21/04/2026
Reinforcement, Punishment, and Why We Use Treats.
In dog training, reinforcement simply means making a behaviour more likely to happen again, while punishment means making a behaviour less likely. These are scientific terms, not emotional ones.
Force-free trainers and behaviourists use treats, praise, and toys because they work with the positive brain systems, not against it. Rewards activate the brain’s SEEKING and reward systems, releasing dopamine and building positive associations. The SEEKING system is a dopaminergic system, responsible for dopamine release, making a dog feel calm and happy.
When dogs feel safe and motivated, they learn faster, retain behaviours better, and build confidence.
Using treats is not bribery — it’s communication. We reward behaviours we want to see again, strengthening neural pathways and making learning clear and predictable.
So why are some people anti-treats? Often it comes from misunderstanding the science. Some believe treats create dependency or “bribe” dogs, but in reality, reinforcement is how all animals — including humans — learn. We all repeat behaviours that are rewarding.
Force-free training isn’t about “just throwing treats.” It’s about using proven tools—food, praise, play, and safety—to shape behaviour, build trust, and support emotional wellbeing.
There's a lot more to it but this is a brief explanation. If you're interested in how the brain works and the seven core emotional systems that all mammals have (including humans), there's a very good book called Affective Neuroscience by Jaak Panksepp. Not light reading but will definitely provide a very clear understanding of the brain systems, neural pathways, reinforcement amongst other things.
Ultimately it's entirely up to each individual what kind of relationship they would like to have with your dogs as well as how you would like to train them.
FORCE-FREE, Science based behaviour and training ROCK! 🥰🐶💖🥳💥
Lucille Hepburn Animal-Behaviourist
Hout Bay Puppy School
