The same reward method should not be used too frequently

Food rewards are the simplest and most direct reward method in dog training, but not all dogs are equally motivated by food. Therefore, no single method fits all dogs, and food rewards should not be used too frequently. On one hand, this prevents dogs from becoming dependent on food; on the other hand, it prevents dogs from losing interest in food. Thus, we must adopt more diverse reward methods.

1. Play with the dog

Often for dogs, companionship with the owner is more practical than any other reward. Playing together is a powerful tool to build relationships and can also serve as an effective reward. Tug-of-war and fetch are the most obvious play rewards, but we can also adopt other play styles to make the dog happy. However, the degree of play should also be controlled.

2. Accompany the dog doing what it likes

You can accompany your dog doing things it enjoys, such as walking or running around. Low-frequency behaviors (things animals are less likely to do, like calmly waiting by the door) can be reinforced by high-frequency behaviors (things animals want to do, like happily running in the yard). For example, to reinforce the dog’s sitting, you ask it to sit and then let it do something it loves (running with its dog friends, or cuddling next to you on the sofa). This type of reward easily integrates into daily life and is especially useful for dogs needing help developing self-control.

Properly changing reward methods greatly benefits dog training

3. Encouraging and praising words

Praising dogs might seem unrealistic as a reward to us, but dogs can feel the emotion in the tone. Praise can be a very effective reward for some dogs. Even if not, if praising often occurs alongside other great things, dogs will want to seek praise. For example, if you use a clicker to teach a dog to lie down, then give it a toy, you can praise it with words like "good" or "good dog" when giving the toy. Soon, the dog will learn to associate praise with rewards.

4. Petting the dog’s favorite spots

Petting is a good reward for dogs but must be done accurately. Before using petting or massage as a reward, consider two things: what kind of petting the dog likes and when it likes to be petted. For example, your dog may like its chest scratched but shy away from head pats. When resting beside you, a slow and continuous stroke might feel good and serve as a reward, but if it is waiting to run and play, this kind of petting may irritate it.

Thus, food rewards are not the only option. We can use different reward methods according to different situations. This prevents dogs from losing interest in a single reward type, greatly improving training effectiveness. Food rewards are simple and effective but overusing them is not good. Although some rewards have no tangible benefits, they can still be very effective for dogs.