• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Animal Behavior College

Animal Behavior College

Where Animal Lovers Pursue Animal Careers

Feefo logo
Live chat
Live chat
800-795-3294
  • Alumni Login
    • Dog Obedience Program Alumni
    • Cat Training Program Alumni
    • Grooming Instruction Program Alumni
    • Veterinary Assistant Program Alumni
    • Veterinary Assistant Program (Canada)
    • Aquarium Maintenance Program Alumni
    • Zookeeper Assistant Program Alumni
    • Service Dog Trainer Alumni
  • Student Login
    • Cat Training Program
    • Dog Obedience Program
    • Grooming Instruction Program
    • Veterinary Assistant Program
    • Veterinary Assistant Program (Canada)
    • Aquarium Maintenance Program
    • Zookeeper Assistant Program
    • Service Dog Trainer
MENUMENU
  • Programs
    • Dog Obedience Instructor
      • Tuition
      • Curriculum
      • Alumni Benefits
      • Career
      • Certification
      • Success Stories
      • Students Saving Lives
      • Find A Dog Trainer
    • Veterinary Assistant
      • Tuition
      • Curriculum
      • Alumni Benefits
      • Careers
      • Success Stories
    • Grooming Instruction Program
      • Tuition
      • Curriculum
      • Alumni Benefits
      • Careers
      • Success Stories
      • Find A Pet Groomer
    • On Campus Dog Trainer Program
      • Traditional Classroom Environment in Los Angeles California
      • Enroll Using Your Military Benefits
    • Continuing Education
      • Short Term Programs
    • Cat Management and Training
      • Tuition
      • Curriculum
      • Alumni Benefits
      • Careers
      • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Find A Cat Trainer
    • Aquarium Maintenance (online)
      • Tuition
      • Curriculum
      • Alumni Benefits
      • Career
      • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Salary Information
      • What Is an Aquarist?
    • Zookeeper Assistant Program
      • Tuition
      • Curriculum
      • Alumni Benefits
      • Career
      • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Service Dog Trainer Program
      • Tuition
      • Curriculum
      • Career
      • Alumni Benefits
      • Education & Experience Requirements
  • Military Benefits
  • GI Bill® Benefits
  • Locations
  • Jobs
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
    • Animal Career Resources
  • About ABC
        • About Animal Behavior College
        • Our Expert Faculty
        • Press, News & Info
        • Press Releases
        • BPPE Disclosures
        • Animal Behavior College FAQ
        • Contact Us
        • Why ABC?
        • Students Saving Lives
        • Licensure, Ratings & Approvals
        • Sponsors & Associates
        • Gift Certificates
  • Blog
  • Affiliates
  • Alumni Login
    • Dog Obedience Program Alumni
    • Cat Training Program Alumni
    • Grooming Instruction Program Alumni
    • Veterinary Assistant Program Alumni
    • Veterinary Assistant Program (Canada)
    • Aquarium Maintenance Program Alumni
    • Zookeeper Assistant Program Alumni
    • Service Dog Trainer Alumni
  • Student Login
    • Cat Training Program
    • Dog Obedience Program
    • Grooming Instruction Program
    • Veterinary Assistant Program
    • Veterinary Assistant Program (Canada)
    • Aquarium Maintenance Program
    • Zookeeper Assistant Program
    • Service Dog Trainer Program
Home » Training » Dogs » When Positive Reinforcement Doesn’t Work

When Positive Reinforcement Doesn’t Work

Natalya/Adobe Stock

Tips for Getting Your Dog Back on Track

A hot topic among dog trainers and owners lately is when positive reinforcement doesn’t work. Many dog owners are hesitant to use positive reinforcement training because they assume their dogs won’t respond unless they have a treat in their hand, which is a valid concern.

On the other side, dog trainers have a tendency to panic when positive reinforcement doesn’t work, while teaching a behavior, and may take a step back to traditional dog training methods (i.e. force, push, pull, correct, etc.). As with any dog training technique, it’s important to know how to push through challenges.

Dog Training Scenarios

Dog is Overly Excited Around Treats

As a professional dog trainer, I adore dogs that lose their minds around high value treats! This means they’re excited and interested in the training process, but it’s important to prioritize their training skills. Before teaching “loose leash walking” or even “sit,” start rewarding easily excited dogs every time all four feet are on the floor. This teaches them to stand instead of jump to grab the treats.

Next, teach the “leave it” behavior. This behavior teaches your dog self-control around treats since he must ignore the treat to earn it. “Touch” is also an excellent behavior to teach excited dogs. Once a dog understands self-control, it’s time to start teaching other behaviors, such as “sit,” “down” and “loose leash walking.”

Dog Gives Up

When an owner is teaching his dog a difficult skill, such as “loose leash walking” or “down” behavior, many dogs will become frustrated and leave the training area. These dogs are not stubborn; they are confused. When this happens, it’s important to increase your rate of reinforcement. This means rewarding your dog for every successful attempt toward the behavior. As a general rule, reward your dog every two to three seconds. Once he understands where you’re going with the exercise, he will begin offering behaviors and remain engaged in the dog training process.

