Large dry kibble pellets in a donut shape for small breed adult dogs.

Description

1 / 33 Large dry kibble pellets in a donut shape for small breed adult dogs. CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED FILING APPLICATIONS

[001] This application claims priority over U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 63 / 506,544, filed June 6, 2023, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. BACKGROUND

[002] Small breed adult dogs are frequently fed dry kibble, which is proportional to the smaller volumes and restricted shapes common to the anatomy of small breed adult dogs. For example, it is common to feed a small breed dog standard-shaped kibble, relatively small, such as cuboid or rectangular pieces, with an average size well below about 1 centimeter, for example, about 6 mm in length, width, and thickness. Furthermore, several animal-specific behaviors can contribute to feeding problems, such as eating too quickly and chewing too hastily, which in some cases can result in difficulty swallowing. Behavioral studies can be conducted to determine if certain sizes, shapes, thicknesses, and / or other configurations could minimize some of these negative behaviors, benefiting the animal's health. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[003] Figure 1 illustrates an example of the upper and lower jaw of a canine or dog, showing an example of proper tooth positioning for measuring and calculating the average buccal cavity area of ​​a canine, according to the present disclosure; Figure 2 is a box plot illustrating example data. Petition 870250087882, dated 09 / 29 / 2025, page 10 / 79 2 / 33 factors related to the duration of food intake in a population of small breed adult dogs, according to the present disclosure; Figure 3 is a graph illustrating an example of changes in the duration of food intake in a population of small breed adult dogs that occur due to variation in a single physical property, for example, shape, diameter or thickness, compared to a reference food pellet, according to the present disclosure; Figure 4 is a box plot illustrating exemplary data related to chewing duration in a population of small-breed adult dogs, according to the present disclosure; Figure 5 is a graph illustrating an example of changes in chewing duration in a population of small breed adult dogs that occur due to variation in a single physical property, for example, shape, diameter or thickness, compared to a reference food pellet, according to the present disclosure; Figure 6 is a box plot illustrating exemplary data related to prehension in a population of small adult dogs, according to the present disclosure; Figure 7 is a graph illustrating an example of changes in prehension in a population of small breed adult dogs that occur due to variation in a single physical property, for example, shape, diameter or thickness, compared to a reference feed pellet, according to the present disclosure; Figure 8 is a graph illustrating an example of changes in food intake rate in a population of small adult dogs that occur due to variations in a single physical property, for example, shape, diameter, or thickness. Petition 870250087882, dated 09 / 29 / 2025, page 11 / 79 3 / 33 comparison with a reference feed pellet, according to the present disclosure; and Figure 9 is a graph illustrating an example of modifications in difficulty swallowing in a population of small breed adult dogs that occur by variation of a single physical property, for example, shape, diameter or thickness, compared with a reference feed pellet, according to the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[004] According to examples in the present disclosure, methods and compositions for feeding small adult dogs are disclosed. In some examples, methods of feeding small adult dogs may include providing a dry food pellet portion to a small adult dog weighing less than about 11 kg. According to these methods, about 20% to 100% of the individual dry food pellet units in the portion may be donut-shaped, having an average inner hole diameter of about 3 mm to about 8 mm, an average diameter of about 8 mm to about 2 cm, and an average thickness of about 8 mm to about 2 cm. In one example, the average diameter may be about 1.1 cm to about 2 cm and / or the average diameter may be about 1.4 cm to about 2 cm or about 1.1 cm to about 2 cm.In some examples, the dry food pellet has a moisture content of about 4% by weight to about 10% by weight and / or the dry food pellet has an average stiffness of about 40 N / mm to about 120 N / mm. In more detail, after providing the portion and the small adult dog begins to eat the dry food pellet, about 45% to about 75% of the first three minutes of feeding, on average, may include chewing time and / or less than 50% of the first three minutes of feeding. Petition 870250087882, dated 09 / 29 / 2025, p. 12 / 79 4 / 33 On average, this includes the prehension time. In other examples, a small adult dog may exhibit a lower frequency of difficulty swallowing during the first three minutes of feeding a small adult dog with a dry food pellet, compared to the first three minutes of feeding a small adult dog with a comparative dry food pellet without an internal hole through it and having approximately a smaller diameter and thickness compared to the dry food pellet. In further detail, a small adult dog may not be defined solely by weight, but also by the dog's average buccal cavity area, which can be approximately 12 cm² to approximately 22 cm², for example.

[005] Other examples of dry food pellets may include from about 20% to 100% of dry food pellet units in donut shape with an average inner hole diameter of about 3 mm to about 8 mm, an average diameter of about 1.1 cm to about 2 cm, and an average thickness of about 8 mm to about 2 cm. In these examples, the dry food pellet may have an average stiffness of about 40 N / mm to about 120 N / mm and a moisture content of up to about 10% by weight. In some examples, the dry food pellet is formulated for small adult dogs and may be packaged with indications that the dry food pellet is suitable for small adult dogs. In more detail, the average diameter may be about 1.4 cm to about 2 cm and / or about 1.1 cm to about 2 cm.

[006] Note that when discussing examples related to feeding methods for small adult dogs or dry food pellets adapted for feeding small adult dogs, these discussions may be considered applicable to one another, regardless of whether or not they are explicitly discussed in Petition 870250087882, dated 09 / 29 / 2025, p. 13 / 79 5 / 33 context of this example. Thus, for example, when discussing the average diameter of the internal orifice in the context of methods, such a finding is also relevant and directly supported in the context of dry feed pellets and vice versa.

[007] Furthermore, the terms used in the present invention will have their common meaning in the relevant technical field, unless otherwise specified. In some cases, there are terms defined more specifically throughout the descriptive report, with some more general terms included at the end of the descriptive report. These more specifically defined terms have the meaning as described herein.

[008] The term kibble refers to units of dry or semi-moist pet food, which may be pellet-shaped or in any other shape. Non-limiting examples of kibble include particulates; pellets; pet food chunks, dehydrated meat, meat analogues, vegetables and combinations thereof; and pet snacks such as dried meats or vegetables, rawhide and biscuits.

