How to Use a Dog Enrichment Cup for Soft Treats

If your dog's treats tend to vanish in a couple of bites, you may like the idea of turning snack time into a small shared moment instead. An enrichment cup is one simple way to do that: rather than handing over a treat, you spread a little soft food into a cup with a textured inside, such as a honeycomb pattern, and let your dog lick it from the pattern while you stay close.

An enrichment cup is a feeding accessory, not a chew toy, and it does not replace meals or time together. This guide covers how to choose a suitable filling, how to set the cup up, how to supervise each session, how to keep it clean and how to give treat time a regular place in your day.

Choosing a suitable soft filling

This kind of cup is meant for soft food. Think of something soft that is made for dogs and spreads easily with a spoon, such as soft dog food or a dog treat paste. A few practical pointers:

• Use a small amount. A thin layer is enough.
• Count it in their daily allowance. Whatever goes into the cup is part of what your dog eats that day, so adjust their other treats or meals to match.
• Stick to dog-appropriate food. If you are unsure whether an ingredient suits your dog, ask your vet before using it.
• Keep it soft. The cup is meant for soft food spread in a thin layer, so save hard chews for another moment.

How to fill it and set it down

1. Spread a thin layer. Use an ordinary teaspoon to press a small amount of soft food into the honeycomb cells and along the ridges.
2. Choose the spot. Pick a clean, smooth, hard surface such as a smooth floor, rather than a rug or carpet. Wipe it first if needed.
3. Press the base down. Set the cup on its suction base and press gently.
4. Stay with your dog. Let them begin, and stay in the room for the whole session.

For the first few sessions, keep the layer extra thin and stay close. Watching tells you how your dog approaches the cup and whether the size and the filling suit them.

Staying close: supervision and when to stop

Supervision is part of using any feeding accessory. Stay with your dog for every session and keep these simple rules in mind:

• If your dog starts chewing or biting the cup, take it away. It is a feeding accessory, not a chew toy.
• When the food is gone, pick the cup up rather than leaving it on the floor.
• Check the cup before each use and replace it if it is damaged.
• Never leave your dog alone with the cup.

Ending each session the same way, by lifting the cup and taking it to the sink, keeps treat time a clear little ritual with a beginning and an end.

Cleaning and care

Soft food can settle into the honeycomb cells, so wash the cup thoroughly after every use. Pay attention to the cells and the ridges, and rinse the suction base as well. A small brush can help you reach into the cells. Let the cup dry before the next session, and replace it if you notice any damage.

Giving treat time a regular place in the day

Some owners like to give treat time a fixed spot in the day, for example after the afternoon walk or during a quiet moment in the kitchen while they stay nearby. A regular moment also makes it easier to keep track of how much your dog has had that day, so the filling stays part of their daily allowance.

If treats come along on your walks as well, our PupPack™ Dog Backpack Harness has one small zipped pocket on the back for a few light essentials, such as poo bags or a handful of treats. Keep what goes in it light and balanced.

Where HoneyBowl™ fits in

The HoneyBowl™ Honeycomb Enrichment Cup is the Houndkeep enrichment cup for exactly this moment. Here is what it offers:

• Honeycomb inside: honeycomb walls and raised ridges give soft food a textured surface.
• Wide suction base: press it gently onto a clean, smooth surface.
• Two sizes: S is 9.4 cm wide and 8.2 cm tall; L is 11.9 cm wide and 9.05 cm tall.
• Yellow or green: one cup included, in your chosen colour and size.

On the outside, it has a flared rim and four rounded ribs. Choose a size your dog can use comfortably. Not sure? Tell us your dog's breed and size and we will help you choose.

FAQ

What can I put in the cup?

A small amount of soft, dog-appropriate food or treat paste, spread thinly. Count it in your dog's daily allowance.

Can my dog use it on their own?

No. Stay with your dog for every session and take the cup away if they start chewing it. It is a feeding accessory, not a chew toy.

How do I clean it?

Wash it thoroughly after each use, including the honeycomb cells, and replace it if it is damaged.