How-To: Reward Your Dog With Praise and Play

How-To • Dog Training • Praise & Play • Relationships

What's the one reward you always have with you when you're out with your dog?

YOU!

Not the treat pouch. Not the tennis ball. Not the bag of freeze-dried liver treats you forgot on the kitchen counter.

You.

And if you've built enough value in your voice, attention, affection, and shared experiences, you have an incredible reward available to you wherever you go.

But here's where I see a lot of pet parents struggle.

They understand using treats. They'll work hard to teach Sit, Down, Place, and Come. They'll purchase every training accessory imaginable.

But ask them to really praise their dog, celebrate a success, or get down and actively play?

Sometimes I get the blank stare.

They aren't necessarily sure what that looks like.

And some feel downright silly doing it.

But if you want your dog to enjoy working with YOU instead of simply following the cookie in your hand, this is something you need to develop.

Praise and play are not just nice little extras after obedience training.

Used appropriately, they help build engagement, motivation, communication, and a relationship in which your dog genuinely enjoys participating with you.

And that's exactly what we're going to work on.

Why Praise Matters More Than You Think

Most dog parents spend plenty of time noticing what their dog does wrong.

Jumping on people. Pulling on the leash. Barking at the window. Getting off Place. Running through the door before being released.

But how often do you acknowledge the things your dog gets right?

He remains quietly on his bed while you prepare dinner.

He checks in with you during a walk.

He returns when called.

He walks past a distraction without reacting.

Or perhaps he's a puppy who has just figured out something completely new.

Those moments deserve recognition.

And they provide opportunities to teach your dog that listening and cooperating with you are worthwhile.

Food rewards can certainly help, especially during early learning. But I want you to develop value in your communication and interaction as well.

Because sometimes all I need is a calm Good.

And other times, I want the dog to know he just did something absolutely wonderful.

There's a Difference Between GOOD and Praise & Play

This is one of the most important distinctions in my training system.

I use Good as a reward marker.

It tells the dog:

That was correct. Keep doing what you're doing.

But the word Good doesn't automatically mean the dog is released from the command.

And it doesn't necessarily mean it's time for an enormous celebration.

Imagine your dog is holding a Down/Stay in a public location.

He's been doing beautifully.

Another dog walks past.

He maintains Down.

You enthusiastically squeal:

"OH MY GOODNESS! WHO'S THE BEST BOY?! YOU ARE! YES YOU ARE!"

And suddenly he's bouncing around, wagging, jumping, and completely out of position.

Well, we certainly got him excited.

But we also interrupted the behavior we were trying to reinforce.

That's why I teach different levels of acknowledgement.

GOOD: Calm, Clear Communication

During an active training exercise, Good can be positive but controlled.

The dog understands he performed the correct behavior.

But he remains responsible for the command.

Good does not mean Okay.

Good does not mean Free.

Good does not mean he can abandon the assignment.

PRAISE & PLAY: The Celebration

After the dog has completed the exercise and you've given the release cue, that's when I may become much more enthusiastic.

Especially after a difficult training round.

Now I can celebrate.

Pet the dog.

Play a favorite game.

Move with him.

Use my voice.

And genuinely let him know how pleased I am.

COMMAND → GOOD → MAINTAIN → OKAY/RELEASE → PRAISE & PLAY

We haven't changed the meaning of the command.

We've simply separated clear communication during the exercise from the bigger reward after completion.

For more on the complete marker system, read How-To: Use Reward Markers in Dog Training.

First, You Have to Give GOOD Meaning

If your dog has no idea what Good means, simply saying it with enthusiasm isn't necessarily going to accomplish much.

So let's begin by building its value.

This exercise comes directly from my original approach to teaching praise.

How-To: Prime Your GOOD Marker

Have a Few Small Treats Available

Begin somewhere quiet with your dog nearby.

You don't need a formal training session or complicated equipment.

Just a few appropriate rewards.

Catch Your Dog Doing Something Right

Perhaps he sits quietly.

Looks toward you.

Remains calm while you're doing something else.

Or performs another familiar behavior.

We don't need a dramatic achievement.

We're simply identifying a correct response.

