When you want to give your dog a treat, how do you usually go about it? Do you tend to feed it to them directly whenever they are on their best behavior? Because that’s pretty standard procedure. So, how can you feed them treats if you aren’t around to do so? After all, you can’t be in two places at once! Luckily, there is a unique solution to that problem, and it is a dog treat dispenser.
Dogs are supposed to hunt and scavenge for their food. It’s part of their nature. It’s more in line with their instincts to let them sniff, nibble and scrounge around for the food instead of just handing it to them. Besides that, they offer several great benefits too!
What are the benefits of using a dog treat dispenser?
- They satisfy a dog’s instinct to chase and catch their food, even while stuck indoors.
- They are an excellent way to distract and calm down hyper or overly anxious dogs by teaching them patience and self-control.
- Enhances and stimulates a dog’s mental capacity for problem-solving.
- Reduces the risk of separation anxiety for some dogs by keeping them distracted on something until you get back home.
- Keep dogs from getting bored or feeling depressed when left alone in the house by giving them a form of entertainment that also rewards them at the same time.
- These dispensers help teach dogs how to chew their food slowly. This prevents rapid consumption, which can lead to serious health issues like bloat.
Things to put into the dog treat dispenser
There are several types of foods that you can put into a dog treat dispenser, but you should always make sure that the treats are healthy and organic. After all, you don’t want them over-eating on something that could lead to health problems down the road, right?
Some good examples of food that you can put in the dispenser include; peanut butter, dehydrated meat, biscuits, etc. You can also choose to mix in some veggies like carrots if you want to boost their nutrition levels. If you have some extra time on your hands, you can always make some homemade treats by trying out different recipes online!
When you first bring the dispenser home, you should also make sure to supervise them for the first few times, while they get accustomed to using them. This is because some dogs can be territorial, especially when food is involved. If the dispenser starts to prove difficult for them, there is a chance they could even start overreacting out of frustration.
When that happens, take the toy away and try using something less complex. There are different types of dog treat dispensers out there suited for different dog sizes. So, some will be easier to handle than others.
You should also make sure that all the treats you placed beforehand have been eaten by your dog. Similar to human food, you should only serve fresh produce. This means throwing out any uneaten leftovers to avoid stomach upsets.