[009] The reference here to the term dry kibble refers to kibble(s) having a moisture content of up to about 20% by weight (% by weight) of water content. In some examples, the water content may be up to about 15% by weight, up to about 12% by weight, or up to about 10% by weight. Exemplary ranges of water content may be from about 4% by weight to about 10% by weight, from about 5% by weight to about 9% by weight, or from about 7% by weight to about 9% by weight. In addition, kibble may have a rheology that distinguishes it from wet or even semi-wet kibble. One method for determining the rheology of feed pellets involves the use of a pointed probe that tapers from a pointed tip to a... Petition 870250087882, dated 09 / 29 / 2025, p. 14 / 79 A 6 / 33 probe, approximately 5 mm in diameter, runs along a tapered length of about 1.5 cm. To take measurements, the tapered probe is forced down with its pointed end into the feed pellet at a constant speed, for example, about 2 mm / s. The probe can be adjusted for a maximum descent or penetration distance into the feed pellet of up to about 4 mm (or greater), as rupture of the dry feed pellet would normally occur before about 3 mm. Using this equipment, the penetration force in Newtons (N) and the distance to rupture in millimeters (mm) are then recorded, and can then be used to calculate a slope representing the stiffness in Newtons per millimeter (N / mm).According to some examples of the present disclosure, the feed pellet of the present disclosure may have a stiffness of about 40 N / mm to about 120 N / mm, about 50 N / mm to about 110 N / mm, or about 60 N / mm to about 100 N / mm, which is considered dry and would typically exclude semi-moist or softer feed pellets.

[0010] According to examples in the present disclosure, the dry feed pellet includes at least about 20% of individual dry feed pellet units in donut shape. In some examples, the dry feed pellet may include from about 20% to 100% dry feed pellet in donut shape, from about 35% to 100% dry feed pellet in donut shape, from about 50% to 100% dry feed pellet in donut shape, from about 75% to 100% dry feed pellet in donut shape, from about 90% to 100% dry feed pellet in donut shape, about 100% dry feed pellet in donut shape, or from about 50% by weight to about 95% by weight of dry feed pellet. Although the dry feed pellet of the present disclosure is in donut shape (or predominantly Petition 870250087882, dated 09 / 29 / 2025, page 15 / 79 7 / 33 in donut shape), there are other dry food pellet compositions described here for comparative purposes, used to evaluate chewing time, difficulty swallowing and / or other intake attributes associated with feeding small breed adult dogs.

[0011] Dry feed pellets may be prepared to include animal tissue (proteins and fats), for example, beef, chicken, turkey, pork, lamb, fish, beef tallow, processed pork lard, chicken fat, turkey fat, lamb fat, fish fat, etc. In some instances, dry feed pellets may alternatively or additionally include non-animal protein and fat sources and / or carbohydrates, for example, peas, chickpeas, beans, barley, oats, brown rice, soy protein, pea protein, etc. Dry feed pellets may include an animal-derived digestive, applied to it or incorporated in another way, such as a dry animal-derived digestive or a liquid animal-derived digestive. Dry feed pellets may similarly include ingredients such as antioxidants, palatability enhancers, nutritional additives, etc.For example, antioxidant(s) may be added at any stage during preparation to prevent oxidation, which is often associated with the presence of fats. Examples of antioxidants that may be selected for use include natural or synthetic antioxidants such as butylated hydroxyanisole, butylated hydroxytoluene, propyl gallate, octyl gallate, tocopherols, rosemary extract, ascorbic acid, or a combination thereof. Additionally, dry feed pellets may optionally include additional ingredients such as starches, humectants, oral health ingredients, preservatives, amino acids, fiber, prebiotics, sugars, animal oils, flavorings, other oils in addition to or as an alternative to vegetable oil, salts, and vitamins. Petition 870250087882, dated 09 / 29 / 2025, page 16 / 79 8 / 33 minerals, minerals, probiotic microorganisms, bioactive molecules, or combinations thereof. Non-limiting examples of suitable preservatives include potassium sorbate, sorbic acid, sodium methylparaben, calcium propionate, propionic acid, and combinations thereof.

[0012] According to examples in the present disclosure, the donut-shaped dry feed pellet described herein may have any of a number of dimensional ranges. As mentioned, the dry feed pellet may have an average diameter of about 8 mm to about 2 cm, but other diameter dimensions may be about 1 cm to about 2 cm, about 1.1 cm to about 1.8 cm, or about 1.4 cm to about 2 cm, for example. The average thickness of the dry feed pellet may be about 8 mm to about 2 cm, about 1 cm to about 2 cm, about 1.1 cm to about 2 cm, about 1.1 cm to about 1.8 cm, or about 1.4 cm to about 2 cm, for example. The inner hole can have an average size of about 3 mm to about 8 mm, about 3 mm to about 6 mm, about 4 mm to about 7 mm, or about 4 mm to about 6 mm, for example.

[0013] The reference to diameter in the present invention does not necessarily imply that the dry feed pellet is round or that the inner hole of the dry feed pellet is round or perfectly circular in itself, as there may be some variation in the generally curved nature of the individual dry feed pellet units, both in relation to the external shape and the shape of the inner hole thereof. Furthermore, the inner hole may or may not be completely concentric with respect to the external diameter of the individual dry feed pellet units, since the inner hole may be slightly displaced in relation to its location relative to the outer perimeter of the dry feed pellet. When the dry feed pellet does not Petition 870250087882, dated 09 / 29 / 2025, page 17 / 79 9 / 33 has a substantially or completely circular outer perimeter and / or inner hole shape; the diameter is based on its equivalent diameter, which, in turn, is based on a distance measurement around the perimeter shape and / or inner hole shape of the dry feed pellet. This distance measurement is then considered as the circumference of an equivalent circle to determine the equivalent diameter of the dry feed pellet. Thus, the term diameter, as used herein, also includes shapes that may not be perfectly circular in perimeter or inner hole, but which can be measured and idealized as being circular to determine their equivalent diameter (or as defined herein, as their diameter). Furthermore, when considering the diameter of comparative dry feed pellet shapes, such as squares, pentagons, etc., the diameter of these feed pellets can be calculated in the same way to determine an effective diameter.Sometimes the diameter may be referred to as size for clarity, but either way, this measurement is based on the diameter or equivalent diameter (if not a circle) in the XY plane of the dry feed pellet.

[0014] The terms thickness or thickness refer to the measurement of the dry feed pellet in the direction of the geometric Z axis, which is perpendicular to the measurement of the diameter of the dry feed pellet. As the dry feed pellet of the present disclosure has a donut shape, it is understood that the thickness or measurement of the geometric Z axis is perpendicular to the XY plane dimension having the internal hole along it.

[0015] The term donut-shaped, as used herein, includes any shaped dry feed pellet, with the XY geometric axes having an outer perimeter and a thickness on the Z geometric axis. The XY geometric axes also include an inner hole that passes through the dry feed pellet. The inner hole may Petition 870250087882, dated 09 / 29 / 2025, page 18 / 79 10 / 33 can be positioned concentrically with respect to the outer perimeter or can be offset from the outer perimeter. The size of the outer perimeter and the inner hole are measured based on their diameter, which is the equivalent diameter measurement when the dry feed pellet is not circular, for example, oval or some other similarly rounded shape.

