When we think about rewarding our dogs, treats are usually the first thing that comes to mind. Food rewards are powerful, but connection is just as important. Your dog doesn’t only crave treats, they crave you. A kind word, a scratch behind the ears, or a big “good dog!” can be just as valuable as a tasty snack.
During my time training guide dogs, we often paused for what we called a “pat party.” In the middle of moments of intense training and concentration, handlers would stop, crouch down, and give their dogs a burst of affection and praise. This wasn’t a distraction, it was a vital way for the dogs to decompress, reset, and remember that working together is a partnership, not just a job.
Moving around, patting and dogs having a wee tail wag and decompression moment would allow them to let go of any tension built up from concentrating on working, and continue working with a refreshed mind.
It’s worth noting that some dogs—particularly high-drive working dogs like farm dogs or detector beagles—don’t get many pat parties while on the job. These dogs are wired differently. They can be so intensely focused on work that the act of working itself is rewarding. In fact, their obsession with the task can feel almost “on the spectrum” compared to pet dogs.
That doesn’t mean they wouldn’t like or even love pats and praise, it just means that often, their primary motivation lies in the job itself. Still, connection with their handler is crucial: trust and clear communication are what allow them to follow instruction effectively.
For our pet dogs at home though, it’s easy to forget the value of simple, undistracted affection. In our busy lives, it can feel natural to scroll on your phone while your dog drops a toy at your feet. But they don’t just want your presence—they want your attention.
Some dogs thrive on eye contact, and this can also be used as a tool. My retired detector beagle Clawson was hand raised along with the rest of his litter, because his mum passed after giving birth.
So this litter were a bit different from the rest, because they weren't raised in a typical puppy context with rules set by a mum dog. They were raised by humans, and as humans, we look at everything, all the time. It would be impossible to raise a litter of puppies without looking at them, but this litter's upbringing highlighted to me the difference in the way dogs and humans use eye contact.
For some dogs, intense eye contact can be a bit intimidating. But for this particular litter it could be used as a reward, so the way we used rewards on the job was a bit different to the rest of the beagles. Now that Clawson is retired, I can use eye contact and a smile (to soften the eyes) and he is happy to accept that as a reward. I have also seen this in the smaller, companion based breeds at puppy class. A lot of these puppies are literally looking to their owners for validation.
Three points to remember:
- Social creatures – Dogs are wired to seek approval and interaction with humans.
- Oxytocin boost – Petting and praise release the “love hormone” for both dog and human.
- Beyond food – Pats and praise can activate the same reward pathways as treats.
So next time you want to reward your dog for doing something exceptional, try a “pat party.” A few minutes of genuine connection can calm your dog, build trust, and make you both feel happier. If your dog is going crazy in the evening, right when you want to sit down and relax, put your phone down for five minutes and play tug, cuddle, or just enjoy each other. Remember the reason we you got a dog in the first place.