Say GOOD Calmly

Say:

"Good."

Use a pleasant, positive, controlled voice.

We're not trying to create enormous excitement.

We're building a clear association.

Follow With a Reward

Immediately give the dog a small treat.

If he's maintaining Sit, Down, or Place, deliver it without requiring him to break the position.

Keep the process simple.

Good.

Reward.

Repeat Throughout the Day

Randomly catch the dog doing something right several times during ordinary daily life.

Say Good.

Reward.

And move on.

With consistent practice, the word begins developing meaning because it reliably predicts positive outcomes.

Eventually, Good becomes familiar feedback even when you don't immediately produce a treat every time.

But remember, teaching a word to have positive meaning and making your overall praise rewarding are related but different tasks.

We're going to work on both.

How-To: Make Your Praise More Rewarding

Some dogs respond beautifully to a quiet Good girl.

Others light up when you speak with enthusiasm.

Some love being stroked.

Others would much rather play tug or chase a toy.

And some dogs become uncomfortable if you suddenly reach over their heads or get overly physical.

So before deciding what praise should look like, pay attention to your dog.

The reward needs to matter to the dog receiving it.

Find Out What Your Dog Enjoys

Try a few different kinds of interaction during relaxed moments.

• Warm, enthusiastic verbal praise.
• Gentle petting along the chest or shoulders.
• A brief playful chase where the dog follows you.
• A short tug game.
• A favorite toy.
• Movement and playful interaction.
• Permission to return to an activity he enjoys.

Watch the dog's response.

Does he move toward you?

Lean in for more affection?

Become interested and playful?

Re-engage willingly?

Or does he move away, become stiff, avoid the interaction, or appear uncomfortable?

Those details matter.

Don't assume your dog loves a particular kind of affection just because you enjoy giving it.

Now Let's Talk About PLAY

Sometimes I'm surprised by how many people don't actively play with their dogs.

They love them.

Feed them.

Walk them.

Buy toys.

But rarely become part of the activity themselves.

And that's a missed opportunity.

Because play can create an entirely different experience between the dog and the human.

Instead of the dog simply receiving something from you, you're participating together.

You're moving.

Communicating.

Problem-solving.

Building enthusiasm.

And enjoying a shared activity.

That's relationship building.

Be the Game, Not Just the Ball Launcher

Let's use fetch as an example.

Your dog loves the ball.

He brings it to you.

You throw it.

He chases it.

And the cycle repeats.

But is he actually interacting with YOU?

Or are you simply the person required to make the ball move?

There's a difference.

And it's worth thinking about.

I'm not against fetch.

I'm asking you to become more involved.

Use movement.

Introduce short training moments.

Celebrate an excellent return.

Play another game together.

Make yourself part of what the dog enjoys.

That is an important part of Building Relationships With Your Dog: Play, Engagement & Enrichment.

Practical Games That Build Engagement

You don't need fancy equipment or an elaborate training setup to begin.

Choose an activity your dog enjoys and participate.

Tug

Use an appropriate toy and teach simple rules for starting, stopping, releasing, and restarting the game. When the dog understands the rules, tug can become a useful reward after training.

Hide-and-Seek

Have a helper remain with the dog while you move into an easy hiding location. Call Come. Celebrate when the dog finds you. This can make finding and returning to you part of the fun.

Recall Games

Practice moving between two people, recalling and releasing back to sniffing, or playing other controlled recall games. Reward the response and make returning enjoyable.

Find-It Games

Help your dog discover treats or toys in safe locations. Become part of the exploration rather than simply handing over the reward.

Movement Games

Invite your dog to follow you through simple changes in direction. Reward voluntary engagement and keep the game appropriate to his mobility and excitement level.

Simple Training Games

Combine familiar skills such as Sit, Come, Place, and Watch Me. Keep the exercise brief, reward success, release, and play.

The specific game matters less than whether your dog actually enjoys it and enjoys participating with you.

How-To: Use Praise and Play After a Training Round

Now let's connect this back to the obedience exercises you're already teaching.

Imagine you're working on Sit/Stay.

Your dog understands the command.

