnertime issues for your pet, and why you should consider feeding your dog or cat from a board instead
Mealtimes tend to be our pet’s favourite part of the day, but what many of us don’t realise is that although bowls are the most popular option, they can lead to unnecessary and entirely avoidable issues when feeding.
Dogs have naturally evolved to be used to eating from the ground and the best way to make our canine companions feel comfortable is to offer them the most natural option possible. Bella & Duke is the UK’s leading raw pet food and wellbeing company which specialise in providing natural, species-appropriate diets and wellness products. This goes beyond their staple tailored meal subscriptions to treats and even feeding boards.
"Dogs have evolved to be used to eating from the ground and the best way to make them comfortable is to offer the most natural option possible"
Bella & Duke’s Natural Canine Behaviourist and published author, Caroline Spencer Dip.AdvCanBhv has outlined her top reasons to move away from traditional bowl feeding and why you should look to more suitable alternatives such as a "chomping board".
1. Pets prefer a flat surface
Both dogs and cats naturally like to eat from flat surfaces. Photo: Bella & Duke
In the wild both cats and dogs would eat from the ground, having wider set eyes dogs have greater peripheral vision which comes in useful to scan for any potential threats/intruders while eating. By allowing your pet to eat from a flat surface they’ll feel more comfortable and will be less likely to leave their meal mid-way through eating.
2. Bowls are awkward to eat from
While taking into account the stress levels of your pet from a vulnerability point of view, the shape of a bowl can be particularly awkward for some breeds of dog, as well as smaller and more senior dogs.
"The shape of a bowl can be particularly awkward for some breeds of dog, as well as smaller and more senior dogs"
Brachycephalic, or flat-nosed breeds have to overexert themselves to reach the final scraps of food in the bowl.
3. Boards can stop any bowl chasing
Eating from a feeding board avoids bowl chasing. Photo: Bella & Duke
One of the most frustrating things to watch as pet parents is our furry friends skating their bowl across the floor, pushing it around as they attempt to get every last bit of their dinner out of it. Having a flat board means that your pet can move around the board, pick up their food easily and eat at their own pace.
4. Fussy eaters
We seem to think that fussy eaters are just fussy eaters, this oftentimes is not the case. A lot of fussiness at feeding time can be due to the environment your dog is eating in or even just due to their individual preferences.
"If your dog doesn’t feel safe due to being unable to keep an eye on the environment, their appetite falls pretty low"
As mentioned previously, if your dog doesn’t feel safe due to being unable to keep an eye on the environment around them, their appetite falls pretty low on their list of priorities. Some dogs also just simply prefer eating from a flat surface, in the same way that we humans have our own preferences. Try feeding your pet on a flat surface and see the difference in how they eat compared to a bowl.
5. Creating confidence can build your relationship with your pet
Touched on in earlier tips, chomping boards are a great way to limit any anxiety, stress or feelings of vulnerability at dinnertime. Limiting these stressors and making feeding time a thing to look forward to will build trust between you and your furry friend, especially at a younger age, which will add to your day-to-day relationship.
Caroline Spencer Dip.AdvCanBhv, Natural Canine Behaviourist, at Bella & Duke said: “Feeding time is an extremely important part of building trust with your pet and for the longest time we’ve been doing it wrong. Our pets aren’t wired to eat from bowls, it takes time to understand your pets needs when it comes to feeding. The same way we don’t appreciate them stealing food from a low-standing table or getting too close when we’re eating, give the same respect back. Give them some space and assure them that it’s a safe space to eat.”
Banner photo: Dogs and cats like to keep their eyes on the environment around them while they eat. Bella & Duke
From dog food, to toys, to grooming and healthcare, find everything you need for your furry friend on Petsathome.
This post contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.
Read more: 10 Greatest dogs of the internet
Keep up with the top stories from Reader's Digest by subscribing to our weekly newsletter
