12/29/2025
Reward Schedules in Dog Training
Article Eight: When Rewards Fade And When They Shouldn’t
At some point in almost every training journey, someone asks:
“So… when do I stop rewarding?”
It’s usually asked with good intentions, mild concern, and a vague fear that the dog might demand payment for the rest of its natural life.
Let’s clear this up once and for all.
Rewards do not disappear.
They evolve.
And knowing the difference is what separates reliable training from wishful thinking.
The Myth of “Phasing Out” Rewards
The idea that rewards should be completely removed is one of the most persistent myths in dog training.
Behaviours don’t stay strong because they were once rewarded.
They stay strong because they continue to work.
Remove reinforcement entirely and behaviour will:
• Degrade
• Slow
• Lose precision
• Or disappear altogether
This isn’t a training failure, it’s how learning works.
Professional Dogs Still Get Paid
This point often surprises people.
Police dogs.
Search dogs.
Sport dogs.
Assistance dogs.
All of them still receive reinforcement, sometimes obvious, sometimes subtle, sometimes delayed, but always present.
What changes is:
• The type of reward
• The timing
• The delivery
• The visibility
What doesn’t change is the feedback loop.
Rewards Change Shape Over Time
As training progresses, rewards often shift from:
• Food → play
• Food → praise
• Food → access to environment
• Immediate → delayed
• Frequent → strategic
This is not fading rewards.
It’s layering reinforcement.
A dog that recalls and is released back to sniff has been rewarded.
A dog that heels and is sent to work has been rewarded.
A dog that performs well and hears a clear marker has been rewarded.
Payment doesn’t always come in sausage form.
When Rewards Should Increase Again
Here’s the part many people forget.
Reinforcement should increase when:
• The environment changes
• Distractions increase
• Stress rises
• Emotional pressure is present
• Criteria are raised
Stepping reinforcement back up is not failure.
It’s intelligent handling.
Good trainers are generous when things get hard.
The Danger of Withholding Rewards
Withholding reinforcement to “prove” training often leads to:
• Reduced effort
• Conflict behaviours
• Frustration
• Avoidance
• A dog that works only when managed
Reliability is not built by deprivation.
It’s built by consistent, fair feedback.
Lifelong Reinforcement Is Normal
Dogs are not machines.
They are learners.
Learning systems that rely on ongoing feedback remain strong.
Those that don’t eventually decay.
The question is not:
“How do I stop rewarding?”
It’s:
“How do I reinforce this in a way that suits real life?”
A Final Reality Check
You still get paid for work you learned years ago.
You still receive feedback.
You still respond better when effort is recognised.
Dogs are no different.
Expecting lifetime performance without reinforcement isn’t leadership, it’s unrealistic.
The Final Takeaway
Reward schedules are not about control.
They’re about communication.
Used properly, they:
• Build confidence
• Create reliability
• Strengthen relationships
• Reduce conflict
• Make training fair
Used poorly, they create confusion, frustration, and blame, usually aimed at the dog.
Train generously.
Progress thoughtfully.
Pay fairly.
Your dog will meet you there.
Merry Christmas everyone, hope you all have a lovely day 🐾❤️🐾
