16/10/2026
I hear this a lot. 'When should I train my dog during the day? Before a meal, after a meal, morning, evening, when?' And the answer is simple. You train at the right time for ultimate success.
If your dog has a higher drive when they're ready for a meal then heading out an hour before meal times may give you more focus and drive. Using some of their kibble to train with alongside high value treats can be a real motivator.
If your dog struggles with distractions and busy locations then head out before the morning dog walk rush, finding a nice quiet spot to do some focus work alongside smaller distractions will set you up for a more successful session.
If your dog is more tired in the evening and prefers a sniffy walk with a toileting opportunity then use your morning walk to get better focus and results from training.
Getting to know your dog is part of the training journey. Trialing different times during the day and seeing when you get best focus is part of what I explore with owners. I love getting to know your dog and what makes them drive.
When does your dog focus better? What patterns have you noticed?
