Food enrichment – ​​more than just food from a bowl

Many dogs eat their food within seconds. And that is a shame, because eating can be a great moment of enrichment! Because by applying food enrichment, you ensure that your dog is not only physically challenged, but also mentally. In this article I will tell you what food enrichment is, why I think it is so important and I will also give you some practical ideas to make mealtime a lot more interesting.

What is food enrichment?

Food enrichment means that you present your dog with his food in a way that is different from simply putting a bowl of food in front of him. This makes him use his senses and brain, which not only makes eating more fun, but also helps to prevent boredom and eating too fast. Dogs naturally enjoy searching for their food and sniffing for treats. By using food enrichment, you can tap into their instincts while creating a slower eating pace and a more satisfying experience.

Why is food enrichment so important?

Offering food in a challenging way has many benefits for your dog:

• Prevents eating too fast and improves digestion: By making your dog ‘work’ for his food (in the form of puzzles and/or sniffing), he eats more slowly and chews better, which helps prevent bloating and digestive problems.
• Stimulates the brain: Puzzling, sniffing and working for food keeps the brain active and helps with mental stimulation.
• Prevents boredom and problem behavior: A dog that can expend its energy in enriching activities will be less likely to exhibit problem behavior related to boredom, such as destructive behavior.
• Reinforces natural behavior: Sniffing, tracking and digging are all natural behaviors that your dog can perform in a safe and fun way with food enrichment.
• May help with anxiety and stress: Slower eating and sniffing games can help reduce stress, as sniffing has a calming effect on dogs.

Practical ways to implement food enrichment

There are so many ways to make mealtime more challenging and fun for your dog. Here are a few ideas you can try right away!

1. Snuffle mats and sniffing games

A snuffle mat is a rug with fleece strips (or strips of another fabric) in which you hide kibble or treats. Your dog has to use his nose to find the rewards. You can also come up with sniffing games yourself, such as:

• Hide kibble in a rolled up towel.
• Place food in a cardboard box with crumpled paper.
• Hide food under cups and let your dog find it.

Tip: The more you vary the locations and materials, the more challenging it remains! Idunn is busy with a sniffing mat in the attached photo, but we have all sorts of different ways to do sniffing games at home, and she really enjoys them!

2. Food puzzles and slow feeders

Food puzzles are specifically designed to make your dog think before he can get to his food. They come in all levels, from simple to complex. Another option is a slow feeder, a food bowl with ridges or patterns that make your dog eat less quickly. Slow feeders work well with kibble and raw meat, the latter I can’t recommend smearing in your snuffle mat, haha!
My favorite brand of slowfeeder is SodaPup, and I even got to talk about enrichment on their podcast a while ago! You can find that episode here on Youtube.

Want to make it yourself? Use a muffin tin and place kibble in the compartments, covered with (tennis) balls. Your dog has to remove the balls to get to the food!

3. Stuffed Kong or lick mat

A Kong is a hollow toy that you can fill with treats, such as wet food, yoghurt or a mix of kibble and water. For an extra challenge, you can freeze it, so that your dog will be occupied with it for longer. For raw meat, I find the use of Kongs and other food dispensers ideal, because you can simply put them in the dishwasher afterwards.

Lick mats work the same way: you spread something tasty on them, such as mashed banana, peanut butter (without xylitol), yoghurt or a bit of canned food, and your dog can slowly lick it off. I also like to buy lick mats from SodaPup, I find these to be a bit more sturdy than the lick mats from Lickimat. Trixie also has some really nice lick mats in its range!

Why does this work well? Licking has a calming effect on dogs and helps with relaxation.

4. Hiding food in the house or garden

Instead of putting down the food bowl, you can spread the kibble or snacks around the house or garden. This stimulates natural searching behavior and makes your dog actively search for his meal.

• Hide kibble behind furniture, under tables or in corners.
• Sprinkle a handful of kibble in the grass so your dog has to track it down.
• Make a digging box with sand and hide some snacks in it.

Which food enrichment is right for your dog?

Every dog ​​is different, and what one dog loves may not be as interesting to another. Try different types of food enrichment and see what your dog gets excited about.

Please take into account:

• The size and age of your dog.
• Whether your dog is a fast eater or a cautious one.
• Any allergies or dietary restrictions.

For all dogs it is important to start with easy puzzles and gradually increase the difficulty level, so that they can get used to it and gain success experiences. For dogs that are sensitive to frustration this is especially important to prevent them from becoming discouraged.

Eating can be both challenging and fun!

Food enrichment is a simple but effective way to enrich your dog’s life. Whether you use a snuffle mat, stuff a Kong or hide food in the garden, your dog will have more fun eating and be mentally challenged.

Want more inspiration? In the following blogs I will delve deeper into other forms of enrichment, such as sensory and environmental enrichment. Keep an eye on the website for more fun tips!

How do you use food enrichment for your dog? Share your experiences in the comments!