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“Research proves that the best way to feed our animals is from a flat surface. The patented MINE Pet Platter design encourages dogs and cats to unleash instinctive, healthier eating behaviors and engages their minds in a way that is both entertaining and psychologically rewarding. Indentations, crevices and curves encourage licking, tracking, foraging and other natural stimulating feeding behaviors.”
Source: MinePetPlatter.com
Several months ago, I purchased four MINE Pet Platters to review. I set them aside and forgot about them until recently. I've fed using the platters twice, and while I agree that feeding from fat surfaces is beneficial for dogs, I don't agree that science tells us that dogs should lick their food instead of ripping and tearing.
One can argue that dogs should be ripping and tearing instead of eating grind, but the grind allows chewing. Licking doesn't, at least for my dogs.
Initially, I worried about my dogs bending down and straining their necks to eat, so I placed the platters on their raised dishes. Social media corrected me, explaining that the platters needed to be on the floor so my dogs could walk around the platter. So, I fed them a second time, and they ate their food, walked around, and made a big mess.
What I Like About the MINE Pet Platter
After Sydney was diagnosed with cancer, I switched my dogs from stainless steel dog bowls to flat pasta dishes. I changed this because a friend recommended feeding her from a flat surface when Sydney refused to eat. Dog bowls aren't the best option for our dogs because:
- The food smells can be overwhelming – a dog's nose is 100,000 times more sensitive than a human's nose, and when we toss multiple ingredients in a bowl, it can be an assault on their senses.
- Bowls block a dog's peripherals – dogs inherently want to protect their flank as they're eating, a trait stronger in some dogs than others, and dog bowls obstruct the view. This makes me rethink the Neater Feeder raised dog dishes, due to the high sides, which also block their peripherals.
- Bowls hurt a dog's nose – it can't feel comfortable for dogs to push their noses into the edges of the bowl to eat. And some flat-faced breeds have trouble with traditional dog bowls for similar reasons.
- Bowls can cause whisker fatigue – cats mainly experience whisker fatigue. However, a dog's whiskers are sensitive as well. Whiskers transmit information to the brain, helping dogs and cats navigate their environment. And repeated over-stimulation of the whiskers (like on the sides of a dog dish) can result in whisker fatigue.
When I fed Sydney from a flat pasta bowl, with enough space to keep the food from touching, she ate everything (one at a time). After that experience, I began feeding all my dogs from pasta bowls (they don't care if their food touch). Feeding our dogs from a flat surface creates a calming eating experience for my dogs. Plus, it's fun to watch what my dogs choose first – usually something with raw bone.
An Alternative to KONGS
I've seen pet parents giving their dogs fresh or frozen treats mashed into and spread across a MINE Pet Platter. It's a cool alternative to KONGS or other food puzzle toys.
Other Pros…
Colors: I love that the pet platters come in three colors. When I'm sick or exhausted, I get easily distracted, but no matter what, I'll never forget that RED is Rodrigo, YELLOW is Zoey, and TEAL is Apollo.
Material: the MINE Pet Platters are BPA-free, food-safe, and dishwasher-safe. The founder goes further by sourcing the cellulose fiber from trees grown in sustainable forests in the US. And the platters are 100% recyclable.
Dishwasher Safe: The platters are easy to clean by hand, but if you're short on time, they fit perfectly in the dishwasher.
What I Don't Like About the MINE Pet Platter
Where's the Research?
The founder mentions research on the website that “proves that the best way to feed our animals is from a flat surface.” However, there were no links to this research at the time of this review. I requested a link to the research from the founder, Carol Smeja, but she didn't include this information in her reply.
This is not to say there isn't research; I would like to read more about the findings because I wouldn't have guessed that it would be natural for dogs to stand and eat, walking around their meal. When I feed my dogs their raw meaty bones outside, they lay down with their backs to a house or tree and their bones between their legs. They don't lick the bone (or chew treat); they rip, tear, and chew.
