If rewards “stop working,” it’s rarely because a puppy is stubborn or manipulative. It’s usually because motivation, emotion, or clarity broke down somewhere along the way.
In this video, I explain how rewards actually function in puppy training, why motivation comes before obedience, and what to do when engagement disappears — without resorting to pressure, fear, or force.
Why Rewards Work in Puppy Training
Rewards are one of the most misunderstood tools in dog training.
They’re often framed as bribery.
As something you’ll “have to fade.”
As a shortcut that creates dependency.
But that misunderstanding comes from looking at rewards as objects — instead of understanding them as information.
Rewards don’t create behavior.
They communicate value.
Motivation Is the Gateway to Learning
Before a puppy can learn what to do, they have to feel motivated to engage at all.
Motivation answers three essential questions for a puppy:
Is this interaction safe?
Is it worth participating?
Do my actions make sense here?
If the answer to any of those is “no,” learning stalls — no matter how skilled the trainer is.
This is why motivation comes before obedience.
A puppy who feels regulated and engaged will offer behavior freely.
A puppy who feels pressured will either shut down or push back.
Rewards Aren’t Bribes — They’re Feedback
A bribe is offered before a behavior to force compliance.
A reward is delivered after a behavior to give feedback:
“Yes. That worked.”
That distinction matters.
Rewards help puppies understand:
which choices lead to good outcomes
how to repeat behavior successfully
when they’re on the right track
This is especially important early in learning, when clarity is fragile and confidence is still forming.
When Rewards “Stop Working”
When people say rewards stopped working, what they’re really describing is a break in motivation.
Common causes include:
asking for skills in environments that are too overwhelming
raising criteria too quickly
training when a puppy is tired, stressed, or dysregulated
using rewards inconsistently or without clarity
In these moments, the solution isn’t bigger rewards or firmer correction — it’s better information.
That might mean:
lowering expectations
increasing distance from distractions
breaking skills into smaller pieces
rebuilding engagement before asking for compliance
Why Pressure Backfires
Pressure can produce short-term compliance, but it comes at a cost.
Puppies trained under pressure may:
respond slower over time
avoid engagement
lose curiosity
associate learning with stress
Rewards, used correctly, do the opposite.
They build:
confidence
emotional resilience
willingness to try again after mistakes
trust in the learning process
That trust is what allows boundaries to be introduced later — without trauma.
Fading Rewards the Right Way
Rewards don’t disappear.
They evolve.
As puppies mature and skills stabilize:
rewards become more intermittent
life rewards replace food (movement, access, play)
engagement itself becomes reinforcing
This isn’t something you rush.
It happens naturally when motivation, clarity, and trust are intact.
When people try to remove rewards too early, behavior doesn’t strengthen — it collapses.
The Takeaway
Rewards aren’t about spoiling dogs or avoiding boundaries.
They’re about teaching puppies:
how to succeed
how to stay regulated while learning
how to trust that effort is worth it
When motivation is honored first, obedience becomes reliable later.
That’s not permissive training.
That’s developmentally appropriate training.