[0016] When referring to small adult dogs, there is no clearly defined and universally accepted weight cutoff point; therefore, for the purposes of this disclosure, small adult dogs may range in size from smaller domesticated adult dogs to small dogs weighing up to about 10 kg. Small adult dogs typically include domesticated dogs that are no longer puppies, for example, less than 1 year old. In some examples, small dogs include all dogs up to about 11 kg, up to about 10.5 kg, up to about 10 kg, or up to about 9 kg, for example.In some examples, however, the dry food pellet described here can be prepared for dogs weighing in the range of approximately 3 kg to approximately 11 kg, approximately 3 kg to approximately 10 kg, approximately 3 kg to approximately 9 kg, approximately 4 kg to approximately 10.5 kg, approximately 4 kg to approximately 10 kg, approximately 4 kg to approximately 8 kg, approximately 5 kg to approximately 10 kg, or approximately 6 kg to 11 kg.

[0017] In more detail, small adult dogs can be further classified by mouth size. This can be particularly useful in relation to the methods and compositions disclosed herein, since the diameters and thicknesses of the dry food pellets of the present disclosure are quite large compared to the mouth size of small adult dogs. The mouth size of the dogs can be measured and then a subsequent calculation can be performed to obtain a single value, called in the present invention of Petition 870250087882, dated 09 / 29 / 2025, p. 19 / 79 11 / 33 average buccal cavity area. It is worth noting that this measurement does not include a measurement of the Z-axis (as would be used to determine mouth volume), since the average buccal cavity area is sufficient to define general mouth sizes of small adult dogs, according to the present disclosure.

[0018] According to examples from the present disclosure, the average buccal cavity area of ​​a dog can vary from about 12 cm2 to about 22 cm2, from about 14 cm2 to about 21 cm2, from about 15 cm2 to about 20 cm2, or from about 14 cm2 to about 18 cm2, for example. To calculate the average buccal cavity area of ​​a dog, measurements are taken independently for the upper and lower jaws. The location of the measurements is shown in Figure 1, where examples of the upper and lower jaws 100 are illustrated. The measurement is taken on each jaw separately, for example, by independently measuring the jaw lengths 115, corresponding to the distance extending from the front of the third incisor 110 to the back of the mouth, aligned with the back of the last molar 140.The upper and lower jaws are also measured independently for canine width 125, which is defined as the distance between the right and left canines 120. Molar width 135 is also measured in each of the upper and lower jaws, being defined as the distance between the right and left carnassial molars 130. For each jaw measurement, an average width is determined by calculating the average of the canine width and the molar width. The area of ​​each jaw is then determined by multiplying the average width by the jaw length. To obtain the average oral cavity area, as defined herein, the area of ​​the upper jaw and the area of ​​the lower jaw are obtained by averaging, according to the following formulas: Petition 870250087882, dated 09 / 29 / 2025, page 20 / 79 12 / 33 Upper jaw area = [(Width of upper canine + Width of upper molar) / 2] x Length of upper jaw Lower jaw area = [(Width of lower canine + Width of lower molar) / 2] x Length of lower jaw Average oral cavity area = [Area of ​​the upper jaw + Area of ​​the lower jaw] / 2

[0019] When feeding small adult dogs the donut-shaped dry food pellet described here, even though the diameter of the dry food pellet is relatively large, it was not expected that increasing the size (diameter) of the external dimensions of the dry food pellet and / or introducing an internal hole in otherwise solid pellet shapes, for example, transforming a round shape into a donut shape, these two modifications, independently (and in some cases additively), would promote multiple behavioral benefits associated with feeding small adult dogs. For example, when introducing a donut-shaped food pellet, there was a tendency for favorable behavior towards prolonging the duration of food intake, increasing chewing time, reducing prehension time, and reducing the speed of food intake.Furthermore, it was found that larger diameters of dry food pellets also tended to increase chewing time, reduce prehension time, and decrease difficulty swallowing. Thus, both the donut shape and the increased diameter of the dry food pellet promoted an increase in chewing time and a reduction in prehension time.

[0020] Prehension refers to a behavior in which a small adult dog interacts with a dry food pellet in a bowl or on the floor, that is, picking up the food to chew and / or swallow. For example, prehension includes holding and manipulating the food, being Petition 870250087882, dated 09 / 29 / 2025, page 21 / 79 13 / 33 is generally performed using the tongue, teeth, and jaw, keeping the dry food pellet and fluids in the oral cavity. Since an increase in chewing time slows the rate of food intake and increases the duration of the meal, an increase in prehension time, on the other hand, tends to indicate interaction with food in ways that do not involve chewing or swallowing. Essentially, it is ideal for a dog to spend less time collecting and holding food in its mouth and more time chewing the food, aiming for better digestion. In some cases, a reduction in prehension time can be considered a positive behavior modification, and in some cases, an increase in prehension time can be positive if the dog's rate of food intake is too fast, for example.

[0021] There is a correlation between slower eating behaviors, with adequate chewing, and good digestion in the animal. Thus, by reducing the speed of food intake, prolonging the total duration of the meal, and increasing chewing time, better digestion can be achieved. Furthermore, by reducing occurrences of difficult swallowing (which can commonly occur after slower food intake and increased chewing), the animal's safety can be increased. All these behavioral changes can result in better eating habits in small breed adult dogs. As an example, it can be observed in the data from the Examples below that the larger dry food pellet in a donut shape (1.6 cm in diameter) can significantly increase chewing time, which is strongly associated with oral health, digestion, and satiety.Conversely, the small size of the kibble (5 mm in diameter), whether solid or donut-shaped, tends to reduce chewing time and significantly increase the occurrence of difficulty swallowing, which can be perceived by pet owners as an early indicator of risk to the animal. Petition 870250087882, dated 09 / 29 / 2025, page 22 / 79 14 / 33 breed of the animal. This information can be extended to all adult small breed dogs, and may even include miniature breed dogs, such as Chihuahuas, for example. Definitions

[0022] As used herein, language comprising or including or other open language may be replaced by essentially consisting of and consisting of, as if such a transitional phrase were expressly included in such modalities.

[0023] The term average, when referring to a dry feed pellet size dimension, relates to a plurality of units that are collected in a common sample, with the average calculated in relation to the sample.

