How Dog Training Works: An Introduction to Positive Reinforcement Training
Whether you’re working on basic manners like “sit” and “stay,” or more advanced things like dog sports, understanding how dog training works can make a huge difference in your success! One of the most effective and humane methods of training is positive reinforcement, and its growing popularity over the past few decades is changing the way we think about dog behavior and training.
What Is Positive Reinforcement?
Positive reinforcement means rewarding desirable behavior with something your dog enjoys in order to encourage your dog to repeat that behavior again in the future.
For example, if your dog sits when you ask and you give them a treat they love, you’re using positive reinforcement to encourage them to sit on cue again in the future. Or if they come when called and you throw their favorite tennis ball, you’re using a reward to motivate them to come when called next time. Over time, if the behavior happens more often because of the reward, that’s positive reinforcement in action.
(Important note: The reward must be something your dog actually likes; otherwise, it won’t be effective. Your dog gets to decide what counts as a reward!)
Why It Works
Dogs, like people, are more likely to repeat behaviors that lead to pleasant outcomes. Put simply, dogs do what pays off for them. Just like us. Positive reinforcement taps into this natural learning process. It’s part of a scientific principle called operant conditioning, and it applies to all species!
By rewarding good behavior, you're making it clear to your dog: “Yes, that earns you rewards!” Over time and with consistency, these behaviors strengthen, and the behavior begins to occur more and more often.
Examples of Positive Reinforcement:
Giving a treat when your dog sits on cue
Playing with a toy when your dog comes when called
Praising and petting when your dog greets you without jumping
The Problem with Punishment-Based Methods
On the other side of the spectrum are training methods that rely on punishment, like yelling, leash jerks, shock collars, or other aversive techniques. Punishment comes with serious risks, including:
Fear and anxiety: Dogs trained with punishment may become fearful of their owners or the environment around them.
Aggression: Punishment-based training can lead to defensive aggression, especially in dogs who feel threatened.
Damaged relationships: Trust is the foundation of a strong human-dog bond. Punishment-based training methods can damage that trust.
Decreased engagement and learned helplessness: Dogs trained with punishment may shut down, become unresponsive, or appear apathetic.
Positive Reinforcement Training Is Both Pleasant and Effective
Not only is positive reinforcement effective, it’s also a lot of fun for both you and your dog! Training becomes a game rather than a chore, filled with treats, toys, praise, and play. When dogs are motivated by things they love, they’re more enthusiastic, eager to learn, and engaged in the training process.
This creates a positive learning environment where your dog feels safe and excited to participate. In contrast to punishment-based methods, which can create tension or fear, positive reinforcement builds trust, strengthens your bond and encourages cooperation.
For these reasons, many trainers, behaviorists, and veterinarians recommend positive reinforcement training methods above all others.
By focusing on rewarding good behavior instead of punishing the bad, you’re not just teaching cues and behaviors, you’re teaching your dog that the world (including yourself) is safe, predictable, and rewarding. And that’s a lesson that lasts a lifetime.
With wags and aloha,
Cori Tufano- CPDT-KA, FDM, CSAT, FFCP
