This is very different from the dog training and interaction mentality that I learned growing up.

But I haven't seen any downsides. He's happy, and he's comfortable and confident trying out new things.
Only upsides, really!

If he gets too frustrated with a newer or more challenging puzzle, I'll end the game, open up the puzzle for him, and he gets hand fed the contents.

It's supposed to be fun, after all, and he's worked hard and learned things. That deserves treats.

This is what started us down the path of puzzle toys, and food dispensing toys.

He still enjoys the odd puzzle, as long as the rewards are appropriate for the task.

At the same time, he eats from a slow feeder bowl, and has since two days after I brought him home, because that was the fastest I could get a slow bowl delivered.

Because when he eats, he doesn't stop for silly things like breathing, or chewing. It works about as well as you'd expect.

If we ever get a second dog or puppy, or even a cat, that might have to change, because I have no doubt he'd cheerfully share everything in his kibble bowl, confident in the knowledge that he can ask for more when he gets hungry again.

He is an interesting dog though, he's never been that interested in food.
He enjoys his wet food, but kibble we free feed, because he stops eating it when he's full.
He's been like this since he was a puppy, saving his extra kibble for a later snack.

As he's an only dog, it works for now.

So he gets a little bit more breakfast: some extra kibble, and a lot of half teaspoons of wet food doled out over the indentations on three or so puzzles, depending on how he's feeling and I am feeling that day.

We vary puzzles based on all sorts of factors, to try to keep it fun.

That's a good idea, I will try that, thanks!

That's gorgeous! 🥰

Ooh, I hadn't considered that!
I haven't tried anything like that before, so it would certainly be an adventure, and a chance to try something new!

Right now my compromise solution is to cast on a second cowl, instead of frogging this one, and purl that, then see how the two compare.

Pattern: tincanknits.com/pattern/goth...
Yarn: Berroco Vintage Worsted, in Aurora.

Success!