Half of Americans have a mealtime ritual for their dogs

Nearly half of dog owners say their pet has a “meal ritual” — and some of them are extreme.

That's according to a survey of 2,000 dog owners, which found 44% said their pet performs a precise routine or behavior at mealtime.

From whining or barking (21%) and jumping up and down (21%) to doing a little dance (21%) and wiggling their whole backside (19%), almost half of participants said their pet has a signature “move” when it’s time to eat.

The research, conducted by Talker Research on behalf of JustFoodForDogs, also found these rituals don’t just involve the dogs. Owners admit to being part of the routine, too.

Almost half of dog owners polled said they have to place food in a specific spot or in a specific bowl (48%), while 38% revealed they have to add a little extra ingredient (like fresh food) to make dogs’ meal more enticing (38%) or hand-mix food to make it more appetizing (30%).

Saying a special phrase or word before feeding them (22%) was also reported, as well as giving them a little treat or snack before their main meal as a warm-up (20%), plating their meal like a gourmet dish at a restaurant (16%) and heating food to a certain temperature (15%).

Fourteen percent of participants even said they go as far as setting the table for their dog and sitting down with them to eat (14%).

Twelve percent said they let their dog choose their meal, and another 12% said they have to use specific utensils, like a special spoon, to serve their dog.

Nearly one in 10 said they sing a little song and even do a little jig to get their dogs to eat.

“From bowl placements to special toppers and even pre-meal dances, this level of dedication shows just how deeply pet parents care about their dogs’ happiness and routines,” said Carey Tischler, JustFoodForDogs President. “It’s clear mealtime has become more than just nutrition. With many serving fresh, human-grade food, they’re feeding their pets the way they feed themselves—with love, intention, and plenty of personality on both ends of the leash.”

Over half (58%) said most of their effort when serving up dishes for their dogs goes into the appearance of the food.

But it isn’t just the meal itself that dogs are picky about. The specific time is important, too.

Sixty-nine percent of respondents said their dog lets them know when they are even a minute late serving their food.

How do they let them know? Thirty-nine percent said their dog will sit in front of them with an intense look, while 34% said their dog follows them around the house until they’re served.

Whining and barking non-stop was also a popular warning sign (33%), along with nudging legs or tapping owners with their paw (26%) and pacing back and forth around the kitchen or food area (24%).

Other rituals people cited to get their dog to eat were having to pretend to take a bite before their dog will, helping their dog put their toys in the toybox before mealtime and serving a “dessert” afterward.

“What we’re seeing isn’t just feeding time — it’s a daily ritual that reflects the deep emotional bond between humans and their pets,” added Tischler. “These mealtime customs show just how much personality our dogs have, and how far pet parents will go to make our dogs excited about mealtime – even if it means meals that look more like what humans eat.”    

TOP 12 MEAL RITUALS FOR DOGS

• Always placing food in a specific spot or bowl (48%)
• Adding a little extra ingredient (like chicken broth) to make their meal more enticing (38%)
• Hand-mixing food to make it more appetizing (30%)
• Saying a special phrase or word before feeding them (22%)
• Giving them a little treat or snack before their main meal as a warm-up (20%)
• Plating their meal as if I’m preparing a gourmet dish for them (16%)
• Heating food to a certain temperature before serving (15%)
• Setting the table and sitting down with them to eat at the same time (14%)
• Letting them “choose” their food by offering a couple of options and seeing which one they go for (12%)
• Using specific utensils (e.g., a special spoon or bowl) to serve their meal (12%)
• Singing a song (9%)
• Dancing with my dog (9%)

Survey methodology:

Talker Research surveyed 2,000 dog owners; the survey was commissioned by JustFoodForDogs and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between April 7 – April 14, 2025.

We are sourcing from a non-probability frame and the two main sources we use are:

• Traditional online access panels — where respondents opt-in to take part in online market research for an incentive
• Programmatic — where respondents are online and are given the option to take part in a survey to receive a virtual incentive usually related to the online activity they are engaging in

Those who did not fit the specified sample were terminated from the survey. As the survey is fielded, dynamic online sampling is used, adjusting targeting to achieve the quotas specified as part of the sampling plan.

Regardless of which sources a respondent came from, they were directed to an Online Survey, where the survey was conducted in English; a link to the questionnaire can be shared upon request. Respondents were awarded points for completing the survey. These points have a small cash-equivalent monetary value.

Cells are only reported on for analysis if they have a minimum of 80 respondents, and statistical significance is calculated at the 95% level. Data is not weighted, but quotas and other parameters are put in place to reach the desired sample.

Interviews are excluded from the final analysis if they failed quality-checking measures. This includes:

• Speeders: Respondents who complete the survey in a time that is quicker than one-third of the median length of interview are disqualified as speeders
• Open ends: All verbatim responses (full open-ended questions as well as other please specify options) are checked for inappropriate or irrelevant text
• Bots: Captcha is enabled on surveys, which allows the research team to identify and disqualify bots
• Duplicates: Survey software has “deduping” based on digital fingerprinting, which ensures nobody is allowed to take the survey more than once

It is worth noting that this survey was only available to individuals with internet access, and the results may not be generalizable to those without internet access.