Positive Reinforcement Training

How positive reinforcement ONLY training is failing the people and dogs who need help the most.

What Is Positive Reinforcement Training?

Positive reinforcement training or R+ training is part of the 4 quadrants of operant conditioning learning theory. It is applied by teaching behaviours using a positive reward. Most often this reward is food, but other positive rewards can also be used including but not limited to toys, positive affection, attention, play etc.

 

The Problem with Positive Reinforcement ONLY Training

While positive reinforcement training should often the first choice, there are situations where it can inadvertently reinforce unwanted behaviors if applied incorrectly. This can hinder the creation of a truly fear-free and harmonious environment.

Example 1: Barking at Squirrels

A dog barks out the window at a squirrel. The owner says “quiet” and rewards the dog with a treat once it stops barking. While this is a classic example of positive reinforcement training, it may not reduce the barking long-term. The dog might associate the pattern as, “If I bark, I eventually get a treat.” This undermines the goal of reducing the unwanted behavior.

Example 2: Leash Reactivity

A reactive dog on a walk may be distracted with treats until another dog passes by. Although this uses positive reinforcement training, it might not change the dog’s underlying emotional response. The distraction doesn’t help the dog learn how to stay calm around other dogs, which is necessary for creating a truly fear-free mindset.

The Key to Effective Dog Training: Relationship Based, Humane Methods

Most dog behavior issues arise due to unclear communication or inconsistency in how they’re handled. While positive reinforcement training is a core part of any training plan, it must be paired with humane training methods that set clear boundaries for the dog in a way that doesn’t cause fear or confusion.

Dog Training Toronto | Hairy Tales | Award Winning Dog Behaviorist

Some people believe that positive reinforcement training is the only humane way to train dogs. However, it’s important to incorporate relationship based training which includes clear communication and humane corrections when needed to guide a dog’s behavior more effectively. Studies show that when dogs aren’t clear on what behaviors are unacceptable, they can become anxious, confused, or even neurotic. A fear-free approach should involve not only teaching the dog what’s desired, but also communicating what is not acceptable.

Kristina Rapson
The Hairy Dogmother

Creating a Fear-Free and Humane Training Plan

For dog training to be truly effective and fear-free, consequences must be part of the learning process—though they should always be humane and never harsh. A simple example: if your dog jumps up on you for attention, withholding the attention and using the leash to guide them off you teaches that jumping won’t get them what they want. This type of consequence is gentle, fear-free, and effective when used alongside positive reinforcement training.

The most effective trainers are versatile, using a mix of positive reinforcement and humane training methods to suit each dog’s specific needs. No single method works for all dogs, especially in cases involving aggression or severe reactivity. If you’re searching for a trainer, find someone who can balance positive reinforcement training with approaches that address behavioral issues without causing fear or confusion.

The Science Behind Leadership In Dogs

Learn more about the science behind the importance of leadership with dogs.

What are Hairy Tales Fundamental Training Principles?

01

Improving Communication & Relationship

Through teaching you how dogs communicate, Kristina will be helping you how to clarify your interactions with your dog so you are sending them the right messages.

02

Learning Techniques

You must learn from Kristina how to communicate what is and is not acceptable. Then you must apply this and teach your dog the rules and boundaries clearly and consistently. 

03

Practice, Practice, Practice!

Once you have the knowledge, skills and tools from Kristina to improve your dogs behaviour, you are to practice every single day. Practice makes perfect!

How to Choose the Right Trainer

Be cautious of trainers who over-promise or suggest extreme measures like euthanasia without exploring alternatives. The best trainers will openly discuss the limitations of positive reinforcement training in certain scenarios and offer a balanced approach. Look for trainers who understand the value of combining fear-free techniques with clear communication to help your dog succeed.
When selecting a trainer, ensure they have experience not just with positive reinforcement training, but also with managing more complex behaviors in a fear-free and humane manner. The right trainer will guide you in creating a balanced environment where your dog can learn and thrive without fear or confusion.

This is where I come in, to help you understand what you might be doing to send your dog messages stating that the dog is in charge. I help you communicate with your dog clearly and effectively to help them understand that they are not the leaders of the household, you are. 

