Field Guide · Glossary
Primary reinforcer
Learning scienceSomething an animal values without having learned to value it, such as food, water or the opportunity to sniff.
How it works
These reinforcers work from the start, which is why they need no preparation before use and why training almost always begins with them. Their value is not fixed: food matters much less to a dog who has just eaten, and shade matters a great deal more on a hot day. That variability is worth planning around, since a session run straight after a meal is competing with a reinforcer that has temporarily lost most of its value.
What it looks like
A dog who has not eaten since the morning works readily for kibble. The same dog, twenty minutes after dinner, ignores it entirely and will still work for the chance to go and investigate a hedge.
Commonly confused with
- Secondary reinforcer
- A primary reinforcer is valued without training. A secondary reinforcer acquires value by predicting a primary one, which is why a marker word has to be loaded before it works.
Related terms
Where this comes up
Gear that helps
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Links here are affiliate links, at no extra cost to you.
High-value freeze-dried training treats
The paycheck. For reactive work the reward has to beat the trigger, so we keep these tiny, soft, and genuinely exciting, not everyday biscuits.