- Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
Dog training isn’t one-size-fits-all. Training guides a dog’s behavior with a range of philosophies and tools, grouped into two broad categories: reward-based training and aversive training.
Reward-based training, also called positive reinforcement training, encourages desired behaviors with rewards like treats and praise. Aversive training discourages unwanted behaviors with unpleasant consequences. Trainers might use a variety of techniques within these approaches to teach behaviors.
“Scientific research supports training that doesn’t incorporate pain, fear, force, or intimidation,” says Allie Bender, certified professional dog trainer and founder of Pet Harmony. This style of training goes by several names, including positive reinforcement, reward-based training, force-free training, and fear-free training, Bender says.
In this guide, we’ll break down the most common dog training methods and techniques and explain why experts widely recommend positive reinforcement as the most effective and humane approach.
Pro tip: First time training your dog? Professional dog training can help you reach your goals faster. Search for a positive reinforcement trainer near you who specializes in humane, science-backed training methods.
Dog Training Methods vs. Techniques
First, it’s important to clearly distinguish between a training method and a training technique.
Bender explains it this way: A dog training method is the overall philosophy you use when training dogs, while a training technique is a specific procedure.
“For example, my training methodology is that I don’t rely on or use techniques that result in pain, fear, force, or intimidation,” Bender says. “A training technique I might use is luring.”
Luring involves moving a treat in a way that encourages the dog to follow it and perform the behavior she’s trying to teach, she explains.
Dog Training Methods
Here are the three most common training methods.
Positive reinforcement training (reward-based training)
Positive reinforcement training focuses on rewarding the behaviors you want with treats, praise, toys, or access to something the dog enjoys. For example, when a dog sits on cue, they receive a treat. This makes it more likely they’ll repeat the behavior in the future.
“Veterinary and behavior organizations recommend reward-based training methods because they are associated with lower stress, better relationships, and improved learning outcomes,” says Erin Askeland, certified professional dog trainer and behavior consultant at Camp Bow Wow.
Aversive training (correction-based training)
Askeland explains that aversive training relies on the application of force, pain, or emotional or physical discomfort to suppress unwanted behaviors. Techniques may include leash corrections, physical corrections, or tools designed to deliver unpleasant sensations, such as prong or shock collars.
The three subtypes include:
- Negative reinforcement: An unpleasant stimulus is removed when a dog performs the desired behavior. This increases the chances of the desired behavior happening again. Example: If a dog wearing a prong collar stops pulling, this releases the collar’s pressure.
- Positive punishment: An unpleasant consequence is added after a behavior. This makes the behavior less likely to happen again. Example: A dog is sprayed with water when they bark.
- Negative punishment: Something the dog wants is removed after an unwanted behavior. This reduces the chances of them repeating the behavior. Example: A person stops paying attention to the dog when the dog jumps up.
The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB) discourages the use of aversive training methods because they can increase a dog’s stress, cause physical or emotional harm, and damage the trust and bond between dogs and their people.
Balanced training
“Balanced training generally refers to the use of reinforcement along with punishment tools or corrections,” Askeland says.
For example, trainers may reward good behavior but also discourage unwanted behaviors with corrections or tools, like leash corrections, ignoring a misbehaving dog, and prong or electronic collars.
Although this approach uses some rewards, experts generally recommend purely positive reinforcement methods because they’re best for dogs and get the most results.
Dog Training Techniques
Training techniques include the specific actions trainers use to teach behaviors. Many techniques can be used within multiple training approaches, Bender says. Whether the method is considered positive or aversive can depend on how you use it.
The most common training techniques include:
- Luring: Using a treat or dog-safe toy to guide a dog into a desired position, such as moving a treat upward to encourage a sit.
- Capturing: Rewarding a behavior when the dog naturally performs it on their own.
- Shaping: Reinforcing small steps toward a desired behavior until the final behavior is achieved.
- Marker training: Using a word like “yes” or a click sound to mark the exact moment a dog performs the correct behavior.
- Clicker training: A form of marker training that uses a clicker device to mark positive behaviors precisely.
- Target training: Teaching a dog to touch or move toward a specific object.
- Modeling/social learning: Allowing dogs to learn by observing other dogs performing desired behaviors.
- Management: Adjusting the environment with baby gates, leashes, and other tools to prevent unwanted behaviors.
- Desensitization: Gradually exposing a dog to something they find scary in controlled steps.
- Counterconditioning: Changing a dog’s emotional response by pairing something scary with positive experiences.
- Interruption/redirection: Interrupting unwanted behavior and redirecting the dog toward a more appropriate action.
Trainers will choose techniques based on your dog’s personality and learning style, along with your training goals and the behavior you want to address.
Are There Outdated Training Methods?
Dog training has evolved significantly over the past century. Earlier approaches often relied heavily on aversive training and ideas like dominance theory, which suggested dogs needed strict discipline or physical corrections to respect their human “alpha.”
Today, modern behavioral science has largely moved away from this.
In its 2021 position statement on humane dog training, the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB) states that aversive techniques, such as electronic collars, prong collars, choke chains, leash corrections, and other forms of physical or psychological punishment, are unnecessary for successful dog training and should be avoided. They recommend reward-based training methods for dog training and behavior modification.
The organization highlights several key findings from research that support their reasoning:
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Aversive training methods have been linked to long-term behavior problems: These include aggression toward people or other dogs and anxiety-related behaviors like avoidance and excessive excitability.
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Scientific literature shows a clear advantage of reward-based training: Positive reinforcement promotes both immediate and long-term welfare, training effectiveness, and the dog–human relationship.
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Studies show greater obedience in dogs trained exclusively with reward-based methods: Dogs trained with aversive or balanced techniques show lower levels of obedience.
Setting Your Dog Up for Training Success
Dog training has plenty of benefits for you and your dog. That said, your dog’s success depends heavily on using the right training method and your consistency as their caretaker. Here are some key tips to keep in mind.
- Practice positive reinforcement: Using the right training method from the start is vital. “It will save you time, money, and frustration to choose the right training method and professional from the start,” Bender says. She notes that some dogs end up needing additional training or rehabilitation after working with trainers who used harsh tools or outdated theories.
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Research trainers carefully: Dog training is an unregulated industry, meaning anyone can call themselves a trainer regardless of their experience, education, or credentials. Because of this, it’s important to carefully research trainers and ask about their philosophy.
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Practice at home: Even if you work with a professional trainer, continue practicing at home. This will reinforce what your dog learned during training sessions.
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Be consistent: Dogs learn best with predictable rules and expectations.
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Focus on timing: Give rewards immediately so dogs can clearly connect them to the behavior.
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Practice patience: Learning takes time, especially for young dogs or complex behaviors.
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Progress gradually: Many training goals, especially socialization, require slow, structured exposure.
If you’re considering professional help, Rover’s trainer search tool can help you find a qualified professional near you. Trainers listed on Rover must pass a third-party background check, provide proof of education or certification in dog training, and commit to using reward-based training methods.
