Training Without the Bowl: Make Every Moment Count

One of the simplest shifts that has made the biggest difference in my training is this: I don’t feed my dogs from a bowl.

Or at least, not very often.

Instead, I use their daily food as part of our training. Every piece of kibble becomes a way to build engagement, reinforce good choices, and strengthen our relationship.

This approach is often called "ditch the bowl"—a phrase I first learned through my second certification with Absolute Dogs, whose work has been a big influence on my training philosophy.

It’s one of my favorite ways to help clients make progress without needing extra time in their busy lives.

Why It Works

The concept is simple: instead of dumping all of your dog’s food into a bowl twice a day, you use that food as reinforcement throughout the day.

✅ You’re creating more opportunities to reward behaviors you want.
✅ You’re making your dog’s food matter more—because they’re working for it, not just passively consuming it.
✅ You’re teaching your dog that engagement with you is valuable.

It turns everyday routines into opportunities for connection and learning.

My Experience with Bagheera

I’ve used this approach with Bagheera since she was young.

Most of her training is done using her regular kibble—and that includes training on walks, at home, and in new environments.

Ditching the bowl has been one of the key reasons her engagement and responsiveness are so strong. Because from day one, she’s learned that paying attention to me and playing training games is how she earns her meals.

That said, I also know when to level up the reinforcement. For critical skills—like recall—we use high-value treats 100% of the time (as I shared in my recall post). But for day-to-day engagement, manners, and focus, her kibble is a fantastic resource.

Here’s a video of me talking about how I feed Bagheera

How I Started with Roo

When I first started experimenting with training without the bowl, it was with Roo.

At the time, I was transitioning to a more positive, clicker-based approach—and I wanted to build more value for engagement.

Instead of feeding her from the bowl, I began using her meals during training sessions and throughout our walks. It completely changed the dynamic between us.

Roo became more attentive, more connected, and more eager to check in with me. Walks stopped being “her doing her thing while I tagged along” and became a true conversation.

That experience convinced me to make it a regular part of my training approach—and it’s something I now recommend to almost every client.

Real-Life Examples

Here are just a few ways you can use your dog’s meals without the bowl:

👉 Reinforce attention on walks
👉 Reward loose leash walking
👉 Build calm behavior in the house
👉 Reinforce relaxation on a mat or bed
👉 Practice tricks and focus games indoors
👉 Reward calm behavior during grooming or vet prep

One of my favorite examples is using meals to reinforce settling behaviors. When I’m working with a dog on learning to relax on a mat, I’ll sometimes feed an entire meal piece by piece as the dog maintains calm behavior. It’s a great way to build duration and positive associations.

But Is It Fair to Make Them Work for All Their Food?

This is a question I sometimes get—and it’s an important one.

Here’s how I think about it:

👉 I’m not asking the dog to perform endless drills.
👉 I’m creating opportunities for mutually enjoyable interactions.
👉 The goal isn’t perfection—it’s building a reinforcement history for the behaviors I want to see more of.

I also ensure that every dog in my care gets their full nutritional needs met, and that training remains fun and motivating—not stressful or coercive.

If a dog seems tired, frustrated, or disinterested, we pause. The point is to make learning joyful—not to turn meals into a job.

Final Thought

Training without the bowl is one of the simplest ways to get more out of your daily interactions with your dog.

It helps you move from “training in sessions” to training as a way of life.

Your dog learns that staying engaged with you is valuable—and you’ll be amazed at how much progress you can make without adding extra time to your day.

If you haven’t tried ditching the bowl yet, give it a shot. Start small. Have fun. See what changes.

And if you’d like help building a plan that works for you and your dog, I’d love to show you how. Contact me to learn more!