[0024] The term approximately refers to values ​​similar to the specifically enumerated numbers, with some flexibility, that would not substantially alter the function of the benefit obtained by the value(s) provided. For example, the term approximately can refer to the mentioned number, plus or minus, by 5%, by 3%, or by 1%. To illustrate, the term approximately, when interpreted as being plus or minus 5% of a numerical range, such as approximately 1 cm to approximately 2 cm, would be interpreted as including a range of 9.5 mm to 2.1 cm, 1.05 cm to 1.9 cm, 9.5 mm to 1.9 cm, or 1.05 cm to 2.1 cm. Similar calculations for any other individual numeric values ​​or individual parameters of numeric ranges described herein can be modified in a similar manner, so that the approximately modifier fully supports subranges including + / -3% or + / -1% of the given numeric value.

[0025] As used herein, value ranges are abbreviated to avoid the need to mention and describe each of the values ​​within the range. Any appropriate value within the range may be selected, when appropriate, as the superscript value. Petition 870250087882, dated 09 / 29 / 2025, page 23 / 79 15 / 33 higher, the lower value or the terminal of the range and, therefore, should be interpreted flexibly to include the numerical values ​​explicitly cited as the limits of the range and also to include individual numerical values ​​or subranges encompassed within that range, as if numerical values ​​and subranges were explicitly cited. As an illustration, a numerical range of approximately 1% by weight to approximately 5% by weight should be interpreted to include the explicitly cited values ​​of approximately 1% by weight to approximately 5% by weight and also to include individual values ​​and subranges within the indicated range. Thus, included in this numerical range are individual values ​​such as 2, 3, 5 and 4 and subranges such as 1 to 3, 2 to 4 and 3 to 5 etc. This same principle applies to intervals that recite a numerical value. Furthermore, such interpretation should be applied regardless of the range width or the characteristics described.

[0026] The term example(s) or modality(ies), as when followed by a list of terms or when providing a specific illustration including details of a single or multiple parameters, is merely illustrative and should not be considered exclusive or comprehensive.

[0027] The methods and compositions disclosed herein are not limited to any specific methodology, protocols, reagents, etc., described herein, as will be understood by those skilled in the art, they may vary. Furthermore, the terminology used herein is only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and is not intended to limit, and does not limit, the scope of what is disclosed or claimed.

[0028] Except where otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms, terms of the art and acronyms used in the present invention have the meanings commonly understood by those skilled in the art in the field(s) of the invention, or in the field(s) in which the term is applied. Petition 870250087882, dated 09 / 29 / 2025, page 24 / 79 16 / 33 mo is used. Although any compositions, methods, articles of manufacture, or other means or materials similar or equivalent to those described herein may be used in the practice of the present invention, certain compositions, methods, articles of manufacture, or other means or materials are described herein.

[0029] As used herein, a plurality of elements, compositional components and / or materials may be presented in a common list for convenience. However, such lists should be interpreted as if the individual members of the list were individually identified as separate and unique members. Thus, no individual member of such a list should be interpreted as a de facto equivalent of any other member of the same list solely on the basis of presentation in a common group without indication to the contrary. Examples

[0030] Features of the present disclosure may be further illustrated by the following examples, although it is understood that these examples are included merely for illustrative purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention except where otherwise indicated. Example 1 - Study of monadic feeding behavior in small breed adult dogs

[0031] Several small adult dogs of various breeds were studied to evaluate their feeding behavior, as it was related to many different shapes and sizes of dry food pellets. Initially, there were 8 females and 12 males divided into two panels of 10 dogs (Panel 1 and Panel 2), however, one male dog from Panel 1 was excluded due to his non-standard feeding behavior, since it would not be possible, for example, to collect significant data related to the distinction of pellet shape and size. Petition 870250087882, dated 09 / 29 / 2025, page 25 / 79 17 / 33 of dry food. The remaining 19 small adult dogs weighed between 6.78 kg and 10.48 kg, with estimated ages ranging from approximately 1.3 years to 6.96 years. The identities of the small adult dogs in Panel 1 and Panel 2 are identified in Tables 1A and 1B, respectively: Table 1A - Panel 1 Small adult dogs Breed ID Sex Weight Estimated Age Cairn Terrier 1 F 6.78 kg 1.46 years Cairn Terrier 2 M 9.52 kg 2.24 years Cairn Terrier 3 F 7.64 kg 2.08 years Cairn Terrier 4 M 8.74 kg 1.3 years Schipperke 1 F 7.00 kg 3.72 years Schipperke 2 M 6.96 kg 3.72 years Cairn Terrier 5 M 8.56 kg 2.08 years Cairn Terrier 6 F 8.16 kg 1.6 years Cavalier King Charles 1 M 9.06 kg 6.48 years *One (1) Cairn Terrier (M; 8.16 kg; 2.12 years) was excluded from Panel 1 of the study due to atypical feeding behavior Table 1B - Panel 2 Small Adult Dogs Breed ID | Sex | Weight | Estimated Age | Cairn Terrier 7 F | 8.12 kg | 2.14 years | Miniature Schnauzer 1 M | 7.72 kg | 4.48 years | Border Terrier 1 M | 9.28 kg | 2.12 years | Cavalier King Charles 2 M | 10.48 kg | 5.55 years | Smooth Fox Terrier F | 7.38 kg | 4.59 years | Cavalier King Charles 3 F | 7.9 kg | 4.94 years | Miniature Schnauzer 2 M | 7.56 kg | 2.65 years | Cairn Terrier 8 M | 9.02 kg | 2.08 years | Cavalier King Charles 4 M | 9.4 kg | 4.94 years | Cairn Terrier 9 F | 7.28 kg | 6.96 years

[0032] In this study, feeding behaviors were observed. Petition 870250087882, dated 09 / 29 / 2025, page 26 / 79 18 / 33 monadic responses. The dogs were fed only one product at a time, according to a controlled feeding schedule, and acceptance was analyzed through video observation and statistical analysis. The design of experiment (DoE) was defined to evaluate feeding behavior based on the shape, size, and volume of the kibble pellet. More specifically, 16 different dry kibble pellets were prepared with the same Dog Chow recipe, each presenting its own unique physical dimension, based on four different shapes, three different diameters (or effective diameter) calculated based on the XY plane, and three different thicknesses along the geometric Z axis, perpendicular to the XY plane, with the diameters, shapes, thicknesses, and sample numbers shown in Table 2: Table 2 - Formats and dimensions of dry feed pellets SIZE (EFFECTIVE DIAMETER) SHAPE Thickness and sample number of dry feed pellets PENTAGON * ROUND • SQUARE DONUT 5 mm 4 mm No. 1 8 mm No. 5 1.2 cm No. 9 8 mm No. 13 1 cm 1.2 cm No. 2 8 mm No. 6 4 mm No. 10 8 mm No. 14 1 cm 8 mm No. 3 1.2 cm No. 7 8 mm No. 11 4 mm No. 15 1.6 cm 8 mm No. 4 4 mm No. 8 8 mm No. 12 1.2 cm No. 16

