Why I Stopped Free Feeding: Turn Meals Into Training

Free feeding or grazing means leaving a full bowl out all day so your dog can eat whenever they want. It seems convenient and kind. In my experience, it's one of the quiet reasons dogs are harder to train.

What free feeding costs you

• Food loses its value. If kibble is always sitting there, why would your dog work for it?

• It's a big reason dogs seem 'not food motivated.' They're not unmotivated, they're full and they know its always available. Would you be motivated to work for money if money was always available?

• Potty training gets harder as it become unpredictable. Feeding on a schedule means pooping on a schedule.

• You lose an early health warning sign. With set meals, you know right away if your dog skips one.

• In multi-dog homes, a bowl that's always out can lead to tension and resource-guarding.

Meals are training time

Your dog's daily food is the biggest paycheck you have. Instead of dumping it in a bowl, use it to train your dog.

• Use part of each meal as rewards in a training session.

• Feed the rest in a food puzzle, lick mat, or scattered in the grass.

• Hand out kibble for calm behavior around the house, like settling on a mat.

Throw that food bowl away. Your dog gets mental exercise, you get a more motivated learner, and mealtime becomes the best part of the day.

How to switch

• Pick meal times, twice a day for most adults, more often for young puppies.

• Put the food down for about 15 minutes, then pick up whatever's left.

• Don't panic if your dog skips a meal or two while adjusting. They'll figure out the new schedule.

• Start using part of each meal for training right away.

If your dog has a medical condition or a vet-directed feeding plan, check with your vet before changing anything.

Put those meals to work

Need help with what to train? My 5 Foundation Behaviors bundle gives you a plan for every meal. Working on potty training? Scheduled meals plus my Potty Training plan make a huge difference.

Want me to walk you through it one-on-one in a private dog training session? Book a virtual or in-home session and learn over 20 different behaviors that get your dog to listen better and stop problem behaviors.