Most training advice assumes a generic reward, a treat, some praise, a pat on the head. In practice, individual pets have clear preferences, and using the wrong one is a common reason a technique that worked for someone else's dog or cat falls flat for yours.

What you'll need

A few different reward types on hand to test: small food treats, a favorite toy, physical touch, and verbal praise in different tones.

Steps

  1. Test food against play in a low-distraction moment

    Offer a small treat one day, a quick game with a favorite toy another, and watch which one gets a faster, more engaged response. Some dogs and cats are far more food-driven than others, and the reverse is just as common.

  2. Pay attention to where they like being touched

    A scratch behind the ears delights one dog and mildly irritates another. Cats are especially specific, many enjoy chin and cheek scratches but dislike prolonged contact anywhere near the belly or base of the tail.

  3. Notice which tone of voice actually lands

    A high, excited voice energizes some dogs and overwhelms others who respond better to a calm, low, steady tone. Cats generally respond better to a quieter register altogether, sudden enthusiasm can come across as alarming rather than warm.

  4. Watch for the reward they choose when given options

    Set out a toy and a treat at the same time and see which one they go for first, more than once, to rule out a one-off. That preference is worth building your training and bonding time around.

  5. Reassess every so often, preferences shift

    A food-motivated puppy sometimes becomes more play-driven as an adult, and a cat's tolerance for touch often changes with age or health. What worked a year ago isn't guaranteed to still be the best option now.

If nothing seems to landA pet that shows little interest in food, play, or touch as rewards, especially if this is a recent change, is worth a vet visit rather than more experimentation. A drop in overall responsiveness can be an early sign something else is going on.

Time and temperament

Realistically: A few short sessions over a week or two, five minutes here and there, is usually enough to get a clear read on what your specific pet responds to best. There's no need to dedicate long blocks of time to this, small comparisons add up faster than one long test.

Reading them: Genuine interest looks like leaning in, a relaxed body, or an immediate response the moment the reward appears. A stiff posture, turning away, or taking a treat without much enthusiasm suggests that particular reward isn't landing, whatever the general advice says it should do.

Staying patient: It's easy to assume a pet 'isn't motivated' when really the reward on offer just isn't the right one for them. Reframing a flat response as information, rather than a training failure, usually solves the problem faster than pushing harder with the same reward.

Frequently asked questions

My dog used to love treats and now seems indifferent. What's going on?

This can be as simple as the treat becoming less novel over time, worth rotating in a new option. If it's a sudden change alongside reduced interest in food generally, that's worth a vet check rather than assuming it's a preference shift.

Is it bad if my cat only ever responds to food, never praise or touch?

Not at all, plenty of cats are straightforwardly food-motivated and that's a perfectly workable preference to build around. There's no requirement that a pet respond to every type of reward equally.