slow-bowl alternative

[benny]

A conversation I had with my dad last night, which was based on a conversation with our agility instructor last week got me thinking about posting how we stopped using our slow bowl.

When we got Millie, a slow bowl was seemingly required. She would eat so fast it was scary. So I got a slow bowl because that’s what we did with our previous bulldog.

We eventually gave the slow bowl away. Why? It was a pain to clean, it was plastic, and I was blaming some chin acne on it. Also, while it did slow Millie down, she was still frantically trying to eat from it which made it seem like more of a bandaid for us than a solution.

So I trained Millie to eat slower by hand feeding for a while. This also gave us an opportunity to bond more and learn some tricks. We did this for about a week and she had slowed considerably in that time. Now we still do it from time to time to get in some extra training when time allows.

It has been more than 7 months since she switched to a flat stainless bowl, and this morning she was pausing in-between bites to enjoy her meal.

Millie was 7months or so when we did this. I’m sure it’s not for everyone, and probably more difficult to get an adult to change their ways. But hand feeding worked for us to slow food time down permanently

 

[Bulldog2001]

A conversation I had with my dad last night, which was based on a conversation with our agility instructor last week got me thinking about posting how we stopped using our slow bowl.

When we got Millie, a slow bowl was seemingly required. She would eat so fast it was scary. So I got a slow bowl because that’s what we did with our previous bulldog.

We eventually gave the slow bowl away. Why? It was a pain to clean, it was plastic, and I was blaming some chin acne on it. Also, while it did slow Millie down, she was still frantically trying to eat from it which made it seem like more of a bandaid for us than a solution.

So I trained Millie to eat slower by hand feeding for a while. This also gave us an opportunity to bond more and learn some tricks. We did this for about a week and she had slowed considerably in that time. Now we still do it from time to time to get in some extra training when time allows.

It has been more than 7 months since she switched to a flat stainless bowl, and this morning she was pausing in-between bites to enjoy her meal.

Millie was 7months or so when we did this. I’m sure it’s not for everyone, and probably more difficult to get an adult to change their ways. But hand feeding worked for us to slow food time down permanently

Rusty was eating super fast too, and so was my other dogs, but I found adding a little bit of water to all their food made them really slow down.

for Rusty my French Bulldog, I got him the Enhanced pet bowl made for short nose breeds, it also has a stand to put the dish on, that alone made a difference for how fast Rusty was eating, so we still add a little bit of filtered water to his food(also because he doesn’t drink any water thru the day cause his food is high moisture which is good, but the little bit of water added to his food slows him down).

 

[thett]

A conversation I had with my dad last night, which was based on a conversation with our agility instructor last week got me thinking about posting how we stopped using our slow bowl.

When we got Millie, a slow bowl was seemingly required. She would eat so fast it was scary. So I got a slow bowl because that’s what we did with our previous bulldog.

We eventually gave the slow bowl away. Why? It was a pain to clean, it was plastic, and I was blaming some chin acne on it. Also, while it did slow Millie down, she was still frantically trying to eat from it which made it seem like more of a bandaid for us than a solution.

So I trained Millie to eat slower by hand feeding for a while. This also gave us an opportunity to bond more and learn some tricks. We did this for about a week and she had slowed considerably in that time. Now we still do it from time to time to get in some extra training when time allows.

It has been more than 7 months since she switched to a flat stainless bowl, and this morning she was pausing in-between bites to enjoy her meal.

Millie was 7months or so when we did this. I’m sure it’s not for everyone, and probably more difficult to get an adult to change their ways. But hand feeding worked for us to slow food time down permanently

Thanks Benny for sharing this. I do struggle with my boy eating too fast. I have tried so many bowls! I stopped using the slow feed one i had a long time ago because it seemed he couldn't get into it. Recently he had aspiration pn and it's possible it could have been from eating too fast. So, i went and bought another slow feed. It is plastic, and i hate that..
While it does slow him down some, he is still frantic and by the end is gagging sometimes..
I have said it before, i do plan to attempt to create my own slow feed bowl specific for this breed. They are different and the standard ones just don't seem to be the right fit.


I appreciate you sharing this and that it worked for you. I am going to give the hand feeding a try and see how he does.. at the very least it gets a little training in! He is nuts and he needs it!!

 

[benny]

i wish you great success @thett !

It might take a while, but the dog can’t eat too fast if your hand controls “the valve”. Hoping he gets the hang of it easily

 

[thett]

i wish you great success @thett !

It might take a while, but the dog can’t eat too fast if your hand controls “the valve”. Hoping he gets the hang of it easily

Thank you!! I will let you know how it goes. I'm going to start this afternoon.

 

[2BullyMama]

What a great post --- excellent information that so many can potentially benefit from

 

[benny]

Thank you!! I will let you know how it goes. I'm going to start this afternoon.

Having any luck with the hand feeding?

I have recently learned that you can slow them down completely, just gotta find a food they don’t like

 

[oscarmayer]

This is the bowl we switched Pippy to and it did great. One piece stainless...slowed her down just enough to prevent choking.
Slow Feed Bowl

 

[thett]

Having any luck with the hand feeding?

I have recently learned that you can slow them down completely, just gotta find a food they don’t like

Hi Benny and sorry for such a delay. I have been travelling for the last couple weeks for work so I am just getting back into the groove.

I did start Harvey on hand feeding right after this post.. but was only able to do it a few days before i started travelling. You can imagine, it's totally not going to happen when my husband is home and taking care of them.

I plan to start back at it today and should be able to be consistent for a week or so. It definitely slows him down because he doesn't have a choice. But i almost lost a finger the first time! HAHAHAHAHA.....

 

[thett]

This is the bowl we switched Pippy to and it did great. One piece stainless...slowed her down just enough to prevent choking.
Slow Feed Bowl

You know, I tried this bowl a while back but it was the smaller one.. I think i am going to get it again but get the larger size. He really couldn't get his face into the smaller one. I think after the hand feeding for a bit i may be able to get away with this. We will try

 

[benny]

good luck! Don't forget to count your fingers when finished

 

[thett]

good luck! Don't forget to count your fingers when finished

LMAO!!!!