Luring vs. Rewarding: The Key to Effective Dog Training
Did you know there is a difference between luring your dog with treats and rewarding them with treats?
Treats are a powerful tool for training, but how you use them makes all the difference.
Many dog owners unintentionally get stuck in the habit of luring their dog with treats rather than using them as a reward. Understanding the difference and knowing how to transition from luring to rewarding will help you create a well-trained dog that listens even without the presence of food. In this blog, we will explore the difference between luring and rewarding, how to transition from one to the other, and how to incorporate toys and environmental rewards into training.
What is Luring?
Luring involves using a treat to guide your dog into a desired position or behaviour. For example:
- Holding a treat near your dog’s nose and moving it upwards to encourage them to sit.
- Moving a treat down to the floor to get your dog to lie down.
- Using a treat to lead your dog into a spin or heel position.
Luring is useful in early training because it helps dogs understand what you want them to do. This is the technique we use in the classes. It also helps us to show you, as the owner, the desired behaviour / action of the dog so you can replicate when practicing at home.
Naturally, there is a downside to luring. If you rely on it for too long your dog may only perform the behaviour when they see a treat in your hand.
What is Rewarding?
Rewarding happens after your dog performs the desired behaviour / action without needing a treat as guidance. Instead of using a treat to show them what to do, you mark the behaviour (with a clicker or verbal marker like “yes!”) and then deliver a treat as a reward. Rewarding builds lasting behaviours and helps reinforce that listening is worthwhile even when food is not immediately visible.
For example, once your dog understands the command like “down,” you give the command and visual cue, then reward after they perform it.
This shift from luring to rewarding is essential for long-term reliability in training, making sure your dog listens regardless of whether you have food in your hand.
How to Transition from Luring to Rewarding
- Reduce Treat Visibility
Start by holding the treat in your other hand or keeping it behind your back instead of using it to guide your dog. Give the cue verbally and visually and wait for your dog to respond without seeing the treat.
- Increase Time Between Cue and Reward
Once your dog reliably follows a cue, delay giving the treat for a second or two. Gradually extend this time while reinforcing with praise and other forms of encouragement, whatever works for your dog.
- Introduce Variable Rewards
Instead of rewarding every time, start using intermittent reinforcement. Reward after every second or third correct response, so your dog stays motivated to perform.
- Change Reward Placement
Instead of delivering the treat directly from your hand, toss it a short distance or place it on the ground. This helps reduce the direct association between your hand and food, encouraging your dog to listen regardless of treat visibility.
Moving Beyond Food: Using Toys and Environment as Rewards
Once your dog understands commands without needing food as a lure, you can introduce other types of rewards based on what your dog finds motivating.
Toy Rewards
Use a favourite tug toy or ball as a reward for behaviours. When your dog performs the desired action, mark the behaviour using your click word and immediately engage in a quick game. This works especially well for high-energy dogs who are more motivated by play than food.
Environmental Rewards
Allowing access to something your dog wants can be a powerful motivator. For example, if your dog sits politely at the door, reward them by letting them outside. If they walk nicely on a leash, reward them by allowing them to sniff an interesting spot. Using real-world rewards reinforces good behaviour in daily life, not just in structured training sessions.
Personal Affection and Praise
Some dogs respond well to verbal praise, petting, or a happy interaction with their owner. Enthusiastic reinforcement like a belly rub, ear scratch, or excited “Good dog!” can sometimes be as effective as food or toys.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
We all make mistakes, but it is how we learn from them that is important.
If your dog only responds when a treat is visible, this is a symptom of using the luring technique for too long. You can start to fade the lure out by following the steps above.
Your dog may lose motivation, this is a symptom of stopping rewards too soon. Go back to intermittent reinforcement to maintain reliability. Why stop rewards altogether, when you have toys, interaction with you as their owner, and the environment to use as rewards.
It is always worth getting to know what really motivates your dog. Whilst many will appear food driven, some dogs get more excited about toys and learn better when praised with a game. Take the time to get to know your dogs preferences, after all, they are all unique.
Your dog will learn quicker with consistency. Be consistent in your delivery of the command, the delivery of your click word, always use your click word and be clear on really marking the right behaviour, and build in the release word into your everyday vocabulary.
Final Thoughts
Luring is a great starting point in training, but transitioning to rewarding ensures long-term reliability. By gradually reducing lures, using marker-based reinforcement, and introducing alternative rewards like toys and environmental reinforcements, you will develop a dog that listens because they enjoy training—not just because they see a treat in your hand.
By varying rewards and ensuring your dog finds training engaging, you create a stronger, more responsive bond built on positive reinforcement.