The love between dogs and their owners is a cherished bond, and new research from Tails.com today reveals that mealtime in particular is one of the key ways to create this connection, according to almost half of owners.
A whopping 61% of the 2,000 British dog owners surveyed, agree that mealtime is one of the top activities of their day which brings them closer to their dog. In fact, over a third (38%) of owners say they look forward to feeding their dog as it brings joy to both parties.
Making it the best experience it can be, most (90%) have employed specific dining routines for their dogs, with over half including a designated meal spot (61%), and a third choosing personalised bowls (33%) and tailored food (34%) to ensure their dog is kept healthy and happy.
While it’s clear mealtime plays a big role in strengthening that bond, it’s a moment when we can often see some of our dog’s personality really shining through.
Nearly 9 in 10 Brits (88%) say their dogs tell them when it’s mealtime, and do so by staring at them (56%), wagging their tail (50%) or ‘talking’ to them (26%). Some have even said their clever dogs know where the food is and stare at the cupboard when they get hungry.
Interestingly, 93% also report their dog has their own unique characteristics when receiving a meal – with 42% showing a noticeable burst of energy, 31% spinning around and 26% tapping their paw, sometimes on the bowl itself to signal its time to serve them dinner.
A third of owners (33%) not only identify mealtime excitement in their best friend but believe their dog does their own ‘doggie dance’ when they can sense their bowl is about to be filled.
In celebration of the cherished bond felt at mealtime and the mealtime routines, Tails.com has partnered with renowned professional dancers Janette Manrara and Aljaž Škorjanec to launch a “Dinner Dance” competition, inviting dog owners around the nation to showcase their dogs’ adorable reactions to mealtime.
Owners can submit videos of their dogs’ reactions during dinner time by visiting the blog post for the chance to inspire their next dance routine.
Dog lovers Janette & Aljaž say: “We’re excited to be merging two passions of ours, dancing and dogs! The way we choreograph and move within our routines has always been inspired by real life; the things we see and experience, even stories we’ve heard. Both having had cherished family dogs and knowing all too well what that special bond feels like, we want to see all the paw-tapping, the bursts of energy, the play bows and everything in between, they might even be our next inspiration.”
Tails.com behaviourist Carolyn Menteith says “One of the joys of living with a dog is creating a strong relationship and having that canine best friend that you’ve always dreamed of. We build this bond with our pups over time, through play, exercise, training, mutual trust and, of course, food! Food is a primary reinforcer for dogs – in other words, no one has to teach a dog that food is good – it just is! It’s one of the reasons that using treats to train tricks and behaviours is so successful – and is why mealtimes are so special and so exciting. It’s not just our dogs that love dinner time though. For us, giving our beloved dog something delicious, and taking care of their nutritional needs, is deeply rewarding and we enjoy watching our dog relishing the food we’ve given them. It’s no wonder that owners love to watch their dog’s excitement in anticipation of dinner – and laugh at some of the antics and ‘dance routines’ that each individual dog shows while waiting for their meal.”
Carolyn Menteith provides tips on the best ways to inspire your dogs to dance
- While us humans have to practise our dance routines, for dogs it is much more of a natural expression of their excitement and joy. Every dog is unique, and some will show their dinnertime moves with some noisy and energetic creative ‘dance’ displays, while others will be more self contained in showing their culinary expectations. Enjoy your dog’s own unique talent and remember, just like us humans, not everyone is a dancer!
- Laughing and smiling at your dog while they are performing their mealtime routine is a great way to encourage them, and to join in with this great bonding opportunity. Don’t be tempted to withhold their food in order to encourage more moves though. Your dog ‘dances’ through joy and happiness – you don’t want to turn that to frustration or behaviours that are rude or unsafe.
- Work on teaching your dog fun tricks at all times of the day – not just mealtimes. The more things they learn to do with you – like spins, twists, play bows and waves – the more steps they have to choose from when they are building their own routine!
For food a customised meal plan 100% tailored to your dogs age, breed, lifestyle and more, visit Tails.com
