Reward timing: How seconds can make a big difference for what you are teaching

Have some small treats easily available, and ask your dog to perform a simple behavior, like sitting. As soon as the dog’s bottom hits the ground, mark it (with either a click or your verbal marker), and give the treat immediately. This simple process is one of the best things to practice in the initial stages of training. The reward itself does not have to come before the behavior, but you must ensure that your marker clearly identifies the behavior you wish to reinforce.

It can be difficult for a dog to figure out which behavior he is being rewarded for if too much time has elapsed between him performing the behavior and receiving his reward. Let’s say he sits, then stands up, then walks over to the door, and then you give him a treat. You gave the treat for sitting, but the dog sat, stood up, walked to the door, and then received the treat. By marking his behavior immediately with a “yes” or clicker, you let the dog know that his action of sitting earned him the reward. However, the marker itself can only work if used accurately.

The location of your reward can influence what the dog does next. For example, if you are using mat training, feeding your dog while he is on the mat reinforces the behavior of staying on the mat. Feeding your dog several feet away from the mat each time can make it harder for him to remain on the mat. During loose leash walking, feeding your dog in the spot you would like him to walk can help him to associate that location with a reward. The reward is more than a reward for the behavior; the location of the reward influences what behavior the dog does next.

Many times, delayed reinforcement occurs because the handler is not ready for the dog. Maybe the treats were in a sealed bag, or the clicker was in your wrong hand, or maybe the leash needed to be adjusted, right as your dog performed the correct behavior. Having your reward readily accessible, knowing what behavior you will mark, and knowing which hand will hold your leash or marker can greatly reduce this issue. When your treats are easily accessible and you know what you are looking for, it is much easier to catch those helpful behaviors like check-ins, loose leash walking, sitting, waiting, or coming when called.

Another issue arises when handlers display their food reward before every cue. Showing food to the dog before every cue can act as a cue itself, prompting the dog to perform the desired behavior in exchange for the treat. It is fine to use a lure (holding food in front of your dog’s nose) during the learning process for a new behavior, but once the behavior is learned, you should phase this out. Cue your dog using only your voice, without any food in sight, then mark the behavior. Once you have marked the behavior, then give your dog the treat. If your dog is struggling with the behavior, it is better to lower the criteria for success than to keep showing food to your dog until he performs the behavior.

For your next training session, look at the following question: what was your dog doing when you marked him? If you can answer this question, then your timing is good! If you are catching yourself giving your dog a treat after he is already performing another behavior, then try to tighten up your timing and have your treat ready before your dog begins his next repetition. Better timing means you are giving your dog clearer information on what you want him to repeat!