Enrichment feeding without overfeeding
The most common enrichment mistake is treating puzzle food as a bonus. It isn't a bonus — it's the meal, delivered differently.
Weigh the day, not the bowl
Work out your dog's total daily food, then decide how to spend it: some in a snuffle mat, some in a puzzle, some in training. The total stays the same.
A simple daily split
Half the ration as a morning snuffle-mat meal. A quarter in an evening puzzle feeder. A quarter kept back for training and the lick mat. Nothing extra needed.
High-value food without the calories
Soak kibble in warm water or a splash of broth to make it smell better without adding much. Save cheese and chicken for genuinely hard sessions.
Monitor rather than guess
Weigh your dog monthly and run your hands over the ribs — you should feel them easily under a thin layer. Adjust the daily total, not the enrichment.
Frequently asked questions
- Does enrichment feeding help with weight loss?
- Indirectly, yes. A smaller portion spread over twenty minutes of foraging feels far more satisfying than the same amount inhaled from a bowl, which makes a diet easier for both of you.