You're beginning to increase duration.

He successfully maintains the position while you take a few steps away.

You return.

Say Good.

Reward appropriately.

Then give your release cue.

"Okay!"

Now celebrate.

If your dog loves affection, let him enjoy it.

If he loves a short game, play.

If he lights up when you're enthusiastic, build him up.

That's the sequence.

And it applies to many foundational skills.

Examples: Praise and Play in Real-Life Training

Exercise	During the Command	After Release
Sit/Stay	Calm Good and appropriate reinforcement while the dog maintains Sit	Release and celebrate with praise, affection, or a short game
Down/Stay	Keep communication calm so the dog remains in position	Release and reward with enjoyable interaction
Place	Reinforce maintaining the boundary without creating unnecessary excitement	Release and engage in an appropriate activity
Recall	Encourage the return; mark and reward the arrival	Celebrate after the finished recall, then play or release back to exploration
Heel	Use clear markers without interrupting the walking position	Release to sniff, play, or another enjoyable activity
Public Manners	Use controlled feedback that doesn't trigger jumping or excitement	Reward with an appropriate activity when the situation allows

Don't Make Every GOOD a Party

I want your praise to have value.

But I also want you using it appropriately.

If your dog is holding a calm Down while another dog walks past, I probably don't want you bouncing up and down like we just won the Super Bowl.

That's not the moment for cheerleaders and pom-poms.

A calm Good may be exactly what you need.

Later, when the dog has been released and you're in an appropriate location, you can celebrate more enthusiastically.

That distinction is especially important with dogs who become excited easily.

Because our goal isn't simply to make the dog happy.

It's to communicate clearly and reinforce the behavior we're trying to develop.

Praise Should Match the Dog's State of Mind

Some dogs need more enthusiasm.

Others need less.

And the same dog may need different kinds of praise depending on the situation.

Consider a highly excited young dog.

He's finally learning to remain on Place while people move around the house.

Do we really want to create a big celebration while he's still on the cot?

Probably not.

That may put him right back into the excited state we've been trying to change.

Or consider a fearful dog who has just taken a small step toward investigating something new.

Perhaps a quiet Good and gentle reassurance are more appropriate than overwhelming him with enthusiastic physical affection.

Now consider a confident dog who has completed an excellent recall game in the yard.

That may be exactly the right time to let loose with enthusiastic praise and play.

Different dogs. Different situations. Different rewards.

Good training recognizes those differences.

Praise and Play Are Not the Same as Creating More Arousal

This is a distinction I want you to understand.

Play can be exciting.

And excitement isn't automatically a problem.

Dogs need opportunities to move, explore, play, and express normal behavior.

But I also want them learning how to transition between excitement and calm.

That means we shouldn't use increasingly intense play as the solution to every behavior challenge.

Sometimes the dog needs an active game.

Sometimes he needs structured movement.

And sometimes he needs to learn that absolutely nothing is happening and he can settle.

That's especially relevant for dogs who are constantly stimulated, constantly trained, or unable to switch off.

For that discussion, read When Dogs Don't Know How to Be Dogs and How-To: Teach Your Dog Place.

What About JACKPOT Rewards?

Here's another piece of the original teaching that I want to preserve.

Sometimes your dog deserves a jackpot.

Maybe he has just completed a difficult training exercise.

Perhaps he gave you an outstanding recall.

Or successfully worked through a distraction that would have caused problems a few weeks ago.

That's worth recognizing.

A jackpot might include:

• Several high-value treats delivered in succession.
• A special food reward.
• His favorite toy or game.
• An especially enthusiastic celebration.
• A combination of food, praise, and play.

But remember, the dog should understand what earned that reward.

Use your marker at the correct moment.

Then deliver the payoff appropriately.

And avoid breaking an active Stay by becoming overly excited before giving the release.

Sometimes the bigger reward isn't another cookie. It's the celebration with YOU.

Build Your Dog Up After a Difficult Training Session

Not every training round is going to be wonderful.

Sometimes the dog struggles.

Sometimes you realize you've asked for too much.

Sometimes you've made the progression too difficult.

And sometimes the session simply doesn't go the way you planned.

