Dog behavior is always in flux. Either we want change, or we want active maintenance on the behaviors we desire, making sure they remain a strong habit. To that end, every calorie can be roped in, and help deliver us that change!
But when dogs eat out of food bowls, their behavior is the same after the meal as it was before it, with the possibility of one sit having been practiced. There is so much more you can do with that food!
For dogs in training, I really recommend that you consider delivering that food throughout the day in training, and in enrichment toys that help your dog express her natural species behaviors, like foraging, scavenging, hunting, and dissecting. The traditional food bowl is the least entertaining, enriching, and fulfilling option out there! With all the alternatives we have today, you can give your dog a way to fulfill her doggy nature, and be better after the meal than she was before!
Dogs can be fed their individual kibbles as rewards for cued behaviors on your walks and training sessions, and the rest of the daily ration can be put in rolling toys and puzzles to let them work for their food and tire themselves out. If instead they eat canned food or raw food, then they can be fed in Kongs, Toppls, and other stuffable toys, and you can even freeze them to make them last longer (check my Amazon link above to shop!). Food toys teach them to self-entertain as well, which is an essential life skill for a pet dog, and can help them to settle down and rest when they’re done.
Ditch the bowl, and use your dog’s food for their enrichment and training!
