Mealtime training session

Turn part of your dog's normal meal into a short training game: each piece of kibble is paid for with a sit, a down or a look.

ForDogs
Time10 min
Leveleasy
Type🎓 Training game
FoodUses food

What you need

  • Your pet's regular food or kibble

How to do it

  1. Measure out your dog's normal meal and take a handful into your hand or a pouch.
  2. Ask for something your dog already knows (sit, down, look at me) and hand over one piece of kibble when they do it.
  3. Keep each round short and easy; mix in a new trick only once the easy ones are quick.
  4. For the last part of the meal, ask your dog to sit and wait while you lower the bowl. If they get up, lift the bowl and try again. Release them to eat once it is down.
  5. Save a few pieces to reward good behavior later in the day, such as calm greetings or loose-leash walking.

⚠️ Safety

Supervision: Stay with your pet the whole time.

Use the dog's normal food from the daily amount, so the training doesn't add calories. AKC advises not to hand over the meal while a dog is out of control, because that rewards the wild behavior. If your dog gulps food, a slow feeder for the rest of the meal lowers the risk of choking and vomiting.

👀 What to watch for

Snapping at your hand, jumping or losing focus means the task is too hard or the room too busy: go back to an easy sit, or move somewhere quieter.

Sources

Last checked November 3, 2026. These activities are for healthy pets — if yours has a health or behavior condition, ask your vet which games suit them.

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