Why do you throw food on the floor?
People often ask me why I throw food on the floor when my dog reacts. It’s not because I’m rewarding the behaviour, it’s because I’m helping my dog out of conflict.
When a reactive dog is barking, lunging, or stuck staring, their body is in survival mode. By scattering food on the ground, I’m giving their brain a different option. It breaks the cycle, lowers their arousal, and engages their natural foraging instinct.
It’s not about bribing them either, it’s about creating a pause where they can come back down, make a better choice, and learn that triggers don’t have to equal panic or over excited barking.
Over time, this technique builds new associations: instead of rehearsing reactivity, my dog rehearses calming down and moving forward.
So, the next time you see me throwing food on the ground, know that it’s not a quick fix, it’s a way of giving my dog the skills to feel safe, instead of stuck in conflict.
