Dog training glossary
Premack Principle
Quick answer
Using a more-preferred activity to reinforce a less-preferred one.
Written by the TailorPup team, updated September 2026. See our editorial approach.
What it means
Named after the psychologist who first described it, the Premack principle lets a highly desired activity, like sniffing a bush or greeting another dog, function as the reward for a smaller, less exciting behavior a dog is asked to do first. It's a natural extension of life rewards and works especially well for behaviors that compete directly with something a dog really wants.
A real example
A dog on a walk is asked for a brief "check-in" glance at its owner before being allowed to go sniff an interesting patch of grass, using the sniffing itself as the reward.
Common mistake
Only ever letting the dog access the preferred activity for free, never using it deliberately as a reward for an easier behavior first.
Related terms
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