Shocking number of dog owners let their pooch sit at the table, survey reveals

Nearly half of canine owners opportunity their pet has a “meal ritual” — and immoderate of them are extreme.

That’s according to a study of 2,000 canine owners, which recovered 44% said their pet performs a precise regular aliases behaviour astatine mealtime.

From whining aliases barking (21%) and jumping up and down (21%) to doing a small creation (21%) and wiggling their full backside (19%), almost half of participants said their pet has a signature “move” erstwhile it’s clip to eat.

The research, conducted by Talker Research connected behalf of JustFoodForDogs, besides recovered these rituals don’t conscionable impact nan dogs. Owners admit to being portion of nan routine, too.

Nearly half of canine owners opportunity their pet has a “meal ritual.” New Africa – stock.adobe.com

Almost half of canine owners polled said they person to spot nutrient successful a circumstantial spot aliases successful a circumstantial vessel (48%), while 38% revealed they person to adhd a small other constituent (like caller food) to make dogs’ repast much enticing (38%) aliases hand-mix nutrient to make it much appetizing (30%).

Saying a typical building aliases connection earlier feeding them (22%) was besides reported, arsenic good arsenic giving them a small dainty aliases snack earlier their main repast arsenic a warm-up (20%), plating their repast for illustration a gourmet crockery astatine a edifice (16%) and heating nutrient to a definite somesthesia (15%).

Fourteen percent of participants moreover said they spell arsenic acold arsenic mounting nan array for their canine and sitting down pinch them to eat (14%). 

Twelve percent said they fto their canine take their meal, and different 12% said they person to usage circumstantial utensils, for illustration a typical spoon, to service their dog.

Nearly 1 successful 10 said they singing a small opus and moreover do a small jig to get their dogs to eat.

“From vessel placements to typical toppers and moreover pre-meal dances, this level of dedication shows conscionable really profoundly pet parents attraction astir their dogs’ happiness and routines,” said Carey Tischler, JustFoodForDogs President. “It’s clear mealtime has go much than conscionable nutrition. With galore serving fresh, human-grade food, they’re feeding their pets nan measurement they provender themselves—with love, intention, and plentifulness of characteristic connected some ends of nan leash.”

Over half (58%) said astir of their effort erstwhile serving up dishes for their dogs goes into nan quality of nan food.

But it isn’t conscionable nan repast itself that dogs are picky about. The circumstantial clip is important, too.

Sixty-nine percent of respondents said their canine lets them cognize erstwhile they are moreover a infinitesimal precocious serving their food.

A study of 2,000 canine owners recovered that 44% said their pet performs a precise regular aliases behaviour astatine mealtime. Pixel-Shot – stock.adobe.com

How do they fto them know? Thirty-nine percent said their canine will beryllium successful beforehand of them pinch an aggravated look, while 34% said their canine follows them astir nan location until they’re served.

Whining and barking non-stop was besides a celebrated informing motion (33%), on pinch nudging legs aliases tapping owners pinch their paw (26%) and pacing backmost and distant astir nan room aliases nutrient area (24%).

Other rituals group cited to get their canine to eat were having to dress to return a wound earlier their canine will, helping their canine put their toys successful nan toybox earlier mealtime and serving a “dessert” afterward.

“What we’re seeing isn’t conscionable feeding clip — it’s a regular ritual that reflects nan heavy affectional enslaved betwixt humans and their pets,” added Tischler. “These mealtime customs show conscionable really overmuch characteristic our dogs have, and really acold pet parents will spell to make our dogs excited astir mealtime – moreover if it intends meals that look much for illustration what humans eat.”     

TOP 12 MEAL RITUALS FOR DOGS

• Always placing nutrient successful a circumstantial spot aliases vessel (48%)
• Adding a small other constituent (like chickenhearted broth) to make their repast much enticing (38%)
• Hand-mixing nutrient to make it much appetizing (30%)
• Saying a typical building aliases connection earlier feeding them (22%)
• Giving them a small dainty aliases snack earlier their main repast arsenic a warm-up (20%)
• Plating their repast arsenic if I’m preparing a gourmet crockery for them (16%)
• Heating nutrient to a definite somesthesia earlier serving (15%)
• Setting nan array and sitting down pinch them to eat astatine nan aforesaid clip (14%)
• Letting them “choose” their nutrient by offering a mates of options and seeing which 1 they spell for (12%)
• Using circumstantial utensils (e.g., a typical spoon aliases bowl) to service their repast (12%)
• Singing a opus (9%)
• Dancing pinch my canine (9%)

Survey methodology:

Talker Research surveyed 2,000 canine owners; nan study was commissioned by JustFoodForDogs and administered and conducted online by Talker Research betwixt April 7 – April 14, 2025.