Positive Reinforcement vs. the Rest: Why It’s a Clear Winner for Dog Training

A woman in a winter coat training a large Rottweiler outdoors, with the dog sitting up on its hind legs.

Positive reinforcement training strengthens the bond between you and your dog, making learning fun and effective.

By Siddhika Bhat, certified dog trainer and behaviourist, founder of Wagabonding: Dog Training and Beyond

When it comes to training your dog, the goal should always be to build a bond, not a barrier. The approach you take will shape your relationship with your dog and, importantly, impact their mental development and emotional wellbeing. You may come across trainers online using aversive methods that deliver fast results, but don’t be fooled: quick fixes can leave lasting damage. You might see a behaviour stop in the moment, but in the long run, you’re not just teaching commands, you’re shaping your dog’s personality. Let’s explore why positive reinforcement is the best approach for raising a happy, healthy, and emotionally secure dog in the UK.

Cracking the Code on the Four Quadrants of Dog Training

To understand how different training methods work, it’s helpful to start with the science behind them. Most dog training is based on operant conditioning: a psychological framework that explains how behaviour is influenced by consequences.

Quick Look at Operant Conditioning

Operant conditioning is a learning theory developed by behavioural psychologist B.F. Skinner. It focuses on how rewards and punishments increase or decrease the likelihood of a particular behaviour. It’s the foundation of many modern training systems.

Here are the four key terms to know:

Positive: Something is added
Negative: Something is taken away
Reinforcement: Behaviour is encouraged to increase
Punishment: Behaviour is discouraged or reduced

Positive Reinforcement

Positive reinforcement means adding something rewarding, such as a treat, toy, or verbal praise, after your dog displays a desirable behaviour. The idea is to make good behaviours so rewarding that your dog chooses to repeat them.

For example, you ask your dog to sit, and the moment they do, you give them a treat. Or you notice your dog quietly relaxing in their bed, so you reward that calm behaviour with attention or a favourite toy.

Pros

Encourages voluntary, enthusiastic behaviour
Supports long-term learning and retention
Suitable for dogs of all ages and temperaments
Works across many species
Builds trust between you and your dog
Enhances focus, problem-solving, and emotional regulation

Cons

Can lead to over-reliance on rewards if not phased out properly
May not be ideal for immediately stopping dangerous behaviours
Requires good timing and consistency
Mistimed rewards could reinforce unwanted behaviour
Needs patience and planning, especially with easily distracted dogs

A person holding a heart-shaped treat in front of a happy black dog sitting on a forest floor.

Rewarding good behaviour with treats helps reinforce positive habits and builds confidence in your dog.

Positive Punishment

In behavioural terms, “positive” means adding something, and “punishment” means reducing a behaviour. So, positive punishment involves adding something unpleasant after an undesirable behaviour to make it less likely to happen again.

A common example is using a prong collar that tightens when the dog pulls on the lead—the discomfort is meant to discourage pulling.

Pros

Can stop certain behaviours immediately
Easy to apply in urgent or dangerous situations

Cons

Increases the risk of fear, anxiety, and aggression
Undermines trust between dog and handler
Doesn’t teach a better alternative behaviour
Can lead to shutdown or avoidance
May cause physical or emotional harm

Negative Reinforcement

Negative reinforcement involves removing something unpleasant when the dog displays the desired behaviour. The idea is to motivate the behaviour by relieving pressure or discomfort.

An example: you apply gentle pressure to your dog’s back until they sit, then release the pressure once they comply. Another example is turning off a noisy vacuum cleaner once a frightened dog lies down in their bed.

Pros

Teaches clear cause and effect
Can provide immediate motivation in some situations
May encourage behavioural self-correction

Cons

Can reinforce fear or stress if used incorrectly
Doesn’t always teach what the correct behaviour is
May lead to confusion or unpredictability
Can damage the handler-dog bond
Often relies on unpleasant stimuli to be effective

Negative Punishment

Negative punishment means taking away something the dog wants in order to reduce an unwanted behaviour. For instance, if your dog is playing too roughly, removing the toy for a short time teaches them that rough play ends the fun.

When used alongside positive reinforcement, this approach helps teach boundaries without causing harm.

Pros

Gentle method of behaviour correction
Easy to apply at home
Encourages learning through natural consequences
Effective when paired with reward-based reinforcement

Cons

Can cause confusion or frustration if used too often
Less effective when used on its own
May cause behaviours to worsen temporarily before improving (known as an extinction burst)

A golden retriever lying on a cozy rug, looking content next to a jar labeled "Good Boy" filled with dog treats.

Consistent rewards create a happy, well-trained dog who associates learning with positive experiences.

Positive Reinforcement: The Clear Winner

Positive reinforcement is widely recognised as the most effective, ethical, and humane approach to dog training. It aligns with our evolving understanding of dogs as sentient beings who thrive in predictable, supportive environments.

Rather than focusing on control or submission, this method fosters learning, cooperation, and emotional stability.

It:

Builds lasting trust and communication
Creates a positive and safe learning space
Improves a dog’s memory, focus, and motivation
Helps reduce anxiety, stress, and unwanted behaviours
Encourages dogs to participate willingly in training
Promotes long-term behaviour change with fewer setbacks
Helps dog guardians become more attentive and confident trainers

As noted by the British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA):

“The BSAVA strongly recommends the use of positive reinforcement training methods that could replace those using aversive stimuli.”

Ready, Set, Train: The Future of Dog Training Is Positive!

Whether you’re raising a rescue in a London flat or training a working breed in the countryside, British dog owners benefit from using positive reinforcement. It’s a modern, science-backed method that respects your dog’s emotional needs and builds a stronger relationship through encouragement rather than fear.

And while no single approach fits every dog or every situation, positive reinforcement gives you the most reliable foundation to train with compassion, clarity, and confidence. So pop the lead on, grab your rewards, and train the UK way: calm, kind, and forward-thinking.