09/10/2026
🐶 FREE-FEEDING / GRAZING — WHAT IS IT, AND WHY DON'T I RECOMMEND IT?
Free-feeding, or grazing, is when your dog has constant access to food — whether that's kibble, wet food or raw — 24/7.
There are no set mealtimes. Your dog can simply wander over to their bowl and pick at their food whenever they fancy it.
Sounds great, right?
Well… not really. And here's why. 👇
🍗 It can massively reduce food motivation
We all know one of the easiest ways to train a dog is by using something they value — and for many dogs, that's food.
If food is available all day, every day, it becomes much less valuable.
Now, if your dog is highly toy-motivated and loves playing, this may not cause a huge issue. But what about those dogs who aren't interested in toys or play?
You've potentially removed one of your most useful training rewards.
And it's worth remembering: your dog isn't necessarily "not food motivated" — you've potentially taught them that food isn't particularly valuable because it's always available.
💩 It can make toilet training much harder
Especially with puppies, knowing when your dog has eaten can be really useful when establishing a toilet routine.
If food is available 24/7, you have no idea whether they've just eaten five minutes ago or whether they've not touched their food for several hours.
So when do you expect them to need the toilet?
A predictable feeding routine can make predicting toileting much easier.
⚠️ You have less control over when they've eaten
This is particularly important around exercise.
Dogs shouldn't be encouraged to engage in vigorous exercise immediately after a meal, and some dogs are at risk of serious gastric problems, including bloat (GDV).
Knowing when your dog has eaten allows you to manage exercise and rest periods more appropriately.
💊 What about medication?
Have you ever hidden medication in your dog's food?
If their bowl has been sitting down all morning, how do you know whether they've actually eaten the food containing their medication?
With set meals, it's much easier to know exactly what your dog has consumed.
⚖️ How much are they actually eating?
With free-feeding, it can be much harder to keep track of your dog's daily food intake.
That matters when you're trying to maintain a healthy body weight.
Dogs don't always have the ability to regulate their intake perfectly — and leaving food down constantly can make weight management more difficult.
🦠 And then there's hygiene
Food sitting around for hours isn't exactly the freshest meal.
Depending on the type of food, temperature and environment, leaving food down for prolonged periods can allow bacteria and germs to multiply.
Would you fancy eating a sandwich that had been sitting out on the side for 12 hours?
Probably not.
So why expect our dogs to eat food that's been sitting in their bowl all day?
🗑️ And finally… food waste
How much food gets left behind?
How much gets stale?
How much ends up being thrown away?
Your dog isn't necessarily "not food motivated.," you've simply removed much of the value from it. 🍞
