Two Bowl Taste Test™

Two Bowls. One Winner.

Palatability Proven. Freshness Assured.

Which Diet Does Your Dog Really Prefer?

The Two Bowl Taste Test™ is a fun, simple at-home behavioural test - widely used by pet nutritionists - that shows you exactly which food your dog is naturally drawn to - no guesswork, no bias, just honest canine instinct.

By watching where they go first and how much they eat, you’ll quickly see which meal wins the Dinner Duel.

What You’re Looking For

You’ll pay attention to two key behaviours:

① First Choice

Which bowl your dog approaches, sniffs and starts eating from first.

② Total Consumption

How much your dog eats from each bowl over the testing period.

When both signs point to the same bowl - you have a clear winner!

What You’ll Need

  • Two identical bowls

  • A kitchen scale or measuring scoop

  • A quiet, distraction-free area

  • Your phone (to film or take notes)

Line drawing of a digital kitchen scale, two pet food bowls, and a measuring cup.

How To Do the Test

1. Practice Round

Start with a warm-up using your dog’s usual food and split the regular amount between two bowls. Place the bowls side-by-side, about 50 cm apart. Let your dog calmly approach the bowls and begin eating. The warm-up gets them comfortable with the “two bowl setup”.
If you have multiple dogs, separate them so each test is done alone.

Line drawing of a pet food bowl filled with food
Illustration of a pet food bowl filled with food.

2. PREPARE the test MEALS

Mark the two bowls Meal A and Meal B.
Weigh half your dog’s normal meal amount and place in in either Bowl A or Bowl B. Then weigh the same amount of Cape Wayfarer’s meal and place that food in the remaining bowl.

A digital illustration of a kitchen scale with a shallow bowl on top.

A

A simple line drawing of a pet food bowl filled with food.
Empty pet food bowl with food inside.

B

3. Test

Have your dog in attendance and place both bowls down about 50 cm apart at the same time.
Step back, stay quiet and let your dog explore and eat at their own pace.

Silhouette of a sitting dog facing forward.

A

Dog food bowl filled with food.
Outline of a pet food bowl filled with food or kibble.

B

4. Watch Closely

  • Which bowl they sniff or eat from first

  • Whether they finish one before trying the other

  • Whether they switch back and forth

  • How much they eat from each bowl overall

5. Time It

Allow up to 15 minutes.
Remove the bowls and measure how much is left in each.

A simple clock showing the time as 3:00.

6. Repeat

Repeat the test at least 4 times for reliable, unbiased results. Switch the left/right position each time to avoid “side preference.”

A circular arrow icon representing a refresh or reload symbol.
Table comparing animal behaviors and what they indicate, including going straight to a bowl and eating fast indicating strong preference, sniffs and eats a bit from each indicating curiosity or indecision, and avoiding or walking away indicating dislike or discomfort.

What Your Dog’s Behaviour Means

Test Cape Wayfarer In Your Next Dinner Duel

Ready to see if your dog prefers a craft-made, nutrient-rich diet?

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