When dogs eat it’s common for for them to scarf down their food. But sometimes the heavy gulpers can run into problems such as swallowing too much air with their food or gagging on kibble stuck in their throat. Luckily there are alternatives to a regular food bowl to slow the eating process.

Kong Wobbler

One way is to feed your dog out of a dog treat dispenser such as the Kong Wobbler that your dog has to push around with its nose to make the kibble fall out a little at a time. The wobbler may not be a good idea in a multiple dog home though or you would need to supervise to make sure your gulper is the only dog getting the kibbles.

Stuffed Kong

The regular Kong toy can be stuffed with your dog’s kibble alone or stuffed with kibble and and use canned dog food as a plug at the opening. You may want to freeze it until the can food is hard to slow the access to the kibble some. Making up multiple filled kongs at a time and keeping them in the freezer is a great time saver. These are good for keeping your dog occupied in the their crate as well.

Specifically designed dog bowls

For dogs that just need a little help slowing down there are bowls designed to make it more difficult to get to the kibble quickly. There are many different designs available to you and can be found at pet supply stores and online. Most are pretty durable too.

If none of these options are working for you and hand feeding your dog each piece of kibble doesn’t appeal to you as a way to train your dog to slow its eating, then try scattering the kibble about a room. Or you can scatter the kibble out in the yard and let your dog hunt for it. My dogs love hunting for kibble or small treats when they’re bored and it keeps them busy for some time!