Reward based training is a REWARD for desired behaviour you ALREADY HAVE . In the early stages rewards may be used to COUNTER CONDITION , that is to build positive associations and expectations of good things happening when a trigger is encountered which will change or prevent reactivity , or to LURE a dog into a position or focus on you , but once the dog understands, which happens quickly , it is replaced with a reward for behaviour you already have.
Trainers who tell you rewards are bribes or shouldn’t be used , have no training and no understanding of how learning happens .In order to change behaviour you must either punish what you don’t want, which doesn’t teach your dog what to do instead and will damage your dog’s relationship with you , or reward in some way what you do want . (Pay your dog !) What is fun and rewarding will be repeated .
If you don’t reward your dog for doing what you want , the environment will reward your dog for doing what it wants. Rewards can be anything your dog wants .Rewards can be phased out according to a formula once the desired behaviour has become habitual. Using positive reinforcement methods makes learning easy and fun for dog and owner . This does NOT mean there are no consequences for unwanted behaviour- just not pain or fear
