Positive Reinforcement in Dog Training
What Is Positive Reinforcement?
By definition, positive reinforcement refers to the addition of a desirable or pleasant stimulus following a behavior, making it more likely that the behavior will occur again.
In dog training, this means rewarding the behaviors we want to see more of using things dogs love—like treats, toys, praise, or play. It’s an ethical, science-backed approach that makes training both effective and enjoyable.
Why Training Should Be Fun (for You and Your Dog!)
We want training to be enjoyable—not just productive. For your dog, fun means building positive associations with training sessions. If your dog thinks, “When I hear that word, good things happen!”—you’re doing it right.
My own dog lights up when I say, “Do you want to…” in an excited voice. That enthusiasm is part of the training process. When dogs enjoy learning, they’re more motivated to listen and succeed.
For us, training becomes fun when we see results and connect with our dogs. I plan short, focused sessions: I prep my treat pouch, write a list of goals, and always start with something my dog already knows. This boosts confidence for both of us and sets a positive tone.
Operant Conditioning: The Science Behind It
Positive reinforcement training is grounded in operant conditioning, a theory developed by psychologist B.F. Skinner. It teaches that behavior is influenced by its consequences—either reinforced or discouraged.
In positive reinforcement training, we primarily use two of the four operant quadrants:
R+ (Positive Reinforcement): Adding something the dog likes (e.g., a treat) after a behavior to increase the likelihood of it happening again.
P– (Negative Punishment): Removing something the dog wants (e.g., forward movement on a walk) to reduce an undesired behavior like pulling.
Understanding the ABCs of Behavior
A – Antecedent: What happens before the behavior (e.g., the cue “sit”)
B – Behavior: What the dog does (e.g., sitting)
C – Consequence: What happens after (e.g., a treat)
By managing the ABCs, we create a training environment that is structured, rewarding, and effective.
Teaching New Commands with Positive Reinforcement
The easiest place to start is with behaviors your dog already does naturally. For example, my dog occasionally crosses his paws when lying down. When I see him do it, I say “Cross” and reward him immediately. After a few repetitions, he connects the word with the action.
This is a perfect example of naming and reinforcing an existing behavior—a great confidence-builder for both of you.
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Tools of the Trade: Luring and Shaping
To teach new behaviors, I often use:
Luring: Using a treat to guide the dog into a position. For example, to teach “sit,” I hold a treat in front of my dog’s nose and slowly move it up. As his head follows the treat, his rear naturally lowers—then I mark and reward the sit!
Shaping: Rewarding incremental progress toward a behavior. If I’m teaching “down” and my dog only crouches slightly, I still reward him. Over time, he’ll get closer to the full behavior.
Both methods are gentle, clear, and fun—core values of positive reinforcement training.
Maintaining Behavior: Preventing Extinction
Once your dog learns a behavior, it’s important to keep reinforcing it—especially at random intervals—so it doesn’t fade away (extinction).
I always begin each training session with a known behavior to set the tone, then introduce new ones. I also shuffle the order of commands to make sure my dog isn’t just performing a memorized routine.
💡 Pro tip: If you stop rewarding a behavior altogether, your dog may stop doing it. This is the concept of extinction in action—so keep those occasional rewards coming!
Can We Use Extinction to Stop Unwanted Behaviors?
Yes—but with care. If your dog barks at the door for attention, you can choose to stop reinforcing the behavior (e.g., don’t reward with eye contact or opening the door). Over time, the barking should fade.
I’ll explore extinction as a training tool in a future blog, so stay tuned!
Final Thoughts: Why Positive Reinforcement Works
Positive reinforcement means rewarding what you want to see more of
It’s based on well-established science and ethics
It builds trust and improves your bond with your dog
Tools like luring, shaping, and the ABC model make training easier
A little consistency goes a long way!
Want to Learn More?
Check out this great article from Companion Animal Psychology:
7 Reasons to Use Reward-Based Dog Training (shared with permission)
Photos by Alexas Fotos and Sebastian Coman Travel – Donations made in thanks
Disclaimer:
The information contained in this article except where a link or a quote is provided, is
based solely on my experience with my dogs, my clients dog and the many shelter dog’s
that I have had the privilege of working with. As well as, my education and the many
webinars I have attended, podcasts I listen to and books I have read.