Scatter feeding

The Positive Impact of Scatter Feeding Dogs

Scatter feeding is a method of feeding where food is spread out over a large area, encouraging dogs to use their sense of smell to locate food. This form of feeding has multiple benefits for a dog's mental and physical health.

Mental Stimulation: Scatter feeding encourages dogs to use their powerful sense of smell, which is mentally stimulating. This can help reduce boredom and associated behavioural problems.

Slower Eating: Scatter feeding can slow down the rate at which a dog eats, which can help prevent issues such as bloating and indigestion. Some of us that have labradors know how fast they can inhale food!

Exercise: Searching for food provides physical exercise, which is beneficial for maintaining a healthy weight.

Scientific Research:

A study published in Applied Animal Behaviour Science (Feuerbacher & Wynne, 2012) found that dogs showed more interest in a task that involved searching for food compared to one that didn't. This suggests that food searching activities, such as scatter feeding, are mentally enriching for dogs. 

Dogs' brains are hardwired to sniff. The part of a dog's brain that processes smell is 40 times larger than that of a human. When a dog is sniffing, they're working their brain hard, interpreting the world around them. This mental stimulation can lead to a more content and calm dog.

How to scatter feed:

Scatter feeding can be done using your dog's regular food or special treats. It can be done indoors or outdoors depending on the environment and your dog's preferences.

Here are some examples of how to do it:

Outdoor Scatter Feeding: Take your dog's daily portion of kibble and scatter it across your garden or a secure outdoor area. Your dog will have to use their nose to find and eat their food. This method is best for dry weather to avoid the food soaking up moisture.

On walks: scatter feeding on walks in a safe area is a great way to add some extra enrichment to their walks. It can also help as a distraction method if you need to move to the side to let other dogs or people pass by.

Indoor Scatter Feeding: If you're indoors, you can scatter the kibble across the floor, or if you have a hard floor, in a large, shallow tray. Make sure to scatter it in an area that doesn't have items that can be damaged or that your dog can accidentally swallow. 

Toys: There are numerous toys available that can be filled with your dog's kibble. Once filled, your dog will have to work to get the food out. This is a great way to keep your dog entertained for longer periods. Try our natural rubber treat ball, it is non toxic, durable and easy to clean.

Snuffle Mat: A snuffle mat is a fabric mat with multiple layers of flaps. You can hide the kibble in the mat, and your dog will sniff and snuffle through the mat to find their food.

Puzzle Feeders: There are many dog puzzle feeders available in the market that you can fill with kibble. Your dog will have to solve the puzzle to get their food.

Scatter Feeding on a Towel: If you don't have a snuffle mat, you can instead use a towel. Scatter the kibble over the towel and then fold it or roll it up. Your dog will have to work to get the kibble out.

Remember, while scatter feeding has many benefits, it's important to supervise your dog during feeding time to ensure they don't choke or ingest something harmful.

References:



1. Feuerbacher, E. N., & Wynne, C. D. L. (2012). Relative efficacy of human social interaction and food as reinforcers for domestic dogs and hand-reared wolves. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 98(1), 105-129.

For more information on scatter feeding and its benefits, "The Canine Kingdom of Scent" by Anne Lill Kvam provides great insights. Websites like the Pet Health Network (www.pethealthnetwork.com) provide additional resources on dog feeding strategies and mental stimulation.