By Amy Tokic,

The best way to train your pet is to focus on positive reinforcement — rewarding the good stuff and steering clear of punishment. The whole point of training is to help your pet learn the behaviour you want. Start by getting them to reliably do the behaviour on their own. Once they’ve got that down, you can introduce a cue or command before the action, so eventually they’ll do it just from hearing the cue.

And remember, rewards aren’t just for command-based behaviour. Anytime your pet does something you like, it’s worth reinforcing.

The toughest part for most people is finding ways to get that desired behaviour to happen right after you give the cue. That’s why it helps to understand how pets learn and how to use rewards effectively — once you do, training becomes a whole lot easier for both of you.

What is positive reinforcement?

Positive reinforcement is basically anything you add that makes your pet more likely to repeat a behaviour. It creates a clear connection between what they do and what happens afterward. The more often your pet shows the behaviour you want, the more good things they get — and that naturally encourages them to keep doing it.

5 ways to reward your dog

Treats

Treats can be an incredibly powerful reward when you’re using positive reinforcement. But for your dog’s health and happiness, it’s important to choose the right ones.

Here’s what to look for:

  • Check the label for natural, recognizable ingredients and make sure the main ingredient (like chicken) is listed near the top.
  • Go for minimally processed, whole-food treats whenever possible.
  • Pick lower-calorie options, since fat content can drive calories up fast.
  • Grain-free treats can be easier to digest and lower in carbs.

For training, high-value treats that meet all these criteria are ideal — they should be tasty enough to really motivate your dog.

Some great options include:

  • Training treats: These are small, simple, and perfect for lots of repetition. We love Pupford training treats because they’re made with clean ingredients, low in calories, and come in plenty of flavours so you can find your dog’s favourite.
  • Jerky: For a special reward, try a high-value jerky treat. You can break it into small pieces for training or give a bigger chunk when you really want to celebrate your pup. Pupford’s Jerky Reward Treats use only natural ingredients with no fillers or added junk.

And if you’re like us, you probably love seeing your dog light up when they try something new. Explore different jerky flavours — salmon, beef, chicken, or even lamb (a great option for dogs with allergies or pups who just want something different).

Toys

Dog toys are a top-tier reward for most pups — just make sure you’re using the kind your dog actually loves.

Some dogs go crazy for a good tug with a rope toy, others live for chasing a ball, and plenty adore plush toys they can snuggle with… or tear apart! The nice thing about toys is that they work in all sorts of situations, making them a solid backup reward option right behind treats.

Praise

This kind of reward should feel totally natural! It’s easy to gush over your dog when they do something right — even something as simple as going potty outside.

And honestly, pointing out all the great choices our dogs make is one of the best ways to build a stronger bond and help keep them on the right track.

Petting

Most dogs enjoy a nice massage or some gentle petting, but it’s still important to make sure your dog is actually liking it at that moment.

If you try to use petting as a reward during something exciting — like right after a tough recall — you might find your dog isn’t into it the way he usually is. So whenever you use touch as a reward, just check in with your pup’s body language and make sure it’s really working for him.

Games

Your dog just sprinted across the dog park when you called him, and you want to let him know how amazing that was. So why not celebrate with a game he absolutely loves?

The moment he reaches you, try running away for a quick chase or hiding for a fast round of hide-and-seek. It teaches him that coming when called always leads to something fun.

Training with rewards is not only fun, it strengthens your bond with your dog and helps them actually enjoy learning. Use these tips during your training sessions, and you’ll set yourself up for success while tapping into the real power of positive reinforcement.