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 dog training, the key is to build a bond… not a barrier! The method you choose sets the tone for your relationship with your pup and, believe it or not, influences their cognitive abilities and emotional health. Aversive trainers might be trending online with their quick fixes, but don’t be fooled: just because results are fast doesn’t mean they’re kind or lasting. In fact, these methods often leave a mark, and it’s usually not a good one. Sure, you might stop a behaviour in the moment, but in the long run, you’re not just training your dog, you’re shaping who they become. Let’s explore why positive reinforcement leads the way for raising a happy, healthy, and mentally sharp dog in a Canadian home.

Cracking the Code on the Four Quadrants of Dog Training

To truly understand the range of training methods, it helps to start with the science behind them. Dog training is largely rooted in a concept known as operant conditioning, which breaks down behaviour into four distinct categories.

Quick Look at Operant Conditioning

Operant conditioning is a method of learning that uses rewards and punishments to teach or adjust behaviour. In this model, a dog is rewarded every time they display a desirable action. On the flip side, behaviours followed by punishment are less likely to occur again. This system was developed by B.F. Skinner, a behavioural scientist in the 1950s.

For the purposes of this article, we’ll focus on four key terms:

Positive: Something is added
Negative: Something is taken away
Reinforcement: Behaviour is likely to increase or strengthen
Punishment: Behaviour is likely to decrease or extinguish

Positive Reinforcement

This is the gold standard in dog training, and for good reason. Positive reinforcement means adding something your dog likes (such as a treat, toy, or verbal praise) immediately after they display a good behaviour. This encourages them to repeat it.

For example, asking your dog to sit and giving them a treat once they do it is positive reinforcement. Another great example? Noticing your pup calmly relaxing in their crate and giving them a few kind words or a chew toy to reinforce the calm behaviour.

Pros

Promotes voluntary behaviour
Encourages long-term learning
Suitable for dogs of all ages, sizes, and personalities
Can be applied to multiple species
Strengthens trust and the human-canine bond
Enhances cognitive skills

Cons

Dogs may become overly dependent on rewards
Less effective at immediately interrupting unwanted behaviours
Requires consistency and patience
Timing is key: mistimed rewards may reinforce the wrong action
May not be ideal in emergency or high-stimulation situations

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

Despite its name, there’s nothing “positive” about this form of punishment. In training terms, positive means adding a stimulus, and punishment means discouraging a behaviour. So, positive punishment involves adding something unpleasant to reduce an undesirable behaviour.

An example? Using a prong collar that tightens every time your dog pulls on the lead. The pain is added as a consequence of the behaviour, which ideally discourages future pulling.

Pros

Can stop dangerous behaviours quickly
Simple to apply in the moment
Sometimes useful in emergency situations

Cons

Can lead to increased aggression over time
Breaks down trust between you and your dog
Can cause anxiety, fear, and even physical injury
Doesn’t teach what to do, only what not to do
May lead to shutdown or avoidance

Negative Reinforcement

This method involves removing an unpleasant stimulus when the dog performs the desired behaviour. The aim is to strengthen the behaviour by relieving discomfort.

For example, gently pressing on a dog’s rear to encourage them to sit and releasing the pressure once they comply. Another example often used is turning off a scary vacuum cleaner once a nervous dog goes to their bed.

While it can be effective in some scenarios, negative reinforcement walks a fine line with positive punishment and can easily become aversive if misused.

Pros

Helps dogs understand cause and effect
Can provide immediate behaviour correction
Occasionally encourages self-regulation

Cons

Can reinforce fear or anxiety
Risk of learned helplessness
May not teach the preferred alternative behaviour
Can damage trust with the handler
Often relies on unpleasant stimuli to work

Negative Punishment

This approach involves removing something the dog values in response to an unwanted behaviour. For example, if your dog plays too rough, you take the toy away. The removal of the reward teaches your dog that rough play leads to loss of fun.

When paired with positive reinforcement, negative punishment can be part of a balanced and force-free training toolkit.

Pros

Non-harmful method of behaviour correction
Encourages learning through natural consequences
Easier for many owners to implement consistently
Supports learning through associations

Cons

May cause frustration or confusion if used improperly
Not very effective without positive reinforcement to guide desired behaviours
Risk of escalating behaviours before they decrease (called 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 stands out as the most effective and humane training method available today. It reflects our evolving understanding of dogs as sentient, emotional beings who learn best in environments built on trust and safety. Unlike outdated methods that rely on force or fear, positive reinforcement helps build a solid, healthy relationship that lasts a lifetime.

It works because it:

Builds trust between dogs and their people
Creates an ideal learning environment
Enhances memory and focus
Reduces fear, anxiety, and aggression
Encourages dogs to show up enthusiastically for training
Improves the skills of handlers and guardians
Leads to more reliable, long-term behavioural outcomes

As the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) explains:

“Training methods that reward desired behaviour (i.e. positive reinforcement) are strongly recommended… Aversive methods are strongly discouraged as they do not address the underlying cause of the undesired behaviour and may cause fear, distress, anxiety, pain or physical injury to the dog.”

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

Positive reinforcement isn’t just about obedience: it’s about partnership. Whether you’re living in a downtown condo with a tiny pup or raising a rescue in the suburbs, Canadian dog owners benefit from compassionate, evidence-based methods that put well-being first.

And while no method is truly one-size-fits-all, when you lead with empathy and reward the behaviours you want to see more of, you set the stage for a happier, more harmonious life with your dog. So stock up on treats, grab your clicker, and get ready to train the Canadian way: kind, clear, and positive.