Pets and Their People Blog

This blog post earned Honorable Mention in the Pet Professional Guild’s Pets and Their People Celebrating Life Together  community outreach competition in the Pet Professional Activities- Write a Blog Post category.

You know that rewarding behaviors you like gets you more nice behavior, but did you know that consequences aren’t the only way our pets learn? By giving your pet “free” treats – no good behavior required – you can build powerful associations which influence behavior and emotion.

If you’re used to consequence-based teaching, the hardest part of using this technique may be reducing your focus on “good behavior.” Unlike teaching with consequences, where good things follow good behavior, teaching through association has good things follow a certain trigger or cue, regardless of behavior.

Trainers use this method (called classical or Pavlovian conditioning) to reduce fear and teach new behaviors. Here are some examples:

Reducing Fear

Happy visits: If your pet is afraid of the vet, you may practice happy visits to help them feel better. Visit the vet’s office, give your pet treats, then leave without any exam or treatment. By teaching your pet that this location predicts “free” treats, you can reduce their fear and make it easier to access care.

Strangers predict treats: If your pet is afraid of strangers, you may give them a treat every time they meet someone new. Give the treat yourself, rather than having strangers hand feed your pet, so your pet doesn’t feel like they are being lured into danger. By teaching your pet that strangers predict “free” treats (and that they can keep a comfortable distance), you can reduce their fear and make it easier to make new friends.

Building New Behaviors

Check-in around distractions: If your dog is difficult to walk around other dogs, strangers, or another distraction, start giving them a treat every time you encounter the distraction on walks. Your dog will learn that this distraction predicts a treat, and they will look at you whenever they see it.

Eggplant recall: If you want to teach your pet to come when called, pick a word they don’t hear often (like “eggplant”) and practice saying this word then immediately giving them a favorite treat. Your pet will learn to come running for snacks when you say the magic word.

Tips for Success

Order of events: Make sure the treat comes after your pet has noticed the trigger or cue. You’re teaching your pet that these things predict food, not the other way around.

Be consistent: Give your pet a treat every time they encounter the trigger or hear their cue, regardless of their behavior. Keeping this 1:1 ratio is crucial for effective training.

Ask for help when needed: Learning a new training technique isn’t easy! Consider hiring a trainer, especially if your pet has a history of fear or aggression. Use the Pet Professional Guild directory to find help near you.

Give this technique a try, or ask a trainer for help. You’ll be amazed what a few “free” treats can accomplish!

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About the Author

Hannah Thiemann is a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant offering personalized training for dogs who can’t be left alone. With her online, evidence-based training program, she helps people around the world tackle separation anxiety and other separation-related behavior problems so they can live happier lives with the dogs they love. She lives with her wife and their two rescue dogs in Montevideo, Uruguay.

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About Celebrating Life Together – PPG’s Advocacy Event Raising Awareness for Humane, Ethical, and Effective Pet Training and Care 

Part 1 – Community Outreach Competition

• A Community Outreach Event where participants developed educational messages, videos, infographics, and blogs to circulate on their social media and in their local communities.
• An event designed to provide great examples of positive reinforcement training and pet care procedures that all pet guardians can embrace.

Part 2 – Virtual Education Event NOW A RECORDED PACKAGE

• A total of 67 hours of education!
• Registrants get access to the session recordings for one year.
• CEUs are available.