If you’ve ever wondered why we only use reward-based dog training methods at Second Nature Behaviour, the short answer is simple: the science tells us it works — and it’s better for your dog. But there’s a fascinating story behind that answer, and understanding it can change how you think about training altogether.
Whether you share your life with a dog, cat, or parrot, the principles of how animals learn are remarkably similar. So let’s take a look at what reward-based, evidence-based dog training actually means — and why it matters.
What Is Reward-Based Dog Training?
Reward-based dog training means using things your dog or pet finds motivating — usually food, but also toys, games, praise, or experiences — to encourage the behaviours you want. We’re essentially making a behaviour more likely to happen again by rewarding it, while simply withholding the reward for behaviours we don’t want. Think of it as paying your dog for a job well done, much like you getting paid at work.
The beauty of this approach is that it taps into your dog’s natural motivation. Different animals find different things rewarding, and even within a species, preferences vary hugely. Some dogs respond well to verbal praise, some love physical affection, while others couldn’t care less about a head scratch but would do anything for a piece of cheese.
Finding What Motivates Your Dog
It’s worth taking the time to discover what your pet truly values. For dogs, food rewards usually top the list, but there’s a hierarchy even within that — kibble is typically low on the list, with pâté and chicken higher up, and cheese often taking the number one spot. For cats, a feather toy might be more motivating than a treat. For parrots, granivores may go wild for sunflower seeds or pine nuts, while nectarivores may prefer fruit or honey.
Try offering a variety of rewards and changing them regularly to maintain your pet’s interest. We mainly use food in training because it can be delivered quickly and efficiently, and research has found food to be the most effective reward in the early stages of learning. But food isn’t needed forever — it’s gradually phased out and replaced by other rewards as training progresses. Your behaviourist will guide you on this.
The Science Behind How Animals Learn
The methods we use are grounded in decades of scientific research. Two key principles underpin everything we do.
Operant Conditioning
Developed by B.F. Skinner and built on Thorndike’s Law of Effect, operant conditioning is based on a straightforward idea: behaviours followed by pleasant consequences are more likely to be repeated, and behaviours followed by unpleasant consequences are less likely to be repeated.
In practice, this means we teach an animal to perform a behaviour and reward them quickly with food. The next time we ask for that behaviour, the animal is more likely to offer it because they’re anticipating the reward. If they don’t perform the behaviour, we simply withhold the treat and ask again — or go back a step to help them understand. This is how reward-based dog training works in everyday terms: rewarding what we want and calmly redirecting when things don’t go to plan.
Classical Conditioning
You may have heard of Pavlov’s dogs from school — that’s classical conditioning, which is learning through association. We use this approach to change how an animal feels about something or a situation.
For example, a dog who is afraid of having their nails clipped can learn to associate the nail clippers with something positive. Each time the clippers appear, a tasty treat follows. Over time, the dog begins to feel differently about the clippers — they become a predictor of good things rather than something to fear. This is a simplified account, of course; in reality, a careful plan is needed, working at the dog’s pace.
What the Law Says
Under the Animal Welfare Act (UK, 2006), animals under human care must be protected from pain, suffering, injury, and disease. The Code of Practice for the Welfare of Dogs (DEFRA, 2018) supports the exclusive use of positive, reward-based training, discouraging any methods that are harsh, painful, or fear-inducing.
Professional codes of practice are also in place for Certified Clinical Animal Behaviourists (CCABs), Clinical Animal Behaviourists (CABs), and practitioners registered with the Animal Behaviour and Training Council (ABTC). These codes state clearly that only evidence-based and reward-based methods are to be used. Failure to comply can result in being removed from the professional register.
What the Research Shows
The evidence supporting reward-based dog training is substantial and growing. Here are some of the key findings:
Research has consistently found that dogs trained using reward-based methods perform better when learning new tasks and have healthier, more balanced relationships with their owners. Studies have also shown that reward-based methods are more effective at promoting long-term behavioural stability, and that punishment-based approaches can worsen anxiety, fear, and frustration — leading to more problem behaviours, not fewer. Owners who used only reward-based methods reported more responsive, cooperative dogs.
Perhaps most strikingly, dogs trained using aversive methods have been found to have a more pessimistic outlook, making them more likely to develop fear-related behaviours. Research has also shown that owners who use confrontational methods — such as lead corrections, verbal punishment, or physical interventions — often reported that their dogs responded aggressively. This was not reported by those using reward-based methods.
Studies on electric shock collars specifically found that their use increased distress in dogs and did not improve training outcomes compared to reward-based alternatives. Shock collars are now banned in several countries, though sadly not yet in England.
Why It Matters for Your Pet
When you choose reward-based dog training, you’re choosing an approach that builds trust between you and your pet. Training becomes something enjoyable — a shared activity rather than a battle of wills. Your pet learns faster, retains what they’ve learned for longer, and develops genuine confidence rather than suppressed fear.
Whether it’s a dog learning to walk calmly on a lead, a cat becoming more comfortable with handling, or a parrot learning to step up, reward-based methods lead to a happier, better-behaved pet and a stronger bond between you.
If you’d like support with your pet’s behaviour or training using a reward-based approach, get in touch today to see how we can help.
Further Reading
If you’d like to explore the research behind our methods, here are some key studies:
- Rooney, N.J. & Cowan, S. (2011). Training methods and owner–dog interactions: Links with dog behaviour and learning ability. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 132(3), 169–177.
- Hiby, E., Rooney, N. & Bradshaw, J. (2004). Dog training methods: their use, effectiveness and interaction with behaviour and welfare. Animal Welfare, 13(1), 63–69.
- Blackwell, E.J. et al. (2008). The relationship between training methods and the occurrence of behavior problems. Journal of Veterinary Behavior, 3(5), 207–217.
- Vieira de Castro, A.C. et al. (2020). Does training method matter? Evidence for the negative impact of aversive-based methods on companion dog welfare. PLoS ONE, 15(12), e0225023.
- Casey, R.A. et al. (2021). Dogs are more pessimistic if their owners use two or more aversive training methods. Scientific Reports, 11(1), 19023.
- Cooper, J.J. et al. (2014). The Welfare Consequences and Efficacy of Training Pet Dogs with Remote Electronic Training Collars in Comparison to Reward Based Training. PLoS ONE, 9(9), e102722.
- Herron, M.E., Shofer, F.S. & Reisner, I.R. (2009). Survey of the use and outcome of confrontational and non-confrontational training methods in client-owned dogs. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 117(1), 47–54.
If you need help with your pet’s behaviour, get in touch with Second Nature Behaviour today. We’d love to help.