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Gamify your dog’s mealtime
A Powerful Way to Change Your Dog’s Life: Gamify Meal Time

This game can be great for all dogs, but one word of caution for those dogs who get a little anxious around food. If your dog has shown aggression (biting, growling, lunging, snarling, snapping) around food items, reach out to your pet’s behavior doctor before playing this game.

What you need: 

  1. Two or more different food or puzzle toys.
  2. Small tasty treats

How to do it:

  1. If your dog knows how to sit and stay while you move about and put things on the floor, ask your dog to sit and stay. If your dog doesn’t know how to sit and stay, no worries, put him behind a baby gate where he can see what you are doing or ask someone to hold the leash.
  2. Start with two different food or puzzle toys. 
  3. Place each toy on the floor, each about 2-3 feet from your dog.
  4. Don’t put any food into the food toys. Don’t make a big fuss.
  5. Release your dog from the sit/stay. If he is behind a baby gate, open the gate. If someone is holding the leash, ask them to drop the leash so that your dog can move around.
  6. Let your dog explore and approach the toys.
  7. As your dog investigates the toys, don’t talk to him or point the toys out. Let him figure it out on his own. It is his choice!
  8. Your dog may decide on a toy immediately or it may take some time. Whichever he chooses first, will be the dinner toy that night.
  9. When your pet chooses a toy by approaching or sniffing the toy, praise him and put a treat into the toy. 
  10. Let him eat the treat.
  11. When he is done eating the treat, pick up all of the toys.
  12. Immediately fill the toy that your pet chose with his dinner.
  13. Put the toy back down and let them enjoy!
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What Are Industry Leaders Saying About Dr. Radosta?

Every once in a while, a veterinary unicorn comes along: competent, confident, compassionate, and a great communicator. Brimming with science and soul. Dr. Lisa Radosta is a true "Jill of all trades," fighting important battles and inspiring future leaders. She has played a big role in making animal behavior important, elevating females in our profession, and showing action steps to make a balance between work and home doable. Equally comfortable in the exam room or coming into people's living room via network TV, Dr. Lisa Radosta fights tirelessly to help pets and people live happier, healthier, fuller lives. I often watch her at the podium, in a board meeting, or in an interview and just think..."you go, girl!

Dr. Marty Becker

Dr. Radosta is exceedingly passionate about each individual animal and understands by helping a pet she is also helping families; her passion is only exceeded by her knowledge to make a difference. Dr. Radosta is also a master communicator, whether it is explaining behavior modification to families desperate for exactly what Dr. Radosta and her team provide to communicating to professional colleagues at veterinary meetings.

Steve Dale, CABC

Every single day Dr. Radosta is making the world a better place for dogs and cats suffering from fear, stress, and anxiety. She's highly regarded by veterinarians and board-certified behaviorists alike and I am honored to have worked alongside her to educate pet parents about the importance of caring for our pet's mental health -- she's my "go-to" for video or blog interviews on behavior topics. I've also been a client of Dr. Radosta's behavior practice and I credit her with opening my eyes back in 2006 to how FAS affects our pets' quality of life. 

Kristen Levine