It’s amazing how a dog can communicate with humans without saying a word. For example, my chubby dog, Annie, has always eaten too fast. Thinking a slow feeding bowl would help her slow down, I bought her one.
Arlo, her brother, decided if Annie got a cool, new bowl, he needed one too.
Arlo began his silent conversation with me by sniffing his dinner in his usual bowl and walking away. He would move to Annie’s bowl, however, and stare at it.
After a few days I realized he wanted a bowl like his sister’s. I found one, but it wasn’t the same color.
I understand that dogs are colorblind, so, I thought, what difference would it make?
I ordered the new bowl, loaded it with food, and watched as he walked away. He returned to looking longingly at Annie’s bowl.
Maybe dogs aren’t color-blind. After much searching, I found a pink bowl like Annie’s. I plunked down more money than I wanted to spend, and told myself it was for a good cause.
Arlo looked at it, making sure it was exactly like his sister’s, and began eating. What a relief! I was getting tired of wasting food and buying new bowls.
Unfortunately, if there was an Olympic event for fast eating from slow-feeder bowls, Annie would win gold. It was clear that Annie needed a slow feeder bowl that was a little more complicated.
I found one that looked like a maze you could get lost in and I ordered it. It took her two meals to figure it out and Olympic gold was hers again. Now, she only wants to eat out of her new bowl.
Arlo has been looking at it longingly.
