Positive reinforcement dog training: worked examples
The method is simple: mark the behaviour, reward it, repeat, raise criteria. Here is what that looks like for the situations owners ask about most.
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Quick answer
For each behaviour: set up so the dog is likely to succeed, mark the instant the wanted behaviour happens, reward where you want the dog to be, then raise the criteria one step at a time. Below are worked versions for sit, recall, loose-lead walking, settle, polite greetings and counter-surfing.
| Goal | Set-up | Mark when… | Then |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sit | Lure nose up and back, or just wait | Hindquarters touch the floor | Reward at nose height; add the word once reliable |
| Recall | Short distance, low distraction, exciting voice | Dog commits and moves toward you | Jackpot at your legs; never call to end fun abruptly |
| Loose lead | Quiet area, treats at your seam | Lead is slack and dog is near your leg | Feed at the seam; stop moving if the lead tightens |
| Settle on a mat | Mat down, reward calm offered behaviour | Dog lies down or relaxes a hip | Deliver calmly between the paws; extend duration slowly |
| Polite greeting | Dog on lead; helper approaches | Four feet on the floor or a sit | Helper greets; any jump, they step back |
| Leave the counter | Manage first (nothing on the counter); reward a "four on the floor" default | Dog has all feet on the floor near the counter | Reward on the floor away from the counter; keep it managed while training |
Recall, in detail
- In the kitchen, say the dog's name and "come" once in a bright voice
- The moment the dog turns toward you, mark ("yes")
- Reward with several treats at your legs: make arriving a party
- Build distance, then mild distraction, then practise on a long line outdoors
- Reward every recall for the life of the dog when it is away from a real distraction
Settle on a mat, in detail
- Put a mat down and wait; reward any interaction with it
- Reward a sit on the mat, then a down, then a hip roll, then a sigh
- Drop rewards "between the paws" so the dog stays put
- Build duration in seconds, then do ordinary things nearby
- Use the mat when guests arrive or you are eating
Fading the food
Get fluency first, then move to rewarding roughly every second or third rep, keeping some jackpots, and bring in life rewards: a sit opens the door, a check-in earns a sniff. See dog training rewards.
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FAQ
Teaching sit: wait for the dog's hindquarters to touch the floor, mark that instant with 'yes' or a click, then deliver a treat at nose height. Repeat, then add the cue word.
Asking for a sit, and the moment the dog's bottom touches the floor, marking with yes and giving a treat. The sit is more likely next time because it paid off.
Reward the dog every time it keeps four feet on the floor during greetings, ignore or step back from jumping so it earns nothing, and ask visitors to do the same.
Mark and treat whenever the lead is slack and the dog is near your side, stop walking when it pulls, and start again when the lead loosens. The dog learns that a loose lead moves it forward.
For some dogs and easy tasks, yes, but food is a stronger, clearer reward for new or difficult behaviour. Praise works best combined with something the dog really values while learning.
Call once, and when the dog comes, throw a party: high-value treats, play, and warm praise. Never call the dog to do something it dislikes, and never tell it off for a slow return.
Waiting for the dog to offer a behaviour on its own, such as lying down or being quiet, then marking and rewarding it so it happens more often.
Rewarding small steps toward a goal behaviour, gradually raising the criterion, so the dog builds a complex behaviour like going to a mat one approximation at a time.
Once the behaviour is reliable, reward it unpredictably rather than every time, mix in praise and play, and use real-life rewards like opening a door, while still paying occasionally to keep it strong.
Wait for the dog to lie down and relax on its own, then quietly drop a treat between its paws without making a fuss, so calm behaviour gets paid.
Related guides
- Positive reinforcement dog training
- What is positive reinforcement dog training
- Dog training rewards
- Obedience training for dogs
- Dog focus training
References
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- Vieira de Castro AC, Fuchs D, Morello GM, Pastur S, de Sousa L, Olsson IAS (2020). Does training method matter? Evidence for the negative impact of aversive-based methods on companion dog welfare. PLOS ONE 15(12), e0225023.
- China L, Mills DS, Cooper JJ (2020). Efficacy of dog training with and without remote electronic collars vs. a focus on positive reinforcement. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 7, 508.
- China L, Mills DS, Cooper JJ (2023). Reevaluating the effectiveness of electronic shock collars: prevalence of adverse effects and comparison with positive reinforcement. PLOS ONE.
- Herron ME, Shofer FS, Reisner IR (2009). Survey of the use and outcome of confrontational and non-confrontational training methods in client-owned dogs showing undesired behaviors. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 117, 47–54.
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- Arhant C, Bubna-Littitz H, Bartels A, Futschik A, Troxler J (2010). Behaviour of smaller and larger dogs: effects of training methods, inconsistency of owner behaviour and level of engagement in activities with the dog. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 123, 131–142.
- Fernandes JG, Olsson IAS, Vieira de Castro AC (2017). Do aversive-based training methods actually compromise dog welfare?: a literature review. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 196, 1–12.
- Casey RA, Loftus B, Bolster C, Richards GJ, Blackwell EJ (2014). Human-directed aggression in domestic dogs: occurrence in different contexts and risk factors. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 152, 52–63.
- American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (2021). Position Statement on Humane Dog Training. View source
- American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior. Position Statement on the Use of Punishment for Behavior Modification in Animals. View source
- American Animal Hospital Association (2015). Canine and Feline Behavior Management Guidelines. View source
- WSAVA Animal Wellness and Welfare Committee (2018). Global Welfare Guidelines for companion animal practitioners. Journal of Small Animal Practice.
These references describe dogs and training in general. They are not evidence about any specific commercial program. This page is general information, not a substitute for individualised veterinary or behaviour advice. Last reviewed: 30 August 2026.