Is it mean to scatter feed?

[flurryofcurry]

It feels mean or maybe I'm being ridiculous. Can’t decide. I have a springer spaniel and met a fellow springer owner at the weekend who said she feeds her two dogs this way and they really enjoy the challenge.

We have always fed our labradors this way. They seem very content....as long as they get food they are happy! It means they don't inhale a bowl of food all in one go.

One of my dogs gives me a dirty look every time I do it 😂

However, it gives her something to do for a few minutes when having her distracted is useful to me.

My two springers love being scatter fed. It makes them use their noses and they enjoy it.

Have you tried a snuffle mat? Similar foraging experience.

I've seen snuffle mats but they looked a bit unhygienic in that you'd have to wash them very regularly due to being material (saw them in Lidl admittedly) . He has a licky mat alright.

Maybe I'll fling his brekkie out the back garden tomorrow and see what he thinks!

I scatter feed when GrouchyDog's arthritis is playing up to make sure she gets enough gentle exercise. It's great because it keeps her moving and engages her brain.

My lab will go pick up scattered food over food in a bowl, the same with snuffle mats, puzzles etc. She must enjoy the experience not just the end result.

Noooooooooooo scatter feeding is fab.

It is fantastic in fufilling dogs predatory motor pattern. Dogs are contra free loaders which means they love working for their food and will prefer this to just being given food.

Dogs best thing to do ever is sniff (especially if a spaniel!)

Sniffing releases loads of happy chemicals in the dogs, expecially the seeking stage which is often better than the actual finding of the food or reward.

Your dog will LOVE you if you let them have their food scattered feed.

Bowls are mean

@Ivedonethisthreetimealready consider me convinced 😂

My two dogs find scatter feeding the most fun thing in the world. However, I don’t do it for entire portions. I just take a handful and give them a scatter feed as an afternoon snack. I figure if they are hungry, hunting for food is annoying. We do it as fun for the nose. They watch me through the patio door hiding food all over the place and it’s like launching a rocket when I open the door.

I don't scatter feed main meals but do chuck a handful of kibble on the lawn if they're having a boring day. My two love a handful of grated mozzarella!

Every meal my Lab has is scatter fed, she loves it and I like to think the extra sniffing work tires her out a tiny bit!

Contrafreeloading: unless it's a cat* you are feeding, almost all other species enjoy food more when they have to work for it.

(*Cats prefer a free lunch)

I've got a scent hound and she loves scatter feeding! And it stops her from gulping it all down in two seconds 😅I also hide smalls treats around the garden for her at lunch time while she waits inside - it's been amazing to watch her progress with this. I've had to find more and more creative hiding places. Balanced one on a small shrub yesterday which flummoxed her for a good while!

My dog saves me the job and scatters it for me! He takes it from his bowl, spreads it all over and goes back later 🤣

We always scatter feed his evening meal unless it's pouring. He seems to love it!

We scatter feed breakfast everyday for our beagle - indoors if it's raining, or in the garden in dry, sunny weather.

My in-laws also have him during the day while we work and FIL sets up "sniffy snacks" in the garden for him to find when he gets there. He loves it and it really helps to calm him down and chill him out.

Scatter feeding is an amazing thing to do for your dogs - it's not remotely cruel. Many dog experts actually argue the opposite - that bowls are boring and that dogs should be fed all their meals via scatter feeds, snuffle mats, lick mats etc.

We have a slow feeder which doesn’t work. Scatter feeding is great! The tail goes as much as the nose does.

At the risk of sounding stupid, do you just scatter kibble outside?

I was thinking my Bedlington might enjoy this.

I love scatter feeding dogs. They love it too.

Most dogs have to live with permanent frustration of one sort or another. Scatter feeding is the opposite of that so it's great IMHO.

That's interesting, I didn't know this was a thing. We started doing this to stop the dog golloping down her food too fast then sicking it up! But actually she loves zooming around finding the bits. Also have the chew challenge where I hide something in the garden and she has to find it. Tail wagging like mad, she would do it all day! She's a Springador so has labrador levels of interest in food with spaniel love of sniffing thing out.

Ours has his breakfast thrown over the lawn, or if it’s rainy in his snufflemat or wobbly kong.

Yep - just chuck it in the grass for them to find. You can also buy snuffle toys for them so they can hunt inside too ☺️

Yep - just chuck it in the grass for them to find. You can also buy snuffle toys for them so they can hunt inside too ☺️

Thank you

I would love to scatter feed but I have three dogs and the biggest is also a bit thick. The other two hoover up most of the food before he's even worked out what's going on so he doesn't get nearly enough food that way. However I do scatter food as treats, particularly to keep them occupied when I go out. They fnd it very stimulating and calming.