[0033] Before any data was collected, the dogs were accustomed to the environment and the transparent feeding bowls during a habituation period of 3 days. It is worth noting that after three days of using the transparent bowls, any behavior associated with the transparent bowls initially decreased. Data were then collected by video recording of monadic feeding behavior, with one (1) day of feeding. Petition 870250087882, dated 09 / 29 / 2025, page 27 / 79 19 / 33 per variable. The order of the variables was randomly selected within the panel and between panels. The dogs were tested each day in the same order to maintain a constant time interval between feedings for each dog, and the testing period occurred during the dogs' main daily meal, i.e., from 7:30 am to 8:30 am daily. The main meal of the Dog Chow recipe at the time of testing was provided in a fixed quantity. On days when the dog(s) was / were not being tested, the dogs received dry kibble of medium palatability (for a maximum of 7 days) to avoid overexposure to the Dog Chow recipe used in the study.

[0034] Several video cameras were set up to record the dogs during the study. Based on 16 dry food pellet variables shown in Table 1 and a total of 19 small adult dogs (with one dog excluded), a total of 304 videos were collected. The main meal during the test period was edited to show only the first three minutes of feeding, and a third participant was recruited for behavioral coding using Behavioral Observation Research Interactive Software (BORIS).

[0035] The measured eating behaviors (Ethogram) related to ease of food intake, chewing behavior, satisfaction with eating, among others, were coded and included the following behaviors in Table 3, as described below: Table 3 - Feeding behaviors of small breed adult dogs Parameter Unit / Category Description Meal duration Duration(s) Duration from the first lick / bite to the last swallow / lick / failure to return to the bowl within 2 minutes of leaving Petition 870250087882, dated 09 / 29 / 2025, page 28 / 79 20 / 33 Parameter Unit / Category Description Feeding speed Duration(s) Time of meal completion in < 3 minutes; recorded as the maximum duration if greater than 3 minutes Nose in bowl Duration(s) Time spent with the snout in the bowl (from the level of the bowl rim to the top of the kibble) Kibble dropping from mouth Count (N°) Number of kibble units unintentionally dropping from the mouth after a bite or mouthful, or during chewing (but not while the mouth or tongue is in contact with the kibble in the bowl) Grasping duration Duration(s) Visible large bites or jaw movements or licking with the mouth or tongue in contact with kibble in the bowl or on the floor Chewing duration Duration(s) Visible jaw movements aimed at breaking kibble with any head position,but not while the mouth or tongue is in contact with the food pellet in the bowl or on the floor. Difficulty swallowing. Count (N°) Visible difficulty swallowing food, indicated by chin thrust at any time, including while the muzzle is in the bowl or the head is raised, followed by evident swallowing (observed at normal speed, without slowing down the video). Petition 870250087882, dated 09 / 29 / 2025, page 29 / 79 21 / 33 Parameter Unit / Category Description Food repositioning Count (N°) Quick forward and backward (or slightly sideways) head movement to quickly reposition / move kibble pellets in the mouth after ingesting a bite, usually associated with opening the mouth while the head is out of the bowl or over the kibble on the floor. Example 2 - Observations on the feeding behavior of small breed adult dogs

[0036] A statistical analysis of the collected data was performed. It is noteworthy that the percentage (%) of time spent chewing showed a normal distribution, which did not occur with the other behaviors. In addition to the percentage of time spent chewing, Box-cox transformations were successfully used to obtain a normal distribution for the following behavior: Meal duration (X0.6353), percentage (%) of time spent with the muzzle on the bowl (x0.0002913), percentage (%) of time spent grasping or interacting with the food (x0.001224), and frequency of food repositioning (x9.816e-21). These behaviors that followed normal distributions or that could be transformed to follow a normal distribution were tested for product-induced differences using an analysis of variance (ANOVA). The behaviors could also be evaluated using Tukey's test for honestly significant differences (Tukey's test).Furthermore, behaviors that did not follow a normal distribution were statistically tested using non-parametric tests, namely the Kruskal-Wallis test to analyze variance and Dunn's p-value test. Petition 870250087882, dated 09 / 29 / 2025, page 30 / 79 22 / 33 to evaluate paired comparisons.

[0037] More specifically, the graphs shown in Figures 2, 4, and 6 present the raw behavioral data collected for duration of food intake, duration of chewing, and prehension, respectively. In particular, these three box plot graphs illustrate an animal's feeding behavior along the geometric y-axis of the graph, and the geometric x-axis of the graph includes three lines of dry feed pellet identification information. In each case, there are sixteen (16) different dry feed pellet samples plotted along the geometric x-axis of the box plot graph, which are indicated as Sample No. along the first line of identification information.The second line of identification information illustrates (i) the shape of the dry food pellet and (ii) the external dimensional size of the dry food pellet (equivalent diameter) along its XY plane, for example, small icons illustrating a size of 5 mm, medium icons illustrating a size of 1 cm, and large icons illustrating a size of 1.6 cm. The third line of identification information provides the thickness of the dry food pellet along its geometric Z axis (perpendicular to the external dimensional size). All sizes are based on the average sizes of the dry food pellet sample provided to small breed adult dogs during the study. Apart from the differences shown along the geometric x-axis of the box plot graph, all other characteristics of the dry food pellet were the same, such as compositions, textures, etc., of the dry food pellet.Furthermore, for each of the box plots in Figures 2, 4, and 6, the median value for each sample is shown as a horizontal line within the box plot, and the mean value is shown as an x, also within the box. Additionally, the box represents the central 50% of the adult dog population. Petition 870250087882, dated 09 / 29 / 2025, page 31 / 79 23 / 33 small size, that is, 25% of the population is below the values ​​represented by the box and 25% of the population is above the values ​​represented by the box and illustrated. The vertical line represents the central 80% of the adult small size dog population, that is, 10% of the population is below the values ​​represented by the vertical line and 10% of the population is above the values ​​represented by the vertical lines and illustrated.

