What's in it for me?

One of the most common complaints I hear from clients is that their dog will only listen to them when they have a treat in their hand. This behavior makes perfect sense considering how we teach them new behaviors. When a dog is learning something new, it is essential to reward them every time they do it correctly; this is called a continuous reinforcement schedule, but essentially, it is a bribe.

For example, when teaching your dog to sit on command, you must give them a reason to do it - "If you sit, I will give you this treat." This bribery is a critical part of the training process because it motivates the dog to sit by making it rewarding to them. They learn to sit on command because you have created a predictable pattern. Think of it like a vending machine: every time you put a dollar in, a soda comes out; every time the dog sits, they get a treat.

You can use this technique to teach your dog to sit on command, but the tricky part is getting them to do it without the bribe. Once your dog understands what you want them to do, you must switch to a variable reinforcement schedule. This is more like a slot machine. You put money in, and you get nothing. You put money in again, and still nothing. But every so often, you put money in and Jackpot!

Do the same with your dog. Once they reliably respond to a command, stop giving them treats every time they do it. Start with every other time or maybe every third time. You can still reward them with praise, just not treats. Then, gradually start to randomize the frequency and number of treats to build anticipation and motivation (there is a reason why slot machines are so popular). Once your dog will happily sit on command even when you do not have treats, continue to provide occasional jackpots to maintain that response.

As you transition from bribes to rewards, be hyper-aware of your body language and how you present the treats to ensure your dog understands that their behavior triggers the reward and not vice versa. Generally, if your dog sees the treat before they respond to the command, it is a bribe, but if the treat appears after they respond, it is a reward.

Remember, your dog is watching closely, and they will notice if you pick up their treat pouch or put treats in your pocket before a training session, which could teach them to selectively respond only during training sessions when they know you have treats. The solution may be as simple as putting some treats in your pocket and then waiting 15 minutes before you give them any commands. Dogs are masters of pattern recognition; reinforce the patterns you like and change the ones you don't. As with all dog training, be patient and consistent; you will be amazed by what your dog can do.