Dog training glossary
Capturing
Quick answer
Rewarding a behavior the moment a dog offers it naturally on its own, without prompting it.
Written by the TailorPup team, updated September 2026. See our editorial approach.
What it means
Capturing works because dogs repeat behaviors that get rewarded, even ones nobody asked for. Instead of luring or shaping a behavior into existence, the trainer waits for the dog to do it spontaneously, then marks and rewards it. Over several repetitions the dog starts offering the behavior deliberately to earn more rewards, at which point a cue word can be added.
A real example
A puppy happens to lie down on its own while its owner is cooking. The owner marks it and drops a treat, and over a few days the puppy starts lying down nearby more often, hoping for the same result.
Common mistake
Missing the moment, dogs offer behaviors briefly, and a reward delivered even a few seconds late can end up marking something else entirely.
Related terms
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