Before You Can Speak Up, You Need to Know What They’re Talking About
A guide to common dog training labels (and how to figure out what’s right for you and your dog)
You want the best for your dog. That’s not in question. But when you're trying to make decisions about their training, it can feel like you’re walking into a cocktail party after everyone has had a couple of drinks, are mid conversation, and start peppering you with questions before you’ve had time to set your jacket down!
OK, well, that’s how it feels to me and I’m supposedly an industry professional. Trainers throw around terms like positive reinforcement, force-free/fear-free, balanced, aversives, compulsion, games-based…and you're supposed to just know what they all mean, along with the nuances that set them apart.
And if you don’t know? It can be hard to ask questions without feeling like the “difficult client.” So before you can advocate for what’s best for you and your dog, you need a foundation of understanding. Let’s break down some of the common labels you might hear, and what they really mean.
Before you speak up, you need to know what they’re talking about…
Following is a short guide of commonly used dog training terms and what they generally mean.
Positive Reinforcement
This is actually a technical term from behavioral science, but it’s often thrown around as “kind” training. Positive reinforcement simply means adding something the dog wants (POSITIVE) to increase the likelihood they’ll do the behavior again (REINFORCEMENT).
Your dog sits → You give a treat → Your dog is more likely to sit next time.
In this framework, we don’t use pain, fear, or intimidation. Instead, we focus on setting the dog up to succeed, then reinforcing the behavior we want. Positive reinforcement is one of the four quadrants of operant conditioning (alongside negative reinforcement, positive punishment, and negative punishment), but it’s the only one associated with adding joy instead of avoiding consequences.
Balanced Training
“Balanced” sounds reasonable. We strive for balance in life, so who doesn’t want that for dog training? But in this context, “balanced” means the trainer uses both rewards and corrections, such as leash pops, prong collars, e-collars or other tools that apply pressure or discomfort to stop unwanted behaviors.
While many balanced trainers claim to use positive reinforcement, it’s often reserved for when the dog gets it “right,” while corrections are used when they don’t. This teaches the dog to avoid failure, but doesn’t necessarily build clarity or confidence.
The problem? If your dog is shy, reactive, or struggles with anxiety, balanced methods usually backfire. Instead of learning to feel safe, your dog may just shut down. And a shut-down dog might look well-behaved - until they redirect their stress elsewhere or react “out of nowhere.” Those so-called surprise bites? They’re often the result of ignored signals, suppressed communication and “balanced” training that punished the warnings.
Force-Free/Fear-Free
You’ll often hear the terms force-free and fear-free used together, and while they share similar goals, they’re not exactly the same. Force-free refers to a broad training philosophy that avoids using physical corrections, intimidation, or coercion. It’s a commitment to teaching dogs through cooperation rather than control. Fear-Free, on the other hand, is a specific certification program originally developed for veterinary professionals and now extended to trainers. It emphasizes recognizing and reducing fear, anxiety, and stress in animals. While not all force-free trainers are Fear-Free certified, both approaches prioritize the dog’s emotional well-being and aim to build trust rather than fear in the learning process.
Force-free and Fear-Free approaches are both rooted in positive reinforcement, using rewards to teach and encourage behavior while intentionally avoiding fear, pain, or intimidation as training tools.
Compulsion-Based
Compulsion-based training relies on using physical pressure, corrections, or discomfort to teach the dog what not to do. The idea is that the dog learns by avoiding negative consequences, such as leash jerks, collar pressure, or being physically placed into positions. This approach often stems from older training models used in military or protection work, where quick compliance was prioritized over emotional well-being. While some trainers claim it produces fast results, it carries a higher risk of fallout, especially in dogs who are anxious, sensitive, or reactive. Rather than building understanding, compulsion often teaches avoidance—and may damage trust in the process.
