11/12/2025
Let's talk about treats! 🐾
One of the biggest misconceptions about positive reinforcement is that we're just "bribing" dogs.
The truth? We're strategically building a history of reinforcement.
It’s not a bribe—it's a paycheck! 💰
We're paying our dogs for a job well done. The more they get "paid" for a behavior (like a good recall), the more reliable that behavior becomes.
Once that behavior is a strong habit, we move to an intermittent schedule—meaning we don't give a treat every single time. This actually makes the behavior even stronger! Over time, they find other things rewarding, too... like a great sniff on a walk!
My pro tip? As a trainer, I always carry treats. You never know when you'll run into a new challenge or get a chance to reward a brilliant choice!
