Getting dog to chew his food? Read description?

Dogs aren't like people. People need to chew food because the digestive process in humans starts with the saliva in the mouth. Dogs only need to chew food to get it small enough to swallow. The digestive process in a dog's stomach does all the work. If he isn't choking on his food or throwing it back up shortly after eating, I don't know why you are worrying about it.

I would feed two meals, making the one in the morning smaller and fed an hour or more before the exercise if it's heavy exercise, or feeding the dog after the exercise rather than before. A very full stomach is more likely to bloat. If you insist on soaking the dry food, though I don't know why you think it helps, you don't need to use boiling water for it. Very warm will accomplish the same thing. There is no need to have the food sitting around. If the dog doesn't eat it in 15 minutes, remove it. He'll learn to eat it when it's there. Seems to me that a dog which gobbles its food isn't the kind to leave food sitting around.

Dogs are suppose to be fed twice daily. They're individuals as well, he can be fed in the morning, as long as it's done two hours prior to starting work.

Well, you dog is 6 years old and has made it this far without chewing his food. I think it is a great idea that you have incorporated things to help slow him down - but he doesn't HAVE to chew it. His body will digest it normally either way. My big dog chews his food - but my chihuahua does not at all and she has very normal poop every day, and their kibbles are the same size.

Just be sure that he is eating what is recommended for his size, and yes continue to assist with slowing him down but not chewing the food isn't a concern.

Dogs don`t "chew" food like humans do. They swallow it whole and its broken down and digested by very strong digestive juices.

They do break up big pieces of raw meat and bones by chewing on it before it goes into their mouth but they don`t actually chew on it much when its inside their mouth. Most dogs swallow small treats, whole.

I think you are worrying about nothing.

You can feed your dog a small meal (1/3 of ration) in the mornings if you leave it an hour before any "hard" exercise.

Then feed the bulk of the food at night.(2 thirds.)

I suggest he's scarfing his food because by the end of the day, he's HUNGRY. Ideally he should be on 2 meals a day, breakfast around 7 am, and the second meal in the evening before 5 pm. However if he works from first thing, and yes, there is the risk of bloat if exercising sooner than 2 hours after a feed, you have a problem. Perrhaps you could give him a very small feed, using kibble that doesn't expand drastically (try it in warm water and see what happens), your dog should be okay and it might stop all this swallowing his food whole, even if dogs don't normally masticate in the same way we do.

ps Maybe try giving him a small feed around noon?

Thats how all dogs eat. If his having any digestive problems look into adding digestive enzyme's for dogs to his meal

I agree that lots of dogs don't chew their food and just inhale it. Never had a problem with this at all and not sure what it is you're worried about

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Quite a lot of dogs don't chew bite sized treats or kibble. It is not in the least harmful to them and you should not worry about it.

Lots of dogs don't chew their food, and have no problems. My dog doesn't chew her food, she more or less inhales it. I've had other dogs that did the same. If your dog isn't having any problems, don't worry about it. It's best to feed two meals a day, too.