As the name suggests, hand feeding involves feeding from the hand. The special thing about hand feeding is that it does not mean occasionally feeding an animal from the hand, but rather involves long-term feeding from the hand as a replacement for a bowl.
But why should I feed my animal by hand in the long term?
Hand feeding is intended to strengthen the bond between humans and animals by shifting the focus of feeding from the bowl to the human. In addition to strengthening the bond, hand feeding can also increase the trust between humans and animals.
The aim of hand feeding is to deepen the relationship. Hand feeding is usually tested at home first before the feeding method is integrated into everyday life. At home, the four-legged friend is in a quiet and familiar environment. After successful hand feeding at home, further feeding by hand can be extended to include feeding while out and about.
How does hand feeding work?
Hand feeding must be planned in advance, as not all food can be fed easily by hand. For example, dried meat is much easier to feed by hand than wet food.
In order to feed your pet by hand in the long term, you need to gradually change the way you feed your pet. The feeding method should not cause any pressure or stress for your pet , so it is important that your pet gradually gets used to being fed by hand. Different feeding times can help your pet to build up less stress, and you can feed your pet the entire amount of food daily by hand. To make this easier, the rations are divided into individual, smaller portions.
You can use hand-feeding as a reward, for example, so that your pet associates feeding with positive situations. It is important that your dog is fully focused on you even in difficult situations, such as when walking or meeting strangers and dogs . This way you can protect your dog, because who hasn't experienced it: Strange dogs or people come up to you and it is important that your dog's attention remains on you.
If you are unsure, it is best to consult an animal nutritionist.
Please note: Every dog is different and the decision as to whether hand feeding is right for you and your pet depends specifically on you and your four-legged friend!
