Don’t Feed Before You’re Freed 🕒🐾
Quick reminder for multi-purpose sanity and safety: don’t feed your dog right before or after exercise. Timing affects both training motivation and health, especially for recall work and energetic walks.
Why Hunger Helps with Recall
If your dog is full, food loses value as a reinforcer. Take your dog out slightly hungry so rewards actually mean something. You’ll see quicker, happier responses when you call them back.
The Health Risk of Feeding Before Exercise
Feeding immediately before running, playing, or high-energy training can increase the risk of bloat (GDV), which can be life-threatening — particularly in larger or deep-chested breeds. Protect your dog by spacing meals and exercise sensibly.
Simple Rule of Thumb
- 🐶 Before walks: Wait ~1 hour after feeding.
- 🏡 After walks: Wait ~1 hour before feeding.
- 🎯 For training/recall: Work when your dog is slightly hungry for better motivation.
Following this timing rule supports your dog’s health and boosts training results. Want a step-by-step plan for real-world recall?
Related Articles:
