• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Your Dog's Friend

A NONPROFIT IN ROCKVILLE, MD WITH FORCE-FREE, POSITIVE DOG TRAINING, WORKSHOPS & WEBINARS

  • Home
  • Webinars
    • Schedule
    • Videos
  • Online Classes
  • In-Person Classes
  • All Classes
    • COVID-19 Policies
    • Schedule At-A-Glance
    • Puppies – Start Here!
    • Basic – Start Here!
    • Beyond Basic
    • Behavior
    • Reactive Dogs
    • Sports & Enrichment
    • Single Session
    • Kids & Dogs
  • About Us
    • About YDF
    • Location
    • What Is Positive Training?
    • Instructors & Staff
    • Donate or Volunteer
  • Life with Dogs
    • Choosing Your Dog
      • Plan for A Successful Match
        • Write Your Dog Wishlist
        • Learn About Breed Tendencies
        • Reputable Breeders vs. Puppy Mills
      • Where To Look For A New Dog
      • How to Select The Best Dog For You
      • Preparing Your Home For Your Dog
    • General Advice
      • Dogs 101
      • 10 Tips for Humans
      • What Your Dog Needs
      • Prevent or Find A Lost Dog
    • Dogs at Home
      • Advice for Puppy Parents
      • Children & Dogs
      • Preparing Your Dog for a New Baby
      • Multi-Pet Households
    • Dog Parks & Dog Play
    • Body Language
      • Learn to Speak Dog
      • Reading Body Language
  • Resources
    • Positive Trainers & Behaviorists
    • Dog Walkers & Vacation Care
    • Products We Sell
    • Books, Toys, & Products We Love
    • Websites We Recommend
    • Grooming
    • Need Help Paying Vet Bills?
  • Behavior Issues
  • Contact

bribes

Bribes vs Rewards

March 25, 2015 by Debra Ekman

by Nancy Tucker (“The Normal Dog” Blog – March 22, 2011)

Every single time I walk with Woody, I bring along a treat pouch with a mishmash of various goodies. Maybe some kibble, maybe some dried liver, maybe some cheese, maybe some apple chunks, or maybe some of Woody’s favorite Zukes.

Recently, someone remarked, “What? You STILL need to carry treats for your dog??”

Well, no. Of course I don’t need to. But why on earth wouldn’t I? During our walks, I can come across plenty of perfect opportunities to toss him a reward to let him know he’s done something I liked.

Like the day we came face-to-face with someone walking a dog who clearly didn’t want Woody to approach him. What did Woody do when he saw the dog? Well, in the past, he would have taken off like a bullet towards the dog, with me skidding behind him on my heels like a cartoon character. But this day, Woody paused and turned towards me. Yesssssssssss! Good boy! Here’s a treat. Here’s another! Here are three more on the ground… Find it! Find it!

By the time Woody looked up again, the other dog had passed, and we went on our merry way. In those few seconds of activity, I reinforced a behavior in my dog that originally took me a very long time to instill. It cost me precisely 5 treats. Yay for Woody! In return, I have a dog who is much more likely to repeat this behavior the next time we come across a similar situation. Yay for me!

“But isn’t he only doing it because you have treats?”… Well, no. He did it because there was the
possibility of treats. I did not promise a treat beforehand by waving it in front of Woody and saying, “Here Woody! Look what I have! This way.. this way! Woooooo-dy! Look at me! Look at me! Want some cheese? Woody? Woody? WOODY?!! Want some liver? Here Woody! Over here! Cookie? Cooooooookieeeeeeee??”… in a desperate attempt to win his attention.

Instead, because I had tossed him a treat in the past whenever another dog was in the vicinity, Woody quickly calculated the odds of getting a treat on this particular occasion. He saw the dog, then took a gamble and glanced at me. “Ding-ding-ding-ding-ding-ding!!!” Jackpot! Glancing at me is exactly what I want him to do. To let him know, I reward him. Woody has now figured out that offering this behavior works out very well for him indeed. By rewarding him, I’ve just made this behavior stronger and more likely to happen again. Everyone wins.

With a bribe, the promise of payment comes before the behavior is executed. With a reward, the behavior comes first. I waited for Woody to offer me the behavior I was looking for, and when I got it, I rewarded him.

I see nothing wrong with snatching up random opportunities like this to let your dog know he’s doing something right. I assure you, you’re not “spoiling” him. On some walks, Woody might get three treats. On others, he might get ten. And still on others, he might get none! Thanks to this unpredictable treat schedule, I’ve successfully turned Woody into a gambling addict, which in turn makes him a very well-behaved dog.

Well… most of the time…. 😉

Nancy Tucker’s blogs: http://thenormaldog.blogspot.ca

Nancy Tucker’s web site: http://nancytucker.ca

Filed Under: Behavior Tips Tagged With: bribes, rewards, training

Primary Sidebar

Featured Free Webinar

Featured In-Person Class

Featured Online Class

Featured Body Language Video

Dogs don't speak with words. They speak with their bodies. They are talking ALL the time. An excellent video by TheFamilyDog.

Before Footer

yourdogsfriendtraining

Nonprofit to support dog parents in DC & worldwide
R+ dog training classes (online & in person), free webinars, advice, referrals
Nicole (she/her) 👋

Your Dog's Friend
Our latest webinar on demand is brand new! Animal Our latest webinar on demand is brand new! Animal House — Keeping  Feuds to a Dull Roar, presented by @oscarwinningbehavior , is SO GOOD, and — we’ve gotta say — not just for multianimal homes! There’s so much great info here for anyone interested in continuing to learn about dogs. You can find it on our YouTube playlist at the link in our Bio! Thank you, @oscarwinningbehavior and everyone who watches and shares! 🤗 🐕 🐈
Just added — Online Reactive Dog Class, Tues Mar Just added — Online Reactive Dog Class, Tues Mar 16 at 8:30 pm ET!
.
There’s been a lot of demand for this class lately, so we’ve just added this section! Class enrollment includes invite to a private FB group for current student, alumni, and instructor support. 
.
Check it out at link in Bio ~> Online Classes.
Free webinar with Tracy Krulik, CTC, CSAT, tomorro Free webinar with Tracy Krulik, CTC,
CSAT, tomorrow, Sat Feb 27 at 2PM ET, “Beyond COVID — Helping Your Pup Prepare to Be Left Alone.”
.
This one will be recorded, but it won’t be up on our YouTube playlist until mid March (when our editing volunteer returns), so join us live if you can! 
.
Link to register in bio! We changed our platform from WebinarJam to Zoom, so if you think you’ve already registered, just be sure the link you have is a Zoom link! 😊
We got to meet Holly at a TeaPup Party this week! We got to meet Holly at a TeaPup Party this week! How cute is she!? 😍
.
@metropolitandogllc #teapupparty #cutepuppy #sofluffy
Our next Agility Special with @metropolitandogllc Our next Agility Special with @metropolitandogllc is coming up on Tues, Mar 30! 
.
Link in bio to learn more & register, or let us know if you have questions!
.
#agility #dogtraining #funwithyourdog #dcdogs #dcpup #mocodog #dogparent #dcdogparent
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Footer

Copyright © 2021 · Your Dog's Friend · Log in