Positive reinforcement: training your dog with rewards

Sit, wait, come when called, don’t jump on guests: all of this can be learned. How you teach it matters as much as the result. Positive reinforcement is the approach veterinary behaviour specialists recommend today: you reward what your dog does right, rather than punishing what they do wrong. Here’s how it works, what the science says and how to start today.

What is positive reinforcement?

The principle is simple: a behaviour followed by something pleasant is more likely to happen again. Your dog sits, they get a treat: they learn that sitting pays off.

The reward can take several forms:

• a small treat;
• a toy or a short play session;
• petting or praise, if they truly enjoy it;
• access to something they want: going outside, sniffing around, joining a friend.

The idea isn’t to let everything slide. You teach your dog what to do instead, and set up their environment to help them succeed. A dog who jumps on people learns, for example, that they get attention when all four paws stay on the ground.

What the science says

In 2021, the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB), a society of veterinarians specializing in animal behaviour, published a clear position statement: the evidence supports reward-based methods for all dog training, including behaviour problems. According to the AVSAB:

• Reward-based methods have been shown to be more effective than punishment-based methods, and there is no evidence that aversive methods are more effective in any context.
• Dogs trained with aversive methods show more signs of stress during training: tense body, lowered posture, lip licking, lowered tail, lifted front paw, panting, yawning, yelping.
• Dogs trained with rewards are more attentive to their owner. These methods also strengthen the bond between dogs and their family.
• Survey studies link aversive methods to more long-term behaviour problems, such as aggression or anxiety. These studies don’t prove that punishment is the cause, but several point the same way.

Methods to avoid

The AVSAB recommends avoiding any tool or technique based on pain, intimidation or force:

• choke chains, prong collars or electronic shock collars;
• squirt bottles, shaker cans, compressed air;
• shouting, staring at the dog or forcing them onto their back;
• leash jerks and physical force.

If you’re shopping for a dog training collar, know that a well-fitted harness and a regular leash are enough. What makes the difference is the method.

How to start: 6 simple rules

1. Find their favourite reward

Every dog has their preferences. For many, it’s food; for others, it’s a toy. Save the most valued rewards for the hardest exercises, like recall at the park.

2. Reward at the right moment

Your dog links the reward to what they just did. Reward within a second of the right behaviour. To help, use a short marker word like “yes!”, or a clicker, at the exact moment they succeed, then give the treat.

3. Show the treat after, not before

If you wave the treat to convince them, they may only respond when they see it. Ask first, then reward.

4. Start somewhere calm

Practise at home first, with no distractions. Increase the difficulty little by little: another room, the yard, then the park. If they can’t do it anymore, go back a step: the jump was too big.

5. Keep sessions short

A few minutes, several times a day, beats one long session. Always end on a success.

6. Never punish a dog who comes back to you

Even if they took their time, welcome them with a reward. Otherwise, they learn that coming back to you is unpleasant.

Choosing your training treats

During a session, you reward often. It’s best to choose treats that are:

• small, so they swallow them quickly and stay focused;
• soft, easy to chew;
• low in calories, because they add up fast.

The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) recommends that treats always make up less than 10% of a dog’s daily calories. On training days, hold back a small part of their meal to compensate, or use some of their kibble as a reward for easy exercises.

Our training treats were designed for this: soft bites of about 2.7 kcal, in duck or peanut butter and banana. You can cut them into smaller pieces. Note: the banana recipe contains peanut butter.

When to get help

The basics (sit, down, walking on a leash, house training) can be taught well at home with positive reinforcement. For aggression, fear or anxiety, the AVSAB recommends a proper treatment plan: talk to your veterinarian, who can refer you to a trainer who uses positive methods. For a stressed dog, our article How to calm an anxious dog can also help.

Frequently asked questions

Will my dog only obey if there’s a treat?

Not if you show the treat after the behaviour, not before. Over time, you can vary the rewards: a treat, a game, an outing.

Does positive reinforcement work with an adult dog?

Yes. Dogs learn at any age. Start simply, somewhere calm, with a reward they really love.

How many treats per session?

It depends on their size and their daily ration. Choose very small bites and keep all of the day’s treats under 10% of their calories. Your veterinarian can help you work out the right amount.

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This article provides general advice. For a behaviour problem, consult your veterinarian.