What a Dog Trainer’s Change of Mind Means for Your Dog
A new look at why some trainers move to reward-based methods offers practical lessons for choosing help and making everyday training more useful.
If your dog jumps on visitors or ignores a cue outdoors, it is tempting to look for a technique that stops the behavior immediately. A recent Psychology Today article highlights a different question: what is the dog learning, and how does the training feel to them? The article draws on interviews with professional trainers who had used aversive methods, including some who later switched to reward-based training. Their experiences offer a useful way to rethink what you practice at home and what you ask of a trainer.
What the research actually found
The study, published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science, interviewed 35 U.S. trainers: 17 who now used reward-based methods and 18 who used a mix of rewards and aversive methods. Both groups said they cared about dogs’ welfare, valued owner education, and used positive reinforcement frequently. They differed in how they judged the use of aversives. Trainers who had moved to reward-based practice described growing concern for dogs’ experiences and learning more about behavior as reasons for changing course. Mixed-methods trainers more often defended aversives for particular situations. These interviews explain trainers’ views; they do not measure which method worked best for the dogs they trained. The researchers also caution that 35 participating trainers cannot represent the whole profession. For an owner, the practical lesson is to ask what a proposed technique teaches your dog, beyond whether it interrupts a behavior in the moment.
Give your dog a behavior to practice
Reward-based training starts with a clear action you want to see again. If your dog jumps when someone arrives, decide what they can do instead, such as keeping four paws on the floor or going to a familiar spot. Practice that action in a quiet setting before adding the excitement of a visitor. Reward it promptly with something your dog enjoys, whether that is food, a toy, or attention. A brief word such as “yes” can mark the exact moment they get it right; follow the marker with the reward. Start with an easy version of the task and make one change at a time. A dog that responds in the kitchen may need more practice before the same cue makes sense at the front door. If a session becomes confusing, return to a step your dog can manage. This gives you a way to observe progress: can your dog perform the new action more readily in the setting where you need it?
Use everyday life for practice and enrichment
Training does not have to be a formal lesson every time. You can reward a calm pause before opening a door, practice a familiar cue during a walk, or let your dog search for part of their usual food in a suitable puzzle. Dogs Trust recommends activities that let dogs sniff, explore, play, and solve manageable problems. Choose activities your dog appears to enjoy, supervise homemade food games, and make a puzzle easier if it causes frustration. If you use food from your dog’s daily meals for games or training, account for it in what you serve later. A sniffing opportunity or a simple search game can add variety to the day, while a short practice session gives you another chance to reward a useful skill.
Ask a trainer to explain the plan
Before booking, describe one behavior you want help with and ask the trainer to walk you through a likely first session. What will your dog be asked to do? How will success be rewarded? What will happen if the dog struggles? A useful answer should include changes you can make to the setup, a skill to teach, and a way to judge progress. Ask which tools the trainer uses and whether they use leash corrections, prong collars, or electronic collars. The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior recommends reward-based methods for dog training and advises against aversive methods. You can also ask how the trainer will teach you to practice between sessions; the plan should make sense when the trainer is gone. If you want a place to begin on your own, explore a structured reward-based guide with simple games and practice one skill at a time.
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