Obedience training
Should you reward a dog every single time they get a command right?
Last updated 23 September 2026 · How we write and check this
Short answer
Yes, at first: rewarding every single correct response builds a new behavior fastest and most reliably, since the dog needs consistent feedback to understand exactly what is being asked. Once a behavior is well learned, usually after several weeks of solid practice, shifting to rewarding only some correct responses, known as a variable schedule, actually strengthens the behavior further and makes it more resistant to fading. Switching to variable rewards too early, before the behavior is solid, tends to weaken it rather than help.
Why every rep matters during early learning
A newly taught behavior needs constant, reliable feedback so the dog can clearly connect the action with the reward, and rewarding only some attempts during this early stage creates confusing gaps in understanding that slow the whole process down considerably.
The value of moving to variable rewards later
Once a behavior is well established, rewarding unpredictably, sometimes after one rep and sometimes after four or five, tends to make the dog try harder and more persistently than constant reward does, a pattern well documented in how animals respond to unpredictable reinforcement more generally.
Knowing when to make the switch
A behavior is usually ready for variable rewards once the dog performs it correctly at least 8 or 9 times out of 10 attempts across several different sessions and settings. Switching too early, while the dog is still inconsistent, tends to weaken a fragile new habit rather than strengthen it.
Key takeaways
- Reward every correct response while a behavior is new and still being learned.
- Variable, unpredictable rewards later on tend to strengthen an already solid behavior.
- Wait until the dog succeeds 8 or 9 times out of 10 before switching to variable rewards.
- Switching too early tends to weaken a fragile new habit rather than reinforce it.