Premack Principle

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.

A worked example

Oscar's dog loves greeting other dogs but pulls on the way. At the gate, Oscar asks for three loose-lead steps, then lets the dog walk forward to greet. The greeting is the reward for the walking, and the pulling reduces over several weeks.

Signs it is working

• The dog performs the lower-value behavior more willingly.
• It slows down and looks to you for the release.
• The routine becomes automatic over time.

What it is not

It is not a trade you negotiate. The dog does the small behavior first, and the preferred activity follows only after.

Why it matters

It lets you turn a dog's favorite things into rewards for boring tasks, which is useful when treats are not enough.

How to use it

1. Identify what your dog most wants right now, such as getting to a sniff or running to the park.
2. Ask for a less-wanted behavior first, like a calm sit.
3. Release the preferred activity as soon as the behavior happens.
4. Use it through the day: sit at the gate, then go.

Is it the same as bribery?

Not if the reward comes after the behavior, not before. A bribe is shown first to get the dog moving. The Premack principle pays for something the dog already did.

Related terms

Keep learning

• Impulse Control →
• Trigger Stacking →
• Jackpot →