Heys, M., Lloyd, I. and Westgarth, C., 2024. ‘Bowls are boring’: Investigating enrichment feeding for pet dogs and the perceived benefits and challenges. Veterinary Record, 194(4).
Creating an environment that closely mimics animals’ natural habitats and enables natural behaviours is considered essential for ensuring captive animal welfare.1 Enrichment feeding is widely used in zoos and has been found to reduce the frequency of stereotypic behaviours while increasing the variety and frequency of feeding behaviours.
Enrichment feeding is advocated for cats and dogs in both kennels and home environments; however, empirical research to support this is scarce. The idea being that this type of feeding is closer to how animals would feed naturally.
Providing dogs in boarding kennels with 20 minutes a day to use puzzle feeders was associated with a reduction in stress-related behaviours.18 In contrast, providing canine enrichment feeding (CEF) to kennelled working German Shepherd dogs had no impact on their workability and trainability and handler-rated ‘contentment in kennel’.
In summary, it has been hypothesised that enrichment feeding could benefit pets as evidenced in zoo and kennelled animals, but there is little research to support this. Therefore, the overall aim of this study was to investigate the use of CEF by dog owners. First, we aimed to describe the types of CEF used. Second, we aimed to investigate who is most likely to use enrichment feeding and for which types of dogs. The third aim was to discover whether there are perceived behavioural benefits to using CEF. The fourth aim was to investigate barriers to using CEF. Finally, we aimed to investigate whether the method of food delivery is associated with perceived changes in begging behaviours and hunger.
Methodology
Data were collected via an anonymous international online survey (5 July–2 August 2021) using Qualtrics. The survey was distributed via social media sites Facebook and Twitter.
The survey was piloted on 10 dog owners, and the final version contained 54 questions (Supporting Information S1). These questions included owner demographics, dog demographics (for multi-dog households using name beginning closest to Z), Inclusion of Other in the Self scale adapted for dog–owner relationships, what the dog is fed and how, enrichment feeding types and use, perceived benefits of enrichment feeding, reasons for and against using enrichment feeding, Mini-Canine Behavioural Assessment and Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ) behavioural survey and Waltham QOL tool. The Waltham QOL tool is a seven-point Likert-scale-based assessment tool using key descriptive words to assess dog QOL, including around meals.
The behaviours owners observed while their dogs were eating were also collected. As this was an exploratory study, the multiple–choice options included behaviours commonly seen while eating, in the authors’ experiences, as well as behaviours that may indicate frustration, and a free-text option was also included to provide details of other behaviours observed.
Canine Enrichment Feeding was defined to not include active training activities and included anything or vessel that challenges the dog to work for their food by doing an interactive activity.
The data collected was analysed empirically using statistical software.
Results
Participants not using CEF were more likely to be male and aged over 50 years. Dogs not fed using CEF were more likely to be aged between 7 and 9 years and 10 years or over than under 3 years, in the KC working breed group and having a KC–recommended exercise requirement of less than 30 minutes (compared to 30– 60 minutes). Dogs not fed using enrichment were less likely to show meal interest, have dog-directed fear, or have training difficulties
Perceived benefits of CEF
Most respondents who used CEF somewhat or strongly agreed that CEF provides mental stimulation (98.2%), prevents boredom (96%) and provides the owner with enjoyment (89.4%). The highest rate of disagreement was against the statement ‘reduces separation anxiety’ (11.7%); however, the majority still agreed that CEF is useful for this issue. Owner enjoyment and creativity experienced during CEF use was a common theme in the free-text inputs:
‘I’ve found it can be just as much fun for me to create and watch him eat as it is for him to eat in new and interesting ways’.
Perceived barriers to using CEF
The most commonly selected barriers that sometimes or always stopped respondents using CEF were time constraints (14.0%) and believing the dog would not be interested (10.3%). Barriers associated with not using CEF were not having heard of CEF, not knowing the benefits of CEF, not believing there were any benefits of CEF, CEF being too expensive, not believing the dog would be interested, and difficulty controlling food intake in a multi-dog household.
The findings have implications for policy and practice. CEF may be useful for controlling food intake
for weight management and addressing hunger and
begging. However, the most common reason that CEF
was used was as a treat. This could be an issue for
weight management as we know that some owners
do not allow for treats when considering their dog’s
caloric intake. Thus, it should be made clear to
owners that food allowances should be weighed out at
the start of the day and then used for all meals, enrichment and training. Furthermore, CEF has been shown
to have benefits for older dogs, including improved
cognitive function and reduced CDS symptoms;
however, as old dogs are the least likely to receive CEF,
professionals should encourage its use. Barriers to
CEF use should be addressed in order to help owners
find solutions that suit their lifestyle and dog’s needs,
for instance, being able to provide examples of the
wide variety of types of enrichment (pacifying, activity
inducing, problem solving, scent based) as well as
methods that can be made cheaply, or for free, in minimal time, and how to use safely in multi-dog households. Professionals should also advise owners on how
to adapt the difficulty level to avoid the dog becoming
frustrated.
Conclusion
This novel study suggests that owners perceive enrichment feeding to be useful in managing problem
behaviours, increasing satiety and reducing begging,
supporting their recommendation in the absence of
other supporting evidence. Many of the perceived barriers to using enrichment feeding, such as lack of
time and resources or the dog not being interested,
are potentially easily addressed through education,
for example, highlighting the option of using simple homemade techniques and the benefits of CEF
(including the benefits to older dogs).