Dog training glossary
Shaping
Quick answer
Building a complex behavior gradually by rewarding small successive steps toward the final goal.
Written by the TailorPup team, updated September 2026. See our editorial approach.
What it means
Rather than waiting for a full behavior to happen at once, shaping breaks it into small, achievable pieces and rewards each approximation as the dog gets closer to the finished behavior. It requires good timing and patience but can build surprisingly sophisticated behaviors, from a reliable "go to your mat" to complex trick sequences.
A real example
Teaching a dog to close a cupboard door might start by rewarding it for looking at the door, then touching it with its nose, then pushing it slightly, then finally pushing it all the way shut.
Common mistake
Expecting too big a step at once, skipping approximations rather than rewarding small, incremental progress.
Related terms
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