When rewarding your dog, it is important to choose a treat/reward type that is highly desirable to motivate and encourage good behavior. In dog training, there is a heavy focus on praising good behavior; But how do you properly do this? There is no "one size fits all" when it comes to dog training, especially when it comes to rewards. The whole point of rewarding your dog is to encourage positive behavior, so remember to always watch for good behavior! Continue reading for some tips and tricks that can help you effectively reward your dog.

How to Reward Your Dog

Using treats is an obvious tool for rewarding your dog. This is especially effective if your dog is food motivated! Grab some kibble or treats to immediately reward desired behavior. This form of positive reinforcement helps your dog to associate the task they perform with the high-value reward you are providing. Another option for rewarding your dog is to use verbal praise. Some dogs are not food-motivated, or maybe you just want to switch up how you reward your dog when training. A verbal affirmation such as "Good dog!" or an enthusiastic "Yes!" will help your dog recognize they are doing something right. Just remember to keep a calm and soothing tone to keep them focused and motivated! Remember how important timing is. Reward your dog immediately after they demonstrate a desired behavior, so they can associate that behavior with a desired reward.

Consistently Offer Rewards

Consistency is important to see results when it comes to rewarding your dog. It can be hard at times to be stern, but you have to be consistent with strictly rewarding good behavior. Never reward undesired behavior, no matter how cute your dog may be acting at that moment. For example, if your dog is at the vet and is acting out due to stress, do not pet them and tell them "It's ok!". This will make your dog think this is how they should be feeling/acting when in that situation.

You do not have to strictly stick to one reward type to be consistent. It may be beneficial to your dog to find a balance between treat-based rewards and verbal praise. It might also help to use positive association at the end of a training session, bath, or other mentally intense activity so they have a positive association with it moving forward! Training and rewarding your dog does not strictly have to happen at home. Using the app Geopet, you can track walks and park visits, and practice these reward techniques in new environments, all while gaining points toward pet-related discounts.