15 Říj The many different ways to reward a dog

The many different ways to reward a dog

One of the most basic principles of training a dog and teaching him anything is rewarding him. Thankfully the days of training dogs with threats, pressure, and punishment are mostly over. Most dog handlers have discovered that you can get much further with rewards and positive reinforcement. And both the handler and the dog will enjoy the process much more.

I always tell my clients that rewarding your dog is mandatory. Dogs are in a sense selfish egoists who will only do things that promise to benefit them in one way or the other. And we love them nonetheless, don’t we? Now, who domesticated whom? 

In any case, you can’t expect your dog to work for you just because you ask nicely. You have to back it up with some cold hard… rewards.

That’s all well and good, but the question is: how can we reward our dogs? 

Generally speaking, we can reward our dog by satisfying one of his instincts or needs. There are some obvious and well-known ways to do that. Then, there are some more unusual ones that might help you if the traditional ways just don’t cut it.

Food – treats

The first and most obvious reward is food. This utilizes the dog’s food drive, the instinct that tells him it’s a good idea to eat and not to die of starvation. 

Giving your dog treats is probably the easiest way to reward him, and it’s also the most universal one. Developing food drive should be one of your main objectives when raising a puppy. Using treats plays an important role in the process of teaching your dog a new exercise. It is difficult, although not impossible, to replace with anything else. 

Toys – balls, tugs, etc.

The second most obvious way to reward your dog is with a toy, which utilizes your dog’s prey drive. That’s the instinct that tells the wolf hidden deep inside your cute puppy that rabbits and deer have the unfortunate habit of running away from him, not towards him. This means he has to give chase, catch them, and kill them so he can eat. 

Rewarding with a toy works for almost all dogs, with just a rare few not enjoying it. It’s all about finding out what kind of toy your dog likes most. 

It can be a hard rubber ball, or sometimes soft leather balls or tugs made from fleece. Many dogs love squeaky toys (which I banned at home for the sake of my sanity. Imagine inexhaustible Mr. Archer and a squeaky toy.). An interesting option are bungee cord toys which provide a challenge by snapping away when the dog loosens his grip. And I know quite a few dogs, mainly hunting breeds, that love any tug made with rabbit fur. Try it out! You might be missing out on something by not using toys as a reward.

Praise

The third “classic”  reward for your dog (and probably the most important)  is of course praise. I have written before how important praise is in your training. It is the only reward you can take with you to the trial or competition. 

Every dog handler should learn how to praise properly and do it often. I know it’s not always easy, and quiet, shy people may struggle with it. But it’s essential, non-negotiable, and you’ve got to learn it. 

Remember that it doesn’t really matter what you say but how you say it. If someone from another country heard you praising your dog and couldn’t understand a single word of it, he should still be absolutely sure that you are happy. Your emotions must be gushing out of your mouth with every word. Dogs don’t care about the words themselves. They listen to your heart.

Situational rewards

Now, we are getting into uncharted territory. These next rewards are often tailored to the individual dog or a unique situation. 

A method you might want to try out is rewarding your dog by allowing them to do some activity they love doing. For some dogs that might be a swim in a nearby pond or river. Do a bit of heeling and then you can enjoy the cool water. Got a labrador or some other water-loving breed? Try this. You will be surprised.

Another example of this is teaching your dog to wait after opening the crate door. If he does, you let him out. You reward him for not barging out of the crate by letting him get out.

The same thing could apply to any other door; I use this when letting my dogs out of my apartment. I reward them for calming down and sitting pretty, letting me get my leashes and shoes by letting them run out and barge down the hallway excited for their walk. You don’t want to be my neighbor and encounter my two excited dogs on their way for their walk, trust me.

You might try rewarding your dog by letting him play with his doggie friends. Or when training at home, for example dumbbell holding, you could reward by letting your dog snuggle up with you on the couch he usually isn’t allowed to be on. (Better make sure your overly clean partner/parent/roommate doesn’t catch you doing that.) 

Obviously, this isn’t always very practical, and you can’t use this method for everything. But sometimes it can help if you struggle with motivation for a particular exercise. 

Weird rewards

Last, but in some unusual cases not least, are absolutely weird rewards that most dogs and handlers wouldn’t even think of but that your dog is crazy about. This is really more guesswork than anything. It can be the weirdest thing. 

I have personally seen a dog who loves nothing more than his handler taking some grass blades and throwing them into the air. The dog would go crazy for this, biting the air trying to catch the grass. Weird. But they had a very nice obedience routine based mainly on this as a reward. 

An example I personally use: for some inexplicable reason, Archer loves when I put on his collar. Don’t ask me why. I really don’t know but he loves it. He would knock my teeth out trying to squeeze his big, hard head through a collar in my hands. Well, guess what? I use this as a reward. I might ask him to do sit or down or heel or something like that and then reward him with putting his collar on. Weird, but it definitely works. 

There you have it. Five very distinct ways to reward your dog. Think about it, and try using some rewards you’ve never thought of or are maybe using less than you should. 

Just think about your training. Be mindful.