My Dogs are Messy Eaters
I wanted my dogs to enjoy the full experience, so I added solids (duck feet and a raw grind) and liquids (an egg and bone broth). The divots in the platter held all the food (and liquids) without issue. I placed each platter on a towel (to prevent sliding) and brought the dogs in to eat.
It was a messy affair; the towels didn't stop the mess, but they did slow the sliding around on the floor. Non-stick furniture pads would have worked better, and someone suggested yoga mats or damp paper towels. As the website mentioned, the dogs walked around the platter, but it seemed more out of convenience than an innate behavior, I'm not an expert in canine behavior, so maybe this is a canine trait.
Rodrigo appeared stressed (constantly looking around). He's our slowest eater, especially when approaching something new. Escorting Zoey and Apollo outside so Rodrigo could eat in peace helped. This created an anxious experience for all of us.
After these experiences, I can't say that the MINE Pet Platters are a good fit for my dogs. I've read many amazing reviews where pet parents describe the platters as “a game changer,” which shows that some dogs benefit from this eating style.`I should have started using the trays for treats, not their meals.
A DIY Alternative that Works for My Dogs
I love the logic behind the MINE Pet Platters (although I can't entirely agree with all the theories). After my experience, I brainstormed an alternative that would work for our dogs:
- stainless steel, food-safe divided dinner plates (4 for $20)
- rubber furniture gripper feet (16 for $8)
These provide a flatter surface for my dogs to eat. The dividers in the plate allow me to separate the food and feed liquids (eggs, raw goat's milk, bone broth, etc.) without a mess. And the rubber feet prevent sliding. My dogs LOVED eating from them; it was easy and engaging. Plus, there was no mess.
Engagement Products I Prefer for Dogs
Adding divots and valleys to a flat surface is brilliant and encourages dogs to engage during mealtime as they forage for food. I love the idea of providing engagement opportunities for my dogs during mealtime. Feeding from flat dishes is a start, allowing my dogs to determine what they will eat and when. Feeding raw meaty bones allows them to zone out as they enjoy chewing. And I train most days using training treats.
But turning mealtime into an opportunity for engagement is a great idea. As a raw feeder, I wouldn't be able to do this with their meals, but I could use treats in a game toy, separating the dogs so they could enjoy their puzzle toy in peace.
Friends has recommended the following puzzle toys and are now on my holiday shopping list:
- Nina Ottosson by Outward Hound Brick Puzzle Game Dog Toy
- Outward Hound Puppy Smart Dog Toy
- Dogit Mind Games Interactive Smart Dog Game
Snuffle Mats for Dogs on Etsy
I'm curious about snuffle mats. I like the foraging opportunities these provide for dogs. I would sprinkle organ jerky throughout the mat and let them go to town (for 90 seconds). I've seen a few homemade snuffle mats and recently fell down the Etsy rabbit hole and now have a few snuffle mats in my shopping cart:
- NozeyPaws rainbow snuffle mat
- NozeyPaws patterned snuffle mat
- DogtasticBandanas snuffle mat
- BodraumPET snuffle mat set
- EllisOrganix snuffle mat
- FleeceBeWithYou snuffle mat
Final Thoughts on MINE Pet Platters
While the MINE Pet Platters didn't work for my dogs, I can see why they work for other dogs. Some say feeding from flat surfaces has improved mealtime for picky dogs, gulpers, and flat-faced dogs. To ensure that other dogs benefit from these platters, I have donated them to a Bulldog rescue group.
According to my reading, brachycephalic dog breeds (like Pugs, Bulldogs, Shih Tzu, and Cavelier King Charles Spaniels) would do well with the MINE Pet Platters because they need to eat from a surface that will complement their shorter snouts. The divots throughout the platter are rounded, making the food more accessible for these dogs.
And, to answer my initial question – should dogs be fed on flat surfaces? – This experience taught me that it depends on the dog.
