Why Praise Alone Fails in Dog Training: Effective Alternatives That Work
By Street Wise Canine
How to Combine Praise and Rewards for Better Training Results
“I just want my dog to listen because they want to, not because I bribe them.”
“I don’t want to use treats—I just praise them instead.”
Sound familiar? If so, you’re not alone. A lot of dog owners feel like praise should be enough to teach their dog what to do. After all, if you love your dog and they love you, shouldn’t a “Good dog!” be all they need?
Well, not quite. While praise can absolutely be part of your training toolbox, relying on it alone often leads to frustration—for both you and your dog. Let’s talk about why this happens, what it really means to use praise as a reward, and how you can create a more effective training system.
Does Praise Actually Hold Value for Your Dog?
Here’s the catch with using praise: you’re assuming it holds value to your dog. And while that might seem like a no-brainer (“Of course they love it when I say good dog!”), the truth is more complex. A dog’s response to praise depends on a ton of factors:
1.Genetics and Temperament:
Some dogs are naturally more independent or aloof. Breeds developed for working independently (like livestock guardians) might not value verbal praise the way a social, people-oriented breed might.
2.Household Environment:
If you live in a busy household where people are constantly interacting with your dog—petting, talking, and giving attention—they may become desensitized to praise. It becomes background noise, not something special.
3.“Free” Praise:
If your dog gets praised all day long for doing nothing (“You’re so cute!” or “Good boy!” as they lounge on the couch), it’s hard to use praise as an effective reinforcer during training. They already get it for free, so why work for it?
Dogs Need Reinforcement That Feels Tangible
For dogs, praise isn’t inherently valuable—it’s something they learn to appreciate over time, and even then, it might not always outweigh other distractions or motivations. That’s because praise is intangible. Unlike food, which satisfies a biological drive, or toys, which tap into play instincts, praise doesn’t immediately meet a specific need.
To put it in perspective: imagine your boss saying, “Great job!” after you complete a difficult project. That’s nice to hear, right? But would it mean as much if it happened all the time, even when you didn’t do anything? Or if it came without a tangible reward—like a paycheck or bonus?
Dogs, like people, are motivated by clear, consistent reinforcement. Praise alone often isn’t enough to compete with other motivators, like chasing a squirrel, sniffing the ground, or just being a little stubborn.
The Problem With Relying Only on Praise
Here’s why relying solely on praise in training can cause issues:
1. It’s Inconsistent:
Dogs are highly attuned to tone, energy, and delivery. Your “Good dog!” might sound different every time, depending on your mood or energy level. This inconsistency can confuse your dog about whether they’ve done the right thing.
2. It’s Not Always High Value:
In low-distraction environments, praise might work—your dog is calm and focused. But add distractions, like other dogs or loud noises, and suddenly your praise is no match for the environment.
3. It’s Overused:
If your dog hears praise constantly throughout the day, they might not see it as something special during training. When reinforcement is freely given, it loses its power to motivate.
Let’s be clear: praise isn’t bad!
What Does This Mean for Training?
Praise is still a valuable tool in your training toolbox, but it works best when paired with other reinforcers, like food or toys. This pairing helps teach your dog what praise means and builds its value over time.
Here’s how you can use praise effectively:
1. Pair Praise with Tangible Rewards:
Every time you say “Good dog!” during training, follow it with a reward—like a piece of kibble or a quick game of tug. This helps your dog associate praise with something meaningful.
2. Make Praise Rare and Special:
Don’t overuse praise for every little thing during the day. Save your “Good boy!” or “Good girl!” for moments when your dog does something you want to reinforce.
3. Be Clear and Consistent:
Use the same tone, energy, and timing when praising your dog. Consistency helps your dog understand when they’ve earned your approval.
Why Combining Rewards Works
When you combine praise with tangible rewards, you create a system that is clear, motivating, and easy for your dog to understand. Here’s what that might look like:
•At home, you might use praise paired with kibble to teach basic commands like “sit” or “down.”
•In a busy park, you can mix in high-value rewards (like chicken or cheese) alongside praise to keep your dog focused.
Over time, as your dog learns behaviours reliably, you can phase out food rewards and rely more on praise, toys, or other forms of reinforcement.
The Bottom Line: Praise Alone Isn’t Enough
Relying solely on praise to train your dog assumes they value it as much as you do—but dogs don’t automatically see it that way. Genetics, temperament, household dynamics, and how often they get “free” praise all play a role in how meaningful praise feels to them.
Training isn’t about expecting your dog to work “because they should.” It’s about creating clear communication and providing reinforcement that motivates them. By pairing praise with tangible rewards, you set your dog up for success—and make training a lot more fun for both of you.
Need Help Building a Training System?
If you’re looking for step-by-step guidance, check out my Etsy PDF: Building Food Motivation. It’s packed with tips to help you make food a powerful training tool, even if your dog seems uninterested at first.
Or, dive into my online course to learn how to combine praise, food, and other reinforcers for a training system that actually works.
Curious about the people behind Training Dogs Online? Get to know the trainers and why we’re passionate about helping dogs and their owners succeed.
