Hi Janice,
I like to do this with treat buckets. Hang a treat bucket outside every dogs cage. Put their daily ration into the bucket. Encourage people to toss kibble into kennels as they walk by the kennel. If the dog is getting a kong or puzzle feeder, take as much food as you need out of the bucket and put it in the kong or puzzle feeder. At evening meal time or in the afternoon if there isn't an evening meal time, pour any remaining kibble into a bowl (or puzzle feeder) and feed the dog. If you want to add canned food to the kong, you should ask your vets or techs to calculate how much to decrease the amount of kibble you add to the treat bucket to account for the calories in the amount of canned food you're feeding. Does that make sense? The Open Paw Program is where i first learned about this technique, about 20 years ago. And it works :)
Sheila
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Sheila Segurson, DVM
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Behaviorists
Director of Outreach and Research
Maddie's Fund
9258608284
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Original Message:
Sent: 10-01-2022 07:41 AM
From: JANINE KINCAID
Subject: Feeding dog strictly from Kong and other puzzle feeders in shelter
We are looking to improve our shelter food enrichment program. Currently, we feed our dogs 2x/dy. In the morning they get a bowl and in the afternoon some of them they puzzle feeders. Given the number of reactive and young dogs we have we would like to feed these dogs using only Kongs and puzzle feeders. Does anyone have a system of organization for keeping each dog's food logged, portioned or prepared? We would like to get as many of these dogs on this system as possible. We think it would really help with redirecting their energy so they are not so squirrelly come outdoor times. All suggestions are appreciated. Comments about how to help animal care staff would also be greatly appreciated.
#Behavior,TrainingandEnrichment
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JANINE KINCAID
Behaviour Volunteer
Calgary Humane Society
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