[0038] An alternative graph of the raw data is presented in Figures 3, 5, and 7 to 9. The collected data showed statistical differences (including transformed data, where applicable) when a single modification was made to the external dimensional size (XY plane), shape, or thickness (Z geometric axis) relative to a consistently prepared reference feed sample, called the reference feed pellet. The reference feed pellet used in this study was solid and round in shape, with an external dimensional diameter of 1 cm and a thickness of 8 mm, i.e., Sample No. 6, as shown in Figures 2, 4, and 6. In each of these graphs, the reference feed pellet provided reference data shown along a line indicated by *0.The reference feed pellet was then compared to several single-parameter variations to determine which individual feed pellet variables might have a positive impact on the behavior of small breed dogs. This single-parameter modification was plotted as having a positive impact on behavior (shown in white bars) or having a negative impact on behavior (shown in black bars). For example, Figure 3 illustrates the data plotted against the reference feed pellet for duration of food intake, Figure 5 illustrates the data plotted against the reference feed pellet for duration of chewing, and Figure 7 illustrates the data plotted against the reference feed pellet. Petition 870250087882, dated 09 / 29 / 2025, page 32 / 79 24 / 33 for prehension. These three graphs can be compared with the data collected from the separate study described in relation to Figures 2, 4, and 6, respectively. In addition, there are two additional graphs provided in this study, including the one shown in Figure 8 which illustrates the data plotted against the reference feed pellet for feed intake speed and Figure 9 which illustrates the data plotted against the reference feed pellet for difficulty swallowing.

[0039] In more detail, it is observed that the data collected included an analysis of variance (ANOVA) related to several behaviors to provide a normal distribution of the data, which showed a significant effect of certain variables related to the duration of food intake (time; transformed), proportion of time spent chewing (% of meal duration) and proportion of time spent interacting with food (prehension; % or meal duration; transformed), as defined in more detail in studies A to E below. A. Duration of food intake

[0040] As shown in Figure 2, the duration of food intake was plotted for all small adult dogs in relation to sixteen (16) different dry food pellet samples. In this example, small adult dogs collectively spent more average time eating the dry food pellet from Sample 15 than all other samples, and more median time eating than all other samples except one, with the dry food pellets from Samples 4, 11 or 12 performing the worst. It is worth noting that three of the four best performing dry food pellet samples were donut-shaped, i.e., two medium-sized and one large-sized.

[0041] As can be seen in Figure 3, when independently evaluating Petition 870250087882, dated 09 / 29 / 2025, page 33 / 79 25 / 33 comparing the donut-shaped feed pellet, the solid square feed pellet (without an internal hole), and the 4 mm (thin) feed pellet variables to the reference feed pellet, the most significant improvement in feed intake duration, i.e., the delay in consumption rate, was observed with the donut-shaped feed pellet modification. The thinner feed pellet modification also performed better than the reference feed pellet. However, in this example, changing from a solid round shape to a solid square shape resulted in a slight decline in feed intake duration. B. Duration of chewing

[0042] As shown in Figure 4, chewing duration was plotted for all small adult dogs against sixteen (16) different dry food pellet samples. In this example, small adult dogs collectively spent considerably more mean time and median time chewing Sample 16 during the first three minutes of feeding than all other samples, by a considerable margin. Sample 16 was a donut-shaped food pellet that had the largest diameter (1.6 cm) and the greatest thickness (1.2 cm). In most cases, very small food pellet sizes (based on diameter or equivalent diameter) generally performed the worst.It is worth highlighting that, once again, three of the four best-performing dry feed pellet samples were donut-shaped, that is, two medium-sized and one large-sized, with the largest donut-shaped feed pellet being the best overall in all metrics.

[0043] As can be seen in Figure 5, when evaluating the modification of the feed pellet shape to a donut shape, the modification Petition 870250087882, dated 09 / 29 / 2025, page 34 / 79 26 / 33 Regarding the change in diameter (whether smaller or larger) and the modification of thickness (whether thinner or thicker) compared to the reference feed pellet, the most significant improvement in chewing duration, i.e., the increase in chewing time during the first three minutes of feeding, was observed in relation to the modification of the round feed pellet to a donut-shaped feed pellet. Furthermore, the modification to a larger diameter also resulted in better performance than the reference feed pellet. Some improvement was also observed when reducing the thickness of the feed pellet compared to the reference feed pellet. The greatest decline in behavior occurred due to the reduction in the diameter of the feed pellet relative to the reference feed pellet. C. Grasping

[0044] As shown in Figure 6, prehension was plotted for all small adult dogs against sixteen (16) different dry food pellet samples. In this example, small adult dogs collectively spent considerably less mean prehension time and less median time interacting with Sample 16, by a considerable margin, compared to all other dry food pellet samples. Again, Sample 16 was a donut-shaped food pellet that had the largest diameter (1.6 cm) and the greatest thickness (1.2 cm). In most cases, very small food pellet sizes (based on diameter or equivalent diameter) generally performed the worst. In this example, three of the five best-performing dry food pellet samples were donut-shaped, i.e., two medium-sized and one large-sized.

[0045] As can be seen in Figure 7, when evaluating modifications Petition 870250087882, dated 09 / 29 / 2025, page 35 / 79 27 / 33 of a single parameter in shape (donut or solid pentagon), diameter (either 5 mm or 1.6 cm), or thickness (either 1.2 cm or 4 mm) compared to the reference feed pellet, the most significant improvement in prehension duration, i.e., the reduction in prehension time, was observed when modifying the round feed pellet to a donut-shaped feed pellet, although the solid pentagon shape also showed better performance than the round shape. Regarding the modification of diameter and thickness, there was an improvement in prehension when the diameter and thickness were increased, compared to the reference feed pellet. Again, the greatest decline in behavior, i.e., the increase in prehension time, occurred due to the reduction in the diameter of the feed pellet relative to the reference feed pellet. D. Rate of food intake

[0046] As shown in Figure 8, when evaluating single-parameter modifications in shape (either donut or solid square) or thickness (4 mm) compared to the reference feed pellet, the most significant reduction in feed intake rate was observed when modifying the round feed pellet to a donut-shaped feed pellet. Intake rate also decreased when the reference feed pellet was modified to reduce its thickness. Changing from a solid round shape to a solid square shape resulted in a decline in favorable behavior, promoting an increase in feed intake rate, compared to the reference feed pellet. E. Difficulty swallowing

