🌿 The Premack Principle: What Hedges, Pudding, and Dog Training Have in Common 🐾
I was chuckling to myself on the drive home from the tip the other day — because I realised I’d just Premacked myself! (I know !!!, I need to get out more!! – just not to the tip please :0)
If you’ve never heard of the Premack Principle, don’t worry. You’ve probably lived it without even realizing.
Remember being a kid and your mum saying, “Eat your greens first, then you can have pudding”? (I’m from Yorkshire, so pudding was always on the menu! 🥧) That’s the Premack Principle in action: doing something less exciting first, so you get access to something you really want.
So what do hedges — and dog training — have to do with this?
🌳 Hedges First!
When I bought my house, I fell in love with the big garden (anything for the dogs, right?). What I didn’t quite factor in were the mountains of hedges that came with it.
I’m no gardener, but being a thrifty Yorkshire lass, I’m loathe to pay someone else to tackle them. So I bought a hedge trimmer. The trimming itself? Surprisingly satisfying! The clean-up afterwards? Not so much.
At the same time, I was midway through crocheting yet another blanket 🧶. So I struck a deal with myself:
👉 Cut a portion of hedge, bag it up, take it to the tip. THEN, and only then, could I settle down for an evening of crochet.
That’s me using the Premack Principle on myself. Hedge first, crochet after.
🐕 How Does the Premack Principle Work in Dog Training?
The Premack Principle is all about rewarding a desired behavior with access to something more exciting. Instead of bribing our dogs, we teach them that if they do what we ask, they get what they want.
I often explain this in training sessions because it makes learning fun — and it doesn’t even feel like training to your dog.
Take this example:
I worked with a dog recently who loves other dogs. Off-lead, she’d sprint over to them, ignoring her poor mum calling out, “Don’t worry, she’s friendly!” 😅 While sweet, it was also a bit embarrassing.
With Premack, we can flip this around. The rule becomes: if you want to greet another dog, you first have to check in with mum. Once she looks back for permission, mum can choose whether greeting is allowed. The dog learns: “Look at mum first = I get to say hello.”
🚪 Everyday Examples of Premack in Action
The beauty of this principle is that it works in everyday life:
- Going Through Doors 🚪
The dog wants to rush outside. You ask for a sit first. Sitting calmly = the door opens. Soon, sitting becomes automatic. - Loose Lead Walking 🦮
Sniffing “pee-mail” on bushes is the best. Instead of being dragged, you ask for eye contact first. Once they check in, you take them to the sniff as a reward. The dog learns: “Look at you = sniff happens faster.”
With practice, these behaviors become second nature. The more your dog understands, the less you have to ask.
🐾 Why the Premack Principle Strengthens Your Bond
Using Premack isn’t just about training behaviors — it’s about building a two-way conversation. Your dog learns that listening to you helps them get what they want. And you learn more about what motivates them.
So next time you’re out with your pup, think about this:
👉 What do they want right now? And what small thing could they do for you first to earn it?
It’s training, yes, but it’s also teamwork. 💕
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The Premack Principle in Dog Training 🐾 | Everyday Examples That Work
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Discover how the Premack Principle can make dog training easier (and more fun!). 🐶 Learn simple examples like doors, loose lead walking & more. 🌿
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