Dog training glossary
Fixed Ratio / Variable Ratio Reinforcement
Quick answer
Two ways of scheduling rewards by number of responses: a fixed ratio rewards every set number of correct repetitions, a variable ratio rewards after an unpredictable number.
Written by the TailorPup team, updated September 2026. See our editorial approach.
What it means
A fixed ratio (reward every third correct sit, for example) is predictable and useful early on, but a dog can learn to anticipate exactly when the reward is coming and slack off in between. A variable ratio, rewarding after an unpredictable number of repetitions, tends to produce more persistent, harder-to-extinguish behavior, the same principle that makes slot machines compelling, and is typically introduced only once a behavior is already well established.
A real example
A dog trained with a fixed ratio might get a treat every third "sit" reliably; the same dog moved to a variable ratio might get rewarded after the first sit, then not until the fifth, keeping it consistently engaged since it can't predict which repetition pays off.
Common mistake
Switching to a variable ratio schedule too early, before the behavior is fluent, which can cause it to weaken instead of becoming more resistant to fading.
Related terms
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