Dog Training Toronto | Hairy Tales | Award Winning Dog Behaviorist
Kristina Rapson The Hairy Dogmother
  • Remember that no behaviour issue can be completely resolved in just one session. It takes time and practice to get over these types of issues. 
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  • Kristina is an absolute gem to work with!!! She gave us very helpful tips to work with our rescue dog and followed through whenever we had additional questions! We felt very at ease at her studio and loved the walk through sessions outdoors as well. She catered exactly to our needs in working with our dog and with her help we've made SO MUCH progress. Our dog no longer pulls during our regular walks and his reactivity has gone down significantly since working with her. We will continue working with her to help build our doggo's confidence and to allow him to be comfortable in different settings and cannot wait for our next sessions ahead 🙂

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  • Kristina is a very experienced trainer who also provides thorough notes after each session, which is one reason I find her fee very good value. After just one session, I was able to make substantial progress with my two-year-old rescued terrier. She also checks in between sessions, which I appreciate. Overall, she obviously has a deep love of dogs and is very conscientious about helping their humans understand their pets’ behaviour and how best to change it where necessary. Call me and my dog very satisfied customers!

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  • Our rescue stray dog had a lot of behavioral issues when we first started training with Kristina, but after just one class, we already noticed an improvement. She provided us with practical tips and techniques that were easy to follow and made a big difference in our dog's behavior. Kristina often checked in on us to see how things were going and offered additional guidance and support whenever we needed it (and we needed quite a lot of it!). The homework assignments she provided were also very helpful in reinforcing the training we received in class.

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  • Kristina is super knowledgeable and has helped our Benny immensely! He's amazing and so sweet but was initially very reactive to dogs and humans alike. Kristina takes the time to work with you to establish a better relationship with your dog, and gives you homework so that you have things to work on independently between sessions! Benny no longer pulls on walks and is so calm around other pups. Thanks Kristina!!

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  • Milo and I are so lucky that we have found Kristina. She is very knowledgeable and helpful. Milo ignored me all the time and always pulling me on the walk. Now, after two sessions, he has no pulling at all. Walking has never been this easy and relaxing. More importantly, the training sessions help me a lot to understand Milo’s behavior. Will definitely recommend Kristina to everyone who is seeking for help with your pup! And we will keep our sessions with her!

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  • I have a super reactive dog that has so greatly improved through working with Kristina! Now we are able to pass other dogs where she does not react (except for the very few times, but we’re still working on those lol). So happy to have found Kristina to help me and the family have a much more happy and fulfilling life with our love Muffy ????

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  • Kristina is very knowledgeable and takes her time to get to the root of the dogs behavioural issues. My dog has become a lot less reactive to on walks since the two sessions we have had with her. Very much enjoyed the sessions and listening to the philosophies of how she approaches dog behaviourial issues. Very helpful in helping me understand my dog better too.

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  • I’ve been to many trainers in the city and saw little to no progress with my dog. I finally found Kristina and saw immediate results! She was able to assess what my expectations were, what my dog needed, and set me up with the right tools and techniques for my dog to succeed. Previously I had seen “positive only” trainers and I can attest that with a balanced approach both me AND my dog are 1000X happier. My dog now has the structure he was craving and is so much more content with his life. And I’m not getting dragged down the street. With Kristina’s help, I can also now trust my dog off-leash pretty much anywhere which has been a game changer and increased the quality of both our lives. Don’t throw your money away like I did, just see Kristina first!

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  • Simply put, Kristina and her training plan changed our lives. We had limited dog experience and rescued a pittie mix last November. He's a wonderful pup, but working through lots of trauma. When we first came to Kristina, we couldn't get our dog to go on walks, eat from his bowl without growling, or play with toys safely. Now he's the happiest pup and we feel empowered to handle any training curveball thrown at us. All I can say is thank you - and if you're thinking about booking a session, just go ahead and DO IT. It will honestly be the best thing you do for YOU and your PUP.

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  • We rescued an anxious possessive hound mix. We knew we were out of our depths and needed help. We turned to Kristina and have not regreted. Kristina is very knowledgeable and pragmatic in her advice. She listens well and tailors solutions. She is available to us between sessions. I have hope that we can train our dog to be a great dog

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