Think about it this way: You would quit a game that’s too difficult and confusing, especially if no directions were included. Break difficult behaviors down into tiny micro-movements, and then add them together for a finished behavior. Oh, and keep dog training sessions short (one to two minutes long). Sometimes, dogs need a break and will leave during long sessions.

RELATED: Is Your Dog’s Behavior Improving?

Dog Ignores the Treat

Dogs ignore food treats for a couple of reasons. One, the treat is not high value enough. Dog training treats are your dog’s currency, so pay well with bits of cheese, hot dogs, deli meat or blue cheese crumbles. Earning high value treats is equivalent to earning a $100 bill. Dry dog treats, bones or kibble are equivalent to minimum wage. Trust me, high value treats will jump-start a new behavior quickly. Always pay your dog well for a great job.

The other reason dogs ignore treats is due to stress. It’s hard to concentrate when you’re worried about a new environment or distractions. Plus, when you’re stressed, you’re not hungry (at least in the moment). When dogs refuse treats, it’s best to move them away from what is worrying them.

Dog Won’t Perform Behavior Unless Treats are Present

Oh, this is a huge concern for dog owners and trainers alike. Using treats during dog training is not bribery; treats are used to reward good choices. Once a dog will perform a behavior on cue 90% of the time, it’s time to start rewarding every other performance. After a couple of weeks, start rewarding every third time and so forth.

Never completely throw out treats. Instead, reward really good responses, such as responding to “come when called” across a park, ignoring a running squirrel or choosing to “heel” around neighborhood distractions. In dog training jargon, this is called variable schedule of reinforcement, and it’s powerful. Don’t believe me? Visit a casino. 🙂 If a gambler never receives a payout, he will quit the game. However, he keeps pulling that lever because he knows a payout will happen eventually.

Dog owners are the teachers and their dogs are students. When in doubt, stop the dog training session and rethink the situation.

Primary Sidebar

Tags

educationhumane societystay dog training commandteach dog staytrain a dog to stayteach your dog to roll overtraining a dog to roll overtraveling with petsbenefits of rawhiderawhide bonesaspcadog jumpingtrain your dog to cometrain dog to jumphow to teach your dog to speaktraining dog to speakeasy dog trickshow to train a dog to play deadteach a dog to play deadtraining dog to play deadlick faceshake pawdog flash mobhow to teach a dog to stayteach dog to come when calledrequirementsanimal hospital jobsbest dog trainerchoose a dog trainerdog trainer ratesfind a dog trainerhow to find a dog trainerkeeperkennel attendantsvet assistant programvet assistant schoolveterinary care jobshow to get a job at a veterinary hospitalhow to teach a dog to comework in veterinary hospitalhow much do vet assistants makedog training toyskong dog toyhow to train your dog to sitteach your dog to sittrain dog to sittrain your dog to sitcome when calledhow do you train a dog to come when called every timedoggy dance
  • Main
    • Locations
    • Affiliates
    • Find A Dog Trainer
    • Find A Pet Groomer
    • Find a Cat Trainer
    • Post a Job
    • Evolution of ABC
  • Dog Trainer Program
    • Program
    • Tuition
    • Curriculum
    • Student Login
  • Veterinary Assistant Program
    • Program
    • Tuition
    • Curriculum
    • Student Login
  • Dog Groomer Program
    • Program
    • Tuition
    • Curriculum
    • Student Login
  • Cat Trainer Program
    • Program
    • Tuition
    • Curriculum
    • Student Login
  • Aquarium Maintenance Program
    • Program
    • Tuition
    • Curriculum
    • Student Login
  • Zookeeper Assistant Program
    • Program
    • Tuition
    • Curriculum
    • Student Login
  • Service Dog Trainer Program
    • Program
    • Tuition
    • Curriculum
    • Education & Experience Requirements

Footer

Apex Career School - A subsidiary of Animal Behavior College


Interested in a career outside of the animal industry?
Visit our subsidiary school!

bbb logo

Rating A+ The BBB only accredits the business management of a school, not the quality of the curriculum, or training programs.

STATE LICENSURE AND APPROVAL
Animal Behavior College is a private vocational school approved by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (www.bppe.ca.gov) under the California Private Postsecondary Education Act of 2009 and Title 5. California Code of Regulations Division 7.5. Private Postsecondary Education. The Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education approval means that this institution and its operation comply with the standards established under the law for occupational instruction by private postsecondary educational institutions. Institutional approval is subject to continual review and the institution must reapply for approval every five years.
DISCLAIMER
Please be advised that Animal Behavior College ("ABC") is the exclusive entity authorized to provide certifications and/or degrees from Animal Behavior College. Moreover, such certifications and/or degrees are only conferred by ABC following a student's completion of an ABC-administered program. No other entity or individual has authority to confer certifications and/or degrees on ABC's behalf. Any other entity or individual who attempts to do so is acting without express or implied authority from ABC.
GI BILL® TRADEMARK ATTRIBUTION
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.
Click here to view Animal Behavior College’s Annual Reports
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • Pinterest
  • TikTok
Animal Behavior College, 27509 Avenue Hopkins, First Floor, Valencia CA 91355-3910 Contact Us
© 2000 - 2023 Animal Behavior College. Questions? email@animalbehaviorcollege.com
loading

Please wait while you are redirected to the right page...

Please share your location to continue.

Check our help guide for more info.

share your location