That's normal.

But I don't want you ending every difficult session with frustration, disappointment, or a dog who feels overwhelmed.

Make the exercise easier.

Find something the dog can successfully do.

Mark and reward that success.

Then release and enjoy a little positive interaction.

Build that dog back up.

Don't let the entire experience become one long string of corrections and failed attempts.

And if the dog has finally understood something new, celebrate the advancement.

Those successful moments matter.

Praise and Play Help You Move Beyond Constant Treats

Now we get to another major benefit.

Many pet parents want to stop using treats for every single instruction.

I understand that.

But I don't want you simply eliminating food and assuming the dog should continue working for nothing.

Instead, build value in other rewards.

Your praise.

Your interaction.

Play.

Real-life activities.

And the relationship itself.

Once the dog understands a familiar skill, we can begin varying reinforcement appropriately.

Sometimes food.

Sometimes play.

Sometimes permission to sniff.

Sometimes a joyful celebration.

And sometimes an especially valuable jackpot.

But we don't remove food simply because we're impatient.

We build the behavior first.

Then develop other rewarding outcomes and gradually vary the reinforcement.

That's the central progression in How-To: Wean Your Dog Off Treats Without Losing Reliability.

Don't replace a valuable treat with a meaningless "Good boy" and expect the dog to find them equally rewarding.

Build value in your praise and play first. Then you have something worthwhile to offer when food isn't necessary or available.

Recall: PAY THE DANG DOG!

One skill where I continue to be especially generous is Recall.

And I want you to understand why.

If a dog turns away from something highly interesting or potentially dangerous and comes directly to me, that is a response worth maintaining.

So yes, I use food.

I use enthusiastic praise.

I play with the dog.

And sometimes I release him to go right back to what he was doing.

Because I want coming to me to be a wonderful experience.

And that experience should involve more than a cookie.

The dog should enjoy interacting with me.

He should look forward to our games.

And he should have a long history of returning to me and finding that decision worthwhile.

For the full beginner-to-advanced progression, see How-To: Teach Your Dog to Come When Called.

Five Minutes of Intentional Praise and Play

If you're not sure how to begin, start small.

Five minutes.

Choose a game your dog enjoys and something simple he already knows how to do.

Here's one example.

Begin With a Familiar Skill

Ask for Sit, Come, or another skill the dog understands. Mark the correct response with Good and reward appropriately.

Give the Release

Use your normal release cue so the dog knows the formal exercise is finished.

Play Together

Spend thirty seconds to a minute playing an activity your dog enjoys. Tug, gentle chase, a short toy game, or another appropriate interaction.

Return to an Easy Skill

Pause the game. Ask for something simple. Reinforce the response. Then release and return to play.

Finish on a Good Experience

End the session while the dog is still enjoying himself. Offer an appropriate final reward and let the experience finish positively.

We're doing several things at once.

Practicing familiar skills.

Building engagement.

Teaching that listening can lead to enjoyable activities.

And making the human part of the reward.

That's exactly where I want to go.

Common Mistakes With Praise and Play

Mistake	What Happens	Better Approach
Using huge excitement during Stay	Dog may break the command	Use calm Good, then celebrate after release
Never conditioning the marker	Good may have little meaning	Pair Good with rewards consistently during learning
Assuming every dog loves petting	Some dogs may find touch uncomfortable	Use rewards the individual dog enjoys
Only throwing a toy repeatedly	May build interest in the toy more than interaction with the handler	Participate actively in games
Using highly exciting play for every situation	Can increase arousal when calm is the goal	Match the reward to the exercise and dog's state
Eliminating food abruptly	May weaken reinforcement for learned behaviors	Build alternative rewards before varying food
Ending difficult sessions with frustration	Training may become unpleasant	Return to an achievable success and celebrate
Providing little interaction outside training	Human attention may have limited reward value	Make shared play and engagement part of everyday life

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I teach my dog that Good means something?

Begin by catching correct behaviors, calmly saying Good, and following with an appropriate reward. Repeat throughout ordinary daily life. This helps establish the word as meaningful positive feedback.

What's the difference between Good and Okay?

