How to Use Praise and Rewards in Dog Training

By Dr Duncan Houston

You say “good dog,” but your dog keeps searching your hand for a treat. That does not mean praise is useless or that you have spoiled the dog. It means the reward you intended and the reward your dog values may be different.

Clear timing and an achievable task make encouragement more useful. Start by observing what your dog chooses, then connect that reward to one specific action.

Quick Answer

Praise can support training, but its value varies between dogs and situations. Mark the desired behaviour when it happens, then deliver a reward your dog actually enjoys. Keep food, play or other suitable rewards available for learning and harder situations instead of assuming verbal praise must eventually replace everything else.

What makes something a reward?

From the dog's perspective, a useful consequence is one that makes the preceding behaviour worth repeating. A warm voice may be enjoyable, while a pat on the head may be unwelcome. Your intention does not decide the value.

Research on social interaction as reinforcement shows why broad promises about praise are misleading. Whether interaction maintains responding depends on the setup and the dog. There is no sound basis for claiming that praise is universally better than food.

The everyday test is modest: does the dog willingly engage and repeat the action more readily over suitable practice opportunities? If not, check the reward, timing and difficulty before deciding the dog is being stubborn.

Separate the cue, marker and reward

• Cue: information about the action you are asking for, such as a familiar “sit”
• Marker: a consistent word or click that identifies the successful moment
• Reward: the food, play, access or interaction that follows

The order matters. A marker normally identifies an action that has just happened. Saying it before the dog acts does not clearly identify the behaviour you wanted to reinforce.

For example: ask for a familiar sit, mark when the dog sits, then provide the chosen reward. Praise can accompany the interaction, but it need not become a stream of words that obscures the successful moment.

Find rewards that fit this dog

Make a short list of things your dog already chooses: a piece of familiar food, a favourite toy, a sniffing opportunity or gentle contact they actively seek. Avoid assuming that every dog wants the same kind of touch or the same level of excitement.

Offer petting only when it is welcome. Pause and see whether the dog chooses to remain or move away. A dog leaving is useful feedback, not a reason to hold them still so they can receive your intended reward.

Keep food rewards compatible with the dog's established feeding instructions. If the dog has dietary restrictions, use options already agreed with the veterinary team rather than introducing a new food for training.

A simple practice sequence

1. Choose one easy action. Begin with something the dog can already do in a quiet setting.
2. Prepare the reward. Keep it accessible so the dog is not waiting while you search through a cupboard.
3. Mark the action. Use the same brief signal at the successful moment.
4. Deliver the reward. Follow through rather than using the marker and then withholding the expected outcome.
5. Pause and observe. Check whether the dog still wants to participate before repeating.

Finish while the interaction is working. You do not need to extend a session to meet a fixed number of repetitions. A clear, willing response is more useful than continuing until either of you becomes frustrated.

Use praise in ordinary moments

Training opportunities do not all need a formal lesson. You can notice the dog keeping four feet on the floor as you prepare a walk, looking back at you in a quiet place or choosing a resting mat. Identify the precise action you are rewarding.

Match your delivery to the goal. If you want a calm pause, a loud celebration may restart bouncing and excitement. If the dog enjoys enthusiastic play during an active game, that style of interaction may fit better there.

When the dog stops responding

• The action is new: make it simpler and provide clear feedback for small achievable steps.
• The setting is harder: practise at a greater distance from distractions or return to a familiar location.
• The reward is not interesting: consider another suitable reward without increasing the demands.
• The dog wants to leave: pause. Participation should not depend on forcing them to remain.

These adjustments fit the AVSAB recommendation for reward-based training. Avoid yelling, leash corrections or intimidation when an exercise stops working.

Do you have to phase out food?

You can vary suitable rewards as a skill becomes familiar, but there is no requirement to make training food-free. A harder setting may need stronger support even when the same cue is easy at home. Keep important responses worthwhile rather than removing the reward to test loyalty.

Change one thing at a time. If you add distance, movement or a new location, keep the rest familiar. Record which setup worked so the next session begins with something achievable.

Common mistakes

• Marking before the target behaviour, or so late that a different action is rewarded
• Assuming praise or stroking is rewarding because the person enjoys giving it
• Removing food as soon as the dog performs correctly once
• Repeating the cue louder rather than simplifying the task
• Using praise to coax a worried dog into an interaction they are trying to avoid

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I train with praise alone?

Sometimes a dog finds social interaction rewarding, but that cannot be assumed. Use what works for the individual and the task, including food or play when appropriate.

Is a marker word the same as praise?

It can become part of your praise, but its main job is precision. Keep the marker consistent and follow it with the reward used in that exercise.

What if my dog does not enjoy being petted?

Choose another reward. There is no need to make physical affection part of a training session.

Can praise solve reactivity by itself?

Praise alone is not a complete plan for a dog struggling around triggers. Consult a behaviorist for structured help.

Make success understandable

For your next practice, choose one easy action, one clear marker and one suitable reward. Watch the response and adjust the setup. Praise works best as part of communication the dog can understand and willingly join.

ASK A VET™ supports practical, reward-based choices that help dogs and people learn together.