[0047] As shown in Figure 9, when evaluating single-parameter modifications in diameter (either 5 mm or 1.6 cm) compared to the reference feed pellet, a clear difference was observed. Petition 870250087882, dated 09 / 29 / 2025, p. 36 / 79 28 / 33 improvement in relation to a reduction in difficulty swallowing, when increasing the diameter of the food pellet from 1 cm, referring to the reference food pellet, to 1.6 cm. The reduction in difficulty swallowing is beneficial as it can be an early indicator that dogs are experiencing more significant difficulties swallowing or even a risk of choking. Reducing the diameter to 5 mm resulted in a significant increase in the occurrence of difficulty swallowing, particularly when compared to the improvement observed with the 1.6 cm diameter food pellet. This study did not compare the solid round shape with the donut-shaped food pellet, but it is clear from all the previous examples that the donut-shaped food pellet provides improvements in many other behaviors described in this example.It is expected that a donut-shaped feed pellet will not impair the reduction of occurrences of difficult swallowing, particularly if the donut-shaped feed pellet is approximately the same size as the large-diameter feed pellet evaluated for labored swallowing. F. Frequency of feed pellet dropping from the mouth

[0048] Although the data are not presented here specifically, it was observed that feed pellets with a larger diameter (or larger effective diameter) tended to reduce food dropout from the mouth during feeding. Example 3 - Oral cavity size and feeding behavior

[0049] The first eight (8) dogs from Panel 2, as well as the four (4) additional dogs not linked to any panel (but which were similar in breed, sex and weight to the other dogs in the study) were further assessed based on the size of their oral cavities. The mouth sizes of dogs can be measured without anesthesia, or more conveniently when under anesthesia, as Petition 870250087882, dated 09 / 29 / 2025, page 37 / 79 29 / 33 when dogs undergo dental cleaning performed by a veterinarian. To avoid the need for a more invasive examination, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or other similar imaging process, this measurement and calculation, as described herein, provides a simple, non-intrusive way to determine the overall size of a live dog's oral cavity, which can be easily performed by a qualified veterinarian, and offers a good approximation of the dog's average oral cavity area, as explained earlier in connection with Figure 1. The measurements and calculations were performed on all twelve (12) dogs and the data are shown in Table 4, as follows: Table 4 - Dimensions of the upper and lower jaw and calculated average areas of the oral cavity Breed ID (weight) UPPER JAW (a) Jaw length (b) Canine width (c) Molar width LOWER JAW (a) Jaw length (b) Canine width (c) Molar width i. Upper jaw area ii. Lower jaw area Average buccal cavity area Cairn Terrier 7 (8.12 kg) (a) 65.75 mm (b) 21.05 mm (c) 37.12 mm (a) 65.98 mm (b) 14.3 mm (c) 27.01 mm i. 19.12 cm2 ii. 13.63 cm2 16.375 cm2 Miniature Schnauzer 1 (7.72 kg) (a) 75.0 mm (b) 21.0 mm (c) 38.5 mm (a) 79.0 mm (b) 15.1 mm (c) 28.5 mm i. 22.31 cm2 ii. 17.22 cm2 19.675 cm2 Border Terrier 1 (9.28 kg) (a) 74.0 mm (b) 23.12 mm (c) 47.76 mm (a) 69.17 mm (b) 16.28 mm (c) 31.13 mm i. 26.23 cm2 ii. 16.40 cm2 21.315 cm2 Cavalier King Charles 2 (10.48 kg) (a) 52.0 mm (b) 25.1 mm (c) 46.4 mm (a) 61.0 mm (b) 17.1 mm (c) 35.7 mm i. 18.59 cm2 ii. 16.10 cm2 17.345 cm2 Smooth-haired Fox Terrier (7.38 kg) (a) 81.4 mm (b) 19.03 mm (c) 31.52 mm (a) 85.0 mm (b) 12.72 mm (c) 22.5 mm i. 2,057 cm2 ii.14.97 cm2 17.770 cm2. Petition 870250087882, dated 09 / 29 / 2025, p. 38 / 79 30 / 33 Breed ID (weight) UPPER JAW (a) Jaw length (b) Canine width (c) Molar width LOWER JAW (a) Jaw length (b) Canine width (c) Molar width i. Upper jaw area ii. Lower jaw area Average buccal cavity area Cavalier King Charles 3 (7.9 kg) (a) 56.8 mm (b) 25.0 mm (c) 43.1 mm (a) 55.4 mm (b) 16.5 mm (c) 32.5 mm i. 19.34 cm2 ii. 13.57 cm2 16.455 cm2 Miniature Schnauzer 2 (7.56 kg) (a) 72.0 mm (b) 21.0 mm (c) 37.1 mm (a) 73.0 mm (b) 14.3 mm (c) 25.6 mm i. 18.76 cm2 ii. 14.56 cm2 16.660 cm2 Cairn Terrier 8 (9.02 kg) (a) 76.9 mm (b) 21.8 mm (c) 43.17 mm (a) 78.3 mm (b) 15.32 mm (c) 29.7 mm i. 24.98 cm2 ii. 17.63 cm2 21.305 cm2 *Cairn Terrier 9 (9 kg) (a) 69.5 mm (b) 20.87 mm (c) 42.0 mm (a) 70.36 mm (b) 13.7 mm (c) 33.02 mm i. 21.85 cm2 ii.16.44 cm2 19.145 cm2 *Cairn Terrier 10 (8.6 kg) (a) 72.8 mm (b) 20.6 mm (c) 43.5 mm (a) 74.5 mm (b) 14.1 mm (c) 29 mm 23.33 cm2 16.05 cm2 19.69 cm2 *Cairn Terrier 11 (9.3 kg) (a) 67.2 mm (b) 22.9 mm (c) 37.81 mm (a) 69.3 mm (b) 15.8 mm (c) 31.7 mm 20.40 cm2 16.46 cm2 18.43 cm2 *Cairn Terrier 12 (8.6 kg) (a) 72.5 mm (b) 23.2 mm (c) 45.6 mm (a) 77.7 mm (b) 16.2 mm (c) 31.0 mm 24.94 cm2 18.34 cm2 21.64 cm2. *Small adult dogs that are not part of Panel 1 or Panel 2

[0050] Based on these data, the average oral cavity area that was measured and calculated ranged from approximately 16 cm2 to approximately 22 cm2; however, there are smaller dogs with smaller oral cavities that would be classified as small adult dogs and are expected to exhibit similar behaviors in re Petition 870250087882, dated 09 / 29 / 2025, page 39 / 79 31 / 33 relating to some or all of the following aspects: slower feeding duration and speed, increased chewing and reduced grasping, as well as reduced difficulty swallowing.