Good identifies correct behavior while the command may still be active. Okay is a release cue that tells the dog the assignment is finished.

Why does my dog get excited and break Stay when I praise him?

Your tone or enthusiasm may be unintentionally signaling excitement. Use a controlled positive marker during a maintained command and save the larger celebration for after release.

Can praise replace food rewards?

For some familiar behaviors, yes, when praise has become meaningful to the dog. Build its value through repeated positive experiences rather than simply removing food and expecting praise to work immediately.

What if my dog doesn't like being petted?

Choose another kind of reward. Some dogs prefer movement, toys, sniffing, games, or other interaction. Rewarding experiences should match the individual dog's preferences.

Should I praise my dog during Down/Stay?

Yes, appropriate calm feedback can reinforce the correct behavior. Avoid praise that causes the dog to become overly excited and break position. Save bigger play and celebration for after the release cue.

What if my dog isn't playful?

Explore different forms of interaction, including scent games, gentle movement, quiet affection, or shared exploration. Not every dog enjoys tug or fetch. Find what matters to your dog.

What are jackpot rewards?

Jackpots are especially valuable rewards used to recognize important successes. They may include several treats, a favorite toy, an enjoyable game, or enthusiastic celebration after a difficult training accomplishment.

Can play help with recall?

Yes. Recall games, enjoyable returns, and rewarding interactions can help make coming to the handler worthwhile. They complement systematic training with distance, distractions, and safe management.

How does praise and play build a better relationship?

It creates shared, positive experiences in which the handler becomes part of the enjoyment. Over time, this can increase engagement and make training together more rewarding beyond food alone.

Build a Dog Who Enjoys Working With YOU

I don't want you spending your dog's entire life waving cookies around to get him to listen.

And I don't want you assuming that a dog who knows several commands automatically has a wonderful working relationship with you.

Those are different things.

The dog can know Sit, Down, Come, Place, and Heel and still find everything else in the environment more interesting than his person.

That's why I believe praise and play deserve so much more attention in dog training.

They're not just little rewards we toss in after the work is finished.

They're opportunities to build engagement.

To teach the dog that our attention and interaction matter.

To make the training experience enjoyable.

And to strengthen the relationship that supports everything else we're trying to accomplish.

So yes, use treats.

Teach your markers.

Develop the foundational skills.

But don't stop there.

Get in there and actively engage with your dog.

Celebrate.

Move.

Play.

Offer enthusiastic affection when your dog enjoys it.

And build him up, especially when he's learned something new or made a meaningful advancement.

Because the ultimate reward isn't always what comes out of the treat pouch.

Sometimes the best thing you can offer your dog is a wonderful experience with YOU.

GOOD tells your dog he got it right.

OKAY tells him the assignment is finished.

PRAISE & PLAY turn a successful training round into a rewarding experience together.

Build enough value in that relationship that your dog genuinely enjoys working with you. That's the goal.

Continue Building Engagement and Reliable Training

• Building Relationships With Your Dog: Play, Engagement & Enrichment
• How-To: Wean Your Dog Off Treats
• How-To: Use Reward Markers in Dog Training
• How-To: Teach Your Dog to Come When Called
• How-To: Teach Your Dog WATCH ME
• How-To: Teach Your Dog Place
• How-To: Teach Your Dog Sit/Stay

Does Your Dog Enjoy Working With You?

Sometimes the problem isn't that a dog doesn't know the commands. It's that the communication, reinforcement, engagement, and relationship haven't been developed in a way that makes working together successful.

And sometimes behavior concerns involve much more, including fear, frustration, stress, physical health, nutrition, and emotional wellbeing.

My behavior work considers the complete dog rather than simply repeating unsuccessful training exercises.

Every behavior case begins with an initial evaluation to determine appropriate next steps and whether continued coaching is suitable.

Let's understand what's happening and build a plan that makes sense for your dog.

Tell Me About Your Dog

Educational Information: Training rewards and play activities should be appropriate for the individual dog's age, health, physical comfort, temperament, and emotional state. Avoid forcing unwanted contact or excessive arousal, and use appropriate safety management for serious behavior concerns.