Aversive Training
Aversive training involves using unpleasant consequences to reduce or suppress unwanted behaviors. These “aversives” can include physical corrections like leash jerks or prong collar pressure, but also non-physical methods such as yelling, using spray bottles, or startling noises. The goal is to make the behavior less likely to happen again by associating it with discomfort, fear, or confusion. While some trainers argue that aversives can be effective in the short term, research and experience show they often come with significant risks—like increased anxiety, suppressed communication, and even aggression. Rather than teaching the dog what to do, aversive methods typically teach what not to do, which can erode trust and hinder long-term learning.
Compulsion-based and Aversive training are closely related, but there are subtle distinctions. The thing to know is ALL compulsion based methods are aversive, but not all aversive methods are compulsion-based. Compulsion focuses more on physically forcing the dog to comply. Aversive training includes any technique that uses fear, pain or discomfort to reduce behavior even if it’s not physically forced (ie yelling, startling sounds, shaker cans, e-collars, spray bottles).
Natural Dog Training
Here’s where things get a little murky. “Natural Dog Training” isn’t a standardized method—it’s a marketing label. Some trainers use it to mean they’re following a dog’s instincts, but that can mean very different things depending on the trainer’s philosophy.
In some cases, it’s a red flag—especially if it includes outdated ideas like pack theory, dominance hierarchies, or alpha rolls. But in other cases, it might describe a more intuitive, cooperative style that encourages the dog to lead. As with many terms in this space, you’ll need to dig deeper into how the trainer defines “natural” before deciding if it aligns with your values.
Relationship-Based Training
“Relationship-based” training is a feel-good phrase that sounds like a solid middle ground, but it's not a regulated method and doesn’t tell you much about how the trainer actually works. Think of human relationships - some are built on trust and communication, others on “respect and obey”. The takeaway? Ask for specifics. Relationship-based might mean empathy and choice, or it might mean obedience cloaked in “nice” language.
Marker-Based Training
Marker-based training is simply a method to “mark” the exact moment a dog does a correct behavior (like a clicker, or “yes” or other distinct sound). It is used for clear communication and grounded in behavioral science. Marker words or sounds are very common in positive reinforcement based methods.
Games-Based Training
This is a training method that uses structured play to teach skills to the dog. It’s often part of positive reinforcement or force-free training and is commonly used in sport dog, enrichment-focused programs and used to be common in service dog training. It uses the instinct of the dog to seek and play, and keeps training fun for the human, therefore making training sessions more likely to happen in every-day life, rather than needing to reserve an hour for “formal training”. It’s more than a marketing term in that each game is structured to develop parts of the dog’s brain, but it’s often thrown around as a new term to stand out from the crowd as a dog trainer.
LIMA (Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive)
LIMA isn’t a training style but it’s mentioned here because it’s a decision-making framework. It stands for Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive, and it's a professional standard used by many certified behavior consultants. A LIMA-based trainer is expected to start with the most humane, low-stress interventions, and only consider more intrusive methods if all other options have been thoughtfully ruled out.
The problem with LIMA is that while it sounds like a humane standard, it’s open to interpretation. Some trainers use it to justify aversive tools by claiming they’ve exhausted all other options, even when less intrusive methods were never fully explored. Without clear accountability, “LIMA-compliant” can mean very different things depending on the trainer’s biases or skillset.
So… How Do You Know What’s Right for You?
The labels we’ve covered aren’t just jargon. They shape how your dog is treated, how they learn, and how safe they feel. Knowing what these terms really mean gives you the language to ask better questions, spot red flags, and make choices that align with your values and your dog’s needs.
Here’s the thing: you are the expert on your own dog. You may not have a degree in behavior science, but you can learn how your dog feels and acts when they’re overwhelmed, excited, or afraid. The right approach is the one that works for both of you, without compromising your dog’s safety, well-being, or trust.
Before you can stand up and say “this doesn’t feel right,” you need the vocabulary to describe why. Understanding these labels gives you the confidence to ask questions, to push back, and to seek help that actually helps.
Casa Luna Canines is your partner in dog training, human learning. Join us to learn how to be your dog’s best friend using 100% pain and fear free methods. Imagine what it will feel like when your dog chooses to behave well around you, no matter where you are!
