Treats in dog training: Reward vs Bribe

Treats can be a wonderful tool in dog training. They are an easy method for reinforcing my favorite training method, positive reinforcement. They also help keep the dog’s attention span for longer periods of time. So why all the negativity surrounding treats in dog training? I believe it primarily stems from the large number of dogs that will only listen when treats are present. This behavior is a direct result of treats becoming a bribe instead of reward. 

Let’s talk about the difference between a treat being used as a reward vs a bribe.

A reward is something given after a task is complete, while a bribe is offered before the task is complete to offer incentive to complete the task. If you ask your dog to sit and he does, then you surprise him with a treat, that is a reward. If you show your dog the treat, then ask him to sit, that is a bribe. Understanding the difference is key to successful training. 

In the beginning stages of teaching a new command, I will often use the treat as a lure to help guide the dog to the position I want while he learns what the command is asking him to do. True, this could be seen as a bribe, however, the key difference is the intent behind it. It is one thing to use food as a lure to show your dog something new, and a complete different thing to use the food to get a noncompliant dog to pay attention.  I want to create a positive learning experience with as little frustration as possible while the dog learns the cue. Then I can begin the process of phasing out the lure after the initial learning stages.

Lures are meant to be temporary.

The process of phasing a lure out is done in small steps. First, mimic the lure with no treat in your hand and deliver the treat from the opposite hand after your dog completes the task. Once your dog gets used to following your hand without the treat, slowly begin asking the command without any type of hand movement and rewarding after the dog completes the task. Once your dog can respond to a verbal command only, it is time to start weaning away from treats. 

In order to be able to wean off of treats properly, you need to have some type of reward marker for your dog that is not food. A reward marker can be a clicker or any verbal word marking the precise moment your dog did the correct thing. This allows you to communicate clearly with your dog when they completed the correct cue, and gives you time to deliver the reward after the completion of the task. Reward markers are imperative for training your dog any task. Read more about reward markers and how to use them here. 

Randomizing treats early in training is key to making sure your treats are not a bribe. With the use of a proper reward marker, you can begin varying how often a treat is given, while still giving your dog praise and affirmation that he did the correct command. When you vary how often you give treats, you create the lottery effect for your dog. They never know if the next time is the time that they will “win” the reward, so they keep playing along. Make sure to know your dogs ability level and to use rewards more frequently if the task is more complex or more distractions are present.

Treats aren’t bad.

I never completely eliminate treats, even from older trained dogs. While I do expect them to respond whether a treat is present or not, I still want to reinforce their good behavior often with praise, pets and treats. Continued reinforcement and practice is what makes your commands stay fresh and strong.