Dog Training Methods Compared: Positive Reinforcement and Beyond

Dog training is an unregulated field. There are no educational requirements and no required credentials, so two trainers in the same town can use completely different methods and both call themselves professionals. Some of those methods are outdated and force-based, and they can cause more problems than they claim to solve. This guide explains the main approaches to dog training, what the veterinary evidence says about each, and how to find a qualified trainer or behavior consultant.

How Dogs Learn

All training methods rely on the same basic learning principles. Behaviorists describe four ways to change behavior with consequences:

  • Positive reinforcement: adding something the dog likes, such as a treat, toy, or praise, to make a behavior more likely. A dog sits and gets a treat.
  • Negative punishment: removing something the dog likes to make a behavior less likely. A puppy nips during play and the game stops for a few seconds.
  • Positive punishment: adding something unpleasant to make a behavior less likely. A leash jerk when the dog pulls, or a shock from an electronic collar.
  • Negative reinforcement: removing something unpleasant when the dog does what you want. Pressure from a prong collar or ear pinch that stops only when the dog complies.

In "positive" and "negative," think of adding and removing, not good and bad. The training methods below differ in which of these tools they rely on.

Reward-Based Training

Reward-based training, sometimes called positive reinforcement or force-free training, teaches dogs what to do by rewarding the behaviors we want. Unwanted behavior is prevented through management, interrupted calmly, or simply not rewarded, and the dog is shown a better alternative. Rewards can be food, toys, play, praise, or access to things the dog enjoys, such as going outside or greeting a friend.

Reward-based methods are effective for everything from puppy manners to complex behaviors such as assistance dog work, detection work, and competitive sports. They also work for dogs with fear and aggression problems, because they change how a dog feels about a situation instead of suppressing the warning signs.

Aversive and "Balanced" Training

Aversive training relies on discomfort, pain, or fear to stop behavior. Common tools include choke chains, prong or pinch collars, electronic shock collars (often marketed as "e-collars," "stim," or "remote trainers"), leash corrections, spray bottles, and physical corrections such as hitting or pinning a dog down. "Balanced" training describes a mix of rewards and aversive corrections.

Aversive methods can suppress a behavior in the moment, which is why they can look effective. But they do not teach the dog what to do instead, and they carry well-documented risks.

What the Evidence Shows

The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB), the professional organization of veterinarians with an interest in behavior, reviewed the research and concluded in its 2021 position statement on humane dog training that only reward-based methods should be used for training and behavior modification. The research behind that position includes:

  • A 2020 study from Portugal found that dogs trained at schools using aversive methods showed more stress behaviors during training and higher stress hormone levels afterward than dogs trained with rewards. In a separate test, they also behaved more "pessimistically," suggesting a lasting effect on their emotional state.
  • A 2020 study in the United Kingdom compared electronic collar training with reward-based training for problems such as poor recall and chasing. Reward-based training was at least as effective, and dogs trained with the electronic collar showed more signs of stress.
  • A 2009 survey of dog owners seen at a university veterinary behavior service found that confrontational techniques, such as hitting a dog, forcing it onto its back (the "alpha roll"), or staring it down, provoked an aggressive response in a substantial share of dogs.
  • Earlier research found that owners who relied on punishment reported more behavior problems in their dogs than owners who used rewards.

Aversive methods also carry specific risks. A dog corrected when it growls may learn to stop growling instead of stopping being afraid, which removes the warning before a bite. A dog shocked or jerked in the presence of other dogs, children, or strangers can come to associate those things with pain.

The Myth of Dominance

Many aversive methods grew out of the idea that dogs misbehave because they are trying to be "dominant" over their owners, so the owner must act as the "alpha." This idea came from early studies of unrelated captive wolves and has since been rejected by the researchers who study wolves and dogs. Most behavior problems in pet dogs are caused by fear, frustration, lack of training, or behaviors that have been accidentally rewarded, not by a bid for rank. AVSAB's position statement on the use of dominance theory warns that dominance-based approaches can put owners in danger and make problems worse.

How to Find a Qualified Trainer or Behavior Consultant

When you look for a trainer or behavior consultant, these steps will help:

  1. Ask your veterinary team. Your veterinarian often has trusted relationships with skilled, reward-based trainers and behavior consultants in your area.
  2. Look for reward-based organizations. Many professional organizations for reward-based trainers have searchable directories of their members, including the Academy for Dog Trainers, the Pet Professional Guild, the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers, the Association of Professional Dog Trainers, the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants, the Karen Pryor Academy, Peaceable Paws, Victoria Stilwell Positively, and the Animal Behavior College.
  3. Check credentials. Look for a certification or graduate program from a reputable, reward-based institution. Most trainers list their credentials after their name or on their website. If you do not see them, ask.
  4. Ask about methods directly. Ask what happens when your dog gets it right, and what happens when your dog gets it wrong. A trainer with nothing to hide will answer both halves plainly.
  5. Watch a class first. Credentials do not guarantee good teaching skills. Observe how the trainer treats dogs and people, what equipment they use, and whether the dogs look relaxed and engaged.
  6. Check for insurance. Professional liability insurance is standard practice for trainers where it is available.
  7. Trust your instincts. If anything a trainer does to your dog makes you uncomfortable, you can stop the session.

Our article on transparency in dog training explains the warning signs in trainer marketing and how to read vague language about "corrections."

Credentials Worth Looking For

  • Fear Free Certified Animal Trainer
  • Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner (KPA CTP)
  • Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC)
  • Academy for Dog Trainers graduate (CTC)
  • Victoria Stilwell Positively Dog Trainer (VSPDT)
  • Certified Behavior Consultant Canine (CBCC-KA)
  • Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA or CPDT-KSA)
  • Animal Behavior College Certified Dog Trainer (ABCDT)
  • Pet Professional Guild accredited credentials, such as Professional Canine Trainer (PCT-A) and Professional Canine Behavior Consultant (PCBC-A)
  • Pat Miller Certified Trainer (PMCT)

For serious behavior problems, such as aggression, severe anxiety, or compulsive behavior, the most qualified professionals are veterinary behaviorists, who are veterinarians board-certified by the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists (DACVB), and certified applied animal behaviorists (CAAB). They can diagnose medical contributors to behavior problems and, in the case of veterinary behaviorists, prescribe medication when it is needed.

Further Reading

AVSAB publishes free position statements for dog owners on humane dog training, the use of dominance theory in behavior modification, puppy socialization, and positive veterinary care. They are available on the AVSAB website.

When to Call Your Veterinarian

Talk to your veterinarian before starting any training program for aggression, fear, or anxiety, and whenever a behavior changes suddenly. Pain and other medical problems are common hidden causes of irritability and aggression, and no training method can fix a problem that is rooted in pain.