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Hello hello, Pet Parents! Carlos here.
Ever wonder why your dog listens perfectly at home but ignores you at the park? Or why they sit reliably for a treat but suddenly "forget" when you don’t have one in hand? You’re not alone! Many pet parents struggle with inconsistent behavior responses, and the reason often comes down to fluency in behavior performance.
Let’s break it down and explore how you can help your dog become more reliable, consistent, and responsive—no matter the distractions.
What Is Fluency in Behavior? Why Is My Dog So Inconsistent? Understanding and Managing Fluency in Behavior Performance
Fluency means your dog can perform a behavior quickly, correctly, and in any situation—without hesitation or confusion. A fluent behavior is one that happens naturally, without much prompting, and doesn’t fade over time.
Three Signs of a Fluent Behavior:
1️⃣ Speed – Your dog responds right away when you give a cue.
2️⃣ Accuracy – The behavior is performed correctly, every time.
3️⃣ Reliability – Your dog listens in different places, even with distractions.
If your dog sometimes listens and sometimes doesn’t, they may not be fluent in the behavior yet—and that’s okay! Fluency is built with practice, gradual reinforcement fading, and training in different environments.
Why Does My Dog Only Listen When I Have Treats? Why Is My Dog So Inconsistent? Understanding and Managing Fluency in Behavior Performance
Many pet parents accidentally create a treat-dependent dog by rewarding too predictably or removing rewards too soon. If a behavior is always reinforced the same way, dogs can expect treats to be present before they respond.
The good news? We can fix this!
The key is gradually fading treats while keeping behaviors strong. This ensures your dog listens reliably—whether or not you have food in your hand.
How to Make Training Stick: The Three Phases of Fluency Why Is My Dog So Inconsistent? Understanding and Managing Fluency in Behavior Performance
1️⃣ Phase 1: Teach with Frequent Rewards (1-2 Weeks)
In the beginning, we reward every correct response so your dog understands exactly what we want.
✅ How to Apply It:
Give a treat every single time your dog performs the behavior correctly.
Example: If teaching sit, reward every sit with a treat and praise.
🚨 Why move to the next phase? If we always reward, your dog may only respond when they see food first.
✅ Move on when:
Your dog performs the behavior 80% of the time in a familiar place.
They respond to the cue before seeing a treat.
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2️⃣ Phase 2: Reward Less Often, But Keep It Fun (2-4 Weeks)
Now we reduce treat rewards while keeping the behavior strong.
✅ How to Apply It:
Start mixing up when you give treats:
Fixed Ratio (FR): Reward after every 2nd or 3rd response.
Variable Ratio (VR): Reward unpredictably (e.g., after 2 sits, then after 5, then after 3).
This keeps your dog engaged—like a fun game!
🐶 Why This Works: Just like humans playing a slot machine, dogs stay motivated when they never know when the next reward is coming!
✅ Move on when:
Your dog listens even when they don’t expect a treat.
They perform reliably in different places (home, backyard, sidewalk).
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3️⃣ Phase 3: Keep the Behavior Strong Without Always Using Treats (Ongoing)
Now, we make sure your dog listens without needing food every time.
✅ How to Apply It:
✔ Step 1: Move to intermittent reinforcement—reward only sometimes.
✔ Step 2: Use real-life rewards (praise, belly rubs, playing, going outside).
✔ Step 3: Reward the best responses—like the fastest or most enthusiastic sits!
✅ Final Goal:
Your dog listens quickly and correctly in all situations.
They perform behaviors even without visible treats.
Training stays fun, engaging, and rewarding!
Why This Works: Science-Backed Training
This method is based on how dogs learn and retain behaviors. Studies show that variable reinforcement (where rewards come randomly rather than every time) makes behaviors more durable and resistant to fading (Ferster & Skinner, 1957).
By following this process, your dog learns that:
🐾 Cues always mean something—even if a treat isn’t in sight.
🐾 Good behaviors are worth doing because they bring different kinds of rewards.
🐾 Training is FUN, not just a way to get food! Why Is My Dog So Inconsistent? Understanding and Managing Fluency in Behavior Performance
Final Thoughts
Pet parents, if your dog only listens sometimes, don’t worry—inconsistency is normal! It just means they need more practice, gradual reinforcement fading, and training in new places.
By following this three-phase approach, you’ll build strong, reliable behaviors that last a lifetime—without needing a treat in hand!
Have questions about training consistency? Reach out—I’m always happy to help!
Carlos F. Morales - CDBC | CPDT-KA
Carlos is the head trainer at Canine High School in Long Beach, CA, a force-free Puppy School and Dog School. He is responsible for creating the school's Dog Training System, Curriculum, and Philosophy. In addition to educating his canine students and their human parents, he runs a teaching school that offers apprenticeship and internship programs for aspiring professional dog trainers. He is a Certified Mentor Trainer for several dog training schools and holds certifications with the IAABC and the CCPDT. He lives in Long Beach, CA, in a little house by the beach with his human, his three dogs GoGo, Kiba, Choji, and a sassy cat, Habibti.
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