Ask Toto #37

Dear Toto:

I've noticed that when my dog eats his food, he'll take a few pieces of kibble from the bowl and then go a little ways away to eat it.  What's up with that?

J&J, Los Angeles

Hi J&J!

Every dog eats their kibble differently.  Some dogs inhale the whole bowl as quick as they can, because, well, it’s KIBBLE!  You’re supposed to eat it, and if you don’t eat it as soon as it’s put in front of you, it could VANISH!  DISAPPEAR!  POOF AWAY!  SO eat eat eat gobble gobble gobble it down before it happens!

Other dogs like to savor every bite, longingly, enjoying the hints of lamb, rosemary, beef stock, cardamon, etc., etc. etc.  (those dogs might also be kinda old).

But as for the dogs who take their meals on the road, even if the roads are only four steps away from the food bowl, it’s because those dogs know that it’s all about location, location, location.

Yes, the kibble will taste the same.  But the view is so much more DIFFERENT when you’re four steps away from the food bowl.  You can keep an eye on everything that’s going on, whether it’s that squirrel visible through the back door, or that awful cat who’s slinking around under the table. 

Dogs who eat their kibble away from the bowl are just extra curious and vigilant and more alert than the other dogs.

(or maybe they don’t like looking down into a food bowl when they’re eating.)

Thanks for the question!

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