20/12/2025
This! Patterns not guessing games...
Recently I had to condition Cinnamon to a new piece of equipment, and even though I know better, I tried to rush the reward schedule...guess what that did? Created lots of confusion and frustration...so we went back to step one and stayed steady and consistent...now shes a champ with her new skill because I sent clear communication and kept it consistent.
Reposted because it vanished!
Reward Schedules in Dog Training
Article Two: Why Dogs Need Predictable Rewards First
If variable rewards were magic, every dog would be trained after three repetitions and a handful of sausages.
They’re not.
Yet one of the most common mistakes made by dog owners and, unfortunately, some trainers, is trying to skip predictable rewards and jump straight into “mixing it up”.
This usually sounds like:
“You don’t want the dog to become treat-dependent.”
Or:
“You should make the reward unpredictable so the dog works harder.”
The intention might be good.
The timing almost never is.
Before a dog can cope with uncertainty, it needs clarity. And clarity comes from predictable reinforcement.
Dogs Learn Through Patterns, Not Guesswork
Dogs are exceptional pattern-spotters.
They learn by:
• Repetition
• Consistency
• Cause and effect
What they don’t learn well from is:
• Guessing games
• Mixed messages
• Moving goalposts
When a behaviour is new, the dog is asking one simple question:
“Was that right?”
Predictable rewards answer that question clearly and quickly.
Variable rewards, introduced too early, replace that answer with:
“Sometimes. Maybe. Depends. Good luck.”
That’s not motivation, that’s confusion.
Predictability Builds Understanding
In the early stages of training, predictable rewards serve several critical functions:
• They tell the dog exactly which behaviour is correct
• They build confidence
• They reduce stress and frustration
• They speed up learning
• They create trust in the handler
A dog that understands what earns reinforcement is relaxed, engaged, and willing to try.
A dog that doesn’t understand is:
• Hesitant
• Frustrated
• Over-aroused
• Or switched off completely
None of those states are ideal for learning.
Confidence Comes Before Challenge
This is where many people get it backwards.
Handlers often think:
“If I make it harder, the dog will try harder.”
In reality:
• Confidence precedes effort
• Understanding precedes reliability
Predictable rewards allow the dog to build a history of success.
Success releases dopamine.
Dopamine builds motivation.
Motivation fuels learning.
Remove clarity too early, and you remove the very thing you’re trying to build.
The Cost of Going Variable Too Soon
Introducing variable rewards before a behaviour is fluent can lead to:
• Slower learning
• Frustration behaviours (vocalising, bouncing, mouthing)
• Reduced engagement
• A dog that appears “stubborn” or “unmotivated”
• Handlers escalating pressure unnecessarily
At this point, owners often say:
“He knows it, he’s just choosing not to do it.”
No.
He’s choosing not to play a game he doesn’t understand.
Predictable Does Not Mean Permanent
This is important.
Predictable rewards are not forever.
They are foundational.
Think of them as scaffolding:
• Essential at the start
• Removed gradually
• Only once the structure underneath is solid
You don’t remove scaffolding halfway through building a house and hope for the best.
Training works the same way.
The Role of Marker Words
Predictable rewards work best when paired with clear marker signals.
A consistent marker:
• Pinpoints the behaviour
• Bridges the gap between behaviour and reward
• Removes ambiguity
Without a marker, even predictable rewards can become muddy.
With one, learning accelerates.
Who Needs Longer in Predictable Rewards?
Some dogs require more time in this phase, including:
• Puppies
• Rescue dogs
• Anxious or insecure dogs
• High-drive dogs learning impulse control
• Dogs with a history of inconsistent handling
There is no prize for rushing this stage.
Progress is measured by understanding, not speed.
The Big Takeaway
Predictable rewards are not boring.
They are not lazy.
They are not outdated.
They are how dogs learn.
Before a reward can become variable, the behaviour must be:
• Clear
• Repeated
• Understood
• Reliable in low distraction environments
Only then does variability strengthen performance instead of undermining it.
In Article Three, we’ll look at Fixed Reward Schedules, what they are, how to use them properly, and why they remain one of the most powerful (and misused) tools in dog training.
And yes, you still get to use the chicken.
Just not randomly.
