Balanced Training Vs.Solely Positive: Too Good to Be True

By nextstepk9 | August 27, 2025 |

People teach their children to be good citizens, often starting early in life. This is expected, and is usually done through a combination of techniques, lessons, and experiences. While your dog isn’t a person (even if they’re your baby), they should also be taught how to be a good citizen. Let’s face it, nobody could learn everything they need to if they only experience positives. As live, thinking beings, people and even animals learn from all sorts of stimuli, including negative.

It may seem surprising for some to learn that training their dog isn’t just learning the basics. Fetching your morning paper and being able to sit or sing on command are all fantastic things to learn, and they may create some picture or film worthy moments, but it’s not the only thing that your dog should learn. While learning obedience basics is vital, it’s much more important and rewarding to preserve your ever-growing bond with your dog by using dog-friendly, human friend, science-backed techniques for training your dog.

So, what does this mean? What is the right way to train your dog or puppy? That’s a loaded question, and the right combination can only be found through an experienced professional. One method is through a balanced combination, such as balanced training. Though, many often fall short, opting for the hyper positive other end of the spectrum. Which is better? What are the differences? What should you do?

Read below to learn more about these types of training and which may work best for you and your dog.

The Four Types of Operant Conditioning

For most living beings, learning begins with the concept that behavior has consequences, whether good or bad. When it comes to dog training, learning involves four forms of operant conditioning, whether reinforcing behavior or punishing behavior. However, the terminology is often misleading and even sometimes upsetting. With terms like “positive punishment” and “negative punishment”, these terms can be taken out of context. Punishment carries negative connotations, but within the operant conditioning quadrant, it means that simply, a behavior will become less likely.

Positive Reinforcement

This means that a good consequence happens when the dog performs a behavior, increasing the likelihood that the dog will repeat the behavior. This is a classic form, usually involving the offering of treats for following commands, or performing a desired action.

Negative Reinforcement

This refers to bad consequences being removed when a behavior is performed, also increasing the likelihood that the dog will repeat the action. For example, a trainer using this method would turn off leash pressure when a dog performs the desired action, such as when a dog sits or downs.

Positive Punishment

This method involves introducing bad consequences when a behavior is performed. For example, if a dog is reactive, the trainer may then use a collar like a prong collar to give a positive punishment to the dog for the reactivity to suppress that behavior.

Negative Punishment

This is a standard method of punishment for people and dogs alike. For this method, a good consequence is removed when the dog performs a behavior. For example, a dog who paws at arms for attention is ignored instead of being granted attention.

Exploring Purely Positive Dog Training

This type of dog training leans heavily on positive reinforcement and rewards. This type of training may better be described as LIMA training, or Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive. The Association of Professional Dog Trainers describes LIMA training as “the least intrusive, minimally aversive techniques that are likely to succeed in achieving a training (or behavior change) objective with minimal risk of producing aversive side effects.”

In plain English, this means that the trainer will always try to resort to techniques which don’t cause pain, startled responses, or extra, undue stress. A LIMA dog trainer will never use tools or techniques that could “scare” or hurt a dog to make them feel like they are being punished.

This method requires consistent monitoring of dogs for stress or signals that the animal is uncomfortable. Should a dog show signs of distress, training is changed. Items such as a clicker aren’t considered aversive, since clickers usually don’t scare or hurt a dog. However, if a dog student becomes frightened by this sound, then it becomes considered an aversive tool for that dog and use is discontinued. LIMA trainers reassess training scenarios and switch tools and techniques to match the needs of the dog while ensuring that the dog remains eager in participating.

This style of training is often preferred, especially for dogs who have a history of abuse or may suffer from things like PTSD. However, this style of training takes longer and doesn’t produce as strong as a desired effect as needed.

What is Balanced Dog Training?

This style of training is based on the belief that dogs will learn best when using a mix of positive reinforcement as well as aversive, punishment-based training methods and tools. This methodology typically includes all four operant conditioning quadrants.

Trainers who practice balanced dog training may use treats to reward dogs when teaching loose-leash walking (a form of positive reinforcement), but they may also combine this with the use of a prong collar and resort to correcting when the dog pulls by popping the collar(a form of positive punishment.) Balanced trainers may also use a variety of tools with their doggy students. This may include tools from the positive reinforcement sector such as clickers and body harnesses to aversive devices like choke, prong, and shock collars. Other tools may include things like shaker cans or water bottles.

Balanced Training Vs. Positive Reinforcement: Which Is More Effective?

According to the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB), “reward-based learning offers the most advantages and least harm to the learner’s welfare.” It also states that “reward-based training methods have been shown to often be more effective than aversive methods.” However, it’s also important to consider the dog and their needs when forming a training plan.

While many dogs will respond well to positive reinforcement training, most at some point will not respond to just positive reinforcement when around distractions or if they are shutdown. This is why the most effective training is a balanced approach. A carefully crafted mix of methods may be required to ensure that the dog is not only trained well but also experiences growth behaviorally to have a happy and safe lifetime at home.

Balanced training can produce faster results, more consistent behavior and clearer communication with your pup. Not only that but this type of training may be more effective for dogs who have complex behavioral issues. However, this type of training does rely heavily on trainer skills and understanding to be executed correctly and without harm or adverse effects.

An experienced dog training professional like Next Step K9 will be able to properly assess your furry friend, formulating a plan to help them achieve their maximum potential.

While balanced training techniques require a gentle line and a great deal of knowledge to execute correctly, avoiding abuse, and negative side effects like fear, anxiety, and aggression, a professional like Next Step K9 will be able to carefully craft a plan that works best for your best friend.

Positive reinforcement is a safe, and healthy way to train a wide majority of dogs. However, most dogs do require extra help and the use of extra training methods. Here at Next Step K9, we take the time to learn the needs and goals of each dog and owner, crafting the perfect training plan that is not only safe for your dog, but effective as well. As mentioned above, the most effective training method is the one your dog responds to.

Posted in Dog Training