[0051] Furthermore, when analyzing the data from each dog individually, it was surprising to find that some of the dogs of various breeds, with the smallest average oral cavity areas tested, still performed positively in relation to some of these behaviors.For example, Cairn Terrier 7 (8.12 kg; 16.375 cm2) showed positive feeding behavior in terms of chewing duration, food intake duration, swallowing difficulty, and prehension; Cavalier King Charles Spaniel 3 (7.9 kg; 16.455 cm2) showed positive feeding behavior in terms of chewing duration, food intake speed, and prehension; Miniature Schnauzer 2 (7.56 kg; 16.660 cm2) showed positive feeding behavior in terms of chewing duration, food intake duration, swallowing difficulty, and prehension; and the Smooth Fox Terrier (7.38 kg; 17.770 cm2) showed positive feeding behavior in terms of chewing duration, food intake speed, and prehension. Notably, the Smooth Fox Terrier never showed difficulty swallowing, regardless of the kibble size provided.Thus, adult dogs of small breeds, even those weighing from about 3 kg to about 9 kg, benefited from some or all of the pellet food properties of the present disclosure, with respect to behaviors in some or all of these categories. Example 4 - Rheology of the reference feed pellet

[0052] Multiple samples of dry feed pellets with less than about 10% by weight of water content were evaluated for rheology, in comparison with a sample of semi-moist feed pellets with a moisture content significantly higher than about Petition 870250087882, dated 09 / 29 / 2025, page 40 / 79 32 / 33% by weight. The rheology of feed pellets can be determined using a pointed probe that tapers from a pointed tip to a diameter of about 5 mm along a tapered length of about 1.5 cm. Measurements are made by forcing the tapered probe down into feed pellet samples at a constant speed of about 2 mm / s, with a maximum advance distance of the tapered probe assembly adjusted to prevent it from contacting the substrate supporting the feed pellet sample. The penetration force in Newtons (N) and the distance to rupture in millimeters (mm) are then recorded for each sample, and from these data, the stiffness is calculated in Newtons per millimeter (N / mm). The data collected using this process can delineate the difference in rheology between dry feed pellets compared to semi-moist feed pellets. The data collected are presented in Table 5, as follows: Table 5 - Rheology data Sample Force (N) Distance (mm) Stiffness (N / mm) Semi-wet sample 1 26.9 3.4 12.6 Dry sample 1 69.5 1.7 65.7 Dry sample 2 112.0 2.3 91.0 Dry sample 3 82.97 1.4 90.4

[0053] As can be seen in Table 5, for feed pellets that are considered dry feed pellets, according to examples in the present disclosure, the stiffness is typically considerably greater than in semi-moist feed pellet samples. The stiffness of the dry feed pellet ranged from 65.7 N / mm to 91.0 N / mm. This same process can be used for feed pellets prepared according to the present disclosure to determine the rheology of the feed pellet. It is worth noting that this example provides non-limiting stiffness values, but in some cases, one can expect the pellet to be higher. Petition 870250087882, dated 09 / 29 / 2025, page 41 / 79 33 / 33 of a slightly less moist dry feed pellet is somewhat more rigid, and a slightly more moist dry feed pellet is somewhat less rigid, even though it is still considered dry. Rigidity can vary similarly depending on the formulation of the dry feed pellet. However, it is observed that even at the lower end, for example, 65.7 N / mm, the rigidity value is almost 5 times greater than the rigidity of the semi-moist sample in this example. Even at 40 N / mm for a dry feed pellet sample, this would still represent a rigidity value more than 3 times greater compared to the semi-moist sample in this example.

[0054] In the descriptive report, certain embodiments of the invention have been disclosed. Although specific terms are employed, they have been used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. The scope of the invention is presented in the claims. Many modifications and variations of the invention are possible considering the above teachings. It should be understood, therefore, that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced in a manner other than that specifically described. Petition 870250087882, dated 09 / 29 / 2025, page 42 / 79

Claims

1 / 3 CLAIMS 1. A method for feeding a small adult dog, characterized in that it comprises providing a portion of dry food pellets to a small adult dog weighing up to about 11 kg, wherein about 20% to 100% of the individual dry food pellet units in the portion have a donut shape with an average inner hole diameter of about 3 mm to about 8 mm, wherein the individual dry food pellet units have an average diameter of about 8 mm to about 2 cm and an average thickness of about 8 mm to about 2 cm.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the average diameter is from about 1.1 cm to about 2 cm.

3. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the average diameter is from about 1.4 cm to about 2 cm.

4. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the average diameter is from about 1.1 cm to about 1.8 cm.

5. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the dry feed pellet has a moisture content of about 4% by weight to about 10% by weight.

6. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the dry feed pellet has a stiffness of about 40 N / mm to about 120 N / mm.

7. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that, after providing the portion and the small adult dog begins to eat the dry food pellet, approximately 45% to approximately 75% of the first three minutes of feeding, on average, includes chewing time. Petition 870250087882, dated 09 / 29 / 2025, p. 43 / 79 2 / 3 8. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that, after providing the portion and the small adult dog begins to feed on the dry food pellet, less than 50% of the first three minutes of feeding, on average, includes the time spent grasping.

9. Method, according to claim 1, characterized in that the adult small breed dog exhibits a lower frequency of difficulty swallowing during the first three minutes of feeding the adult small breed dog with the dry food pellet, compared to the first three minutes of feeding the adult small breed dog with a comparative dry food pellet without an internal hole through it and having approximately a smaller diameter and thickness compared to the dry food pellet.

10. Method, according to claim 1, characterized in that the average adult small-sized dog has an average oral cavity area of ​​about 12 cm2 to about 22 cm2.

11. Dry feed pellet characterized in that it comprises about 20% to 100% of dry feed pellet units in donut shape with an average internal hole diameter of about 3 mm to about 8 mm, wherein the individual dry feed pellet units have an average diameter of about 1.1 cm to about 2 cm and an average thickness of about 8 mm to about 2 cm, and wherein the dry feed pellet has a moisture content of up to about 10% by weight and an average stiffness of about 40 N / mm to about 120 N / mm.

12. Dry food pellets, according to claim 11, characterized in that they are formulated for small breed adult dogs and are packaged with indications that the dry food pellets are suitable for small breed adult dogs. Petition 870250087882, dated 09 / 29 / 2025, page 44 / 79 3 / 3 13. Dry feed pellet, according to claim 11, characterized in that the average diameter is from about 1.4 cm to about 2 cm.

14. Dry feed pellet, according to claim 11, characterized in that the average thickness is from about 1.1 cm to about 2 cm.

15. Dry feed pellet, according to claim 11, characterized in that the individual dry feed pellet units have an average diameter of about 1.4 cm to about 2 cm and an average thickness of about 1.1 cm to about 1.8 cm. Petition 870250087882, dated 09 / 29 / 2025, p. 45 / 79

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