The Simple Brain Secret to Speeding Up Your Dog’s Training Routine

Many dog trainers are familiar with what’s called a jackpot in dog training. Jackpots are used strategically in training when the dog’s response is exceptional. The dog might have responded quickly to a cue, chosen to focus in the presence of a distraction, or completed a new skill with fluency. Instead of giving one treat and moving on, the jackpot is a mini celebration. The handler feeds a few treats in a row and praises the dog. Trainers who use them will tell you it’s clear they work, but, as with all dog training topics, how well they work is debatable.

I’m always looking for ways to speed up the training process for my clients while also training for reliable responses from the dog. It’s helpful to examine what works and to measure progress.

One thing I’ve found is that in practice, jackpots do make a big difference. I remember one time I was training my dog, who has since passed, an English Cocker Spaniel, for the dumbbell retrieve. This exercise involves cueing the dog to sit-stay while you throw a dog-training dumbbell (a lightweight plastic or wooden item used in obedience trials). You then send the dog to get the dumbbell, and the dog goes out, picks it up, and returns to you. The dog then sits, still holding the dumbbell, until you take it.

My dog was going out to get the dumbbell, but kept dropping it before returning it to me. While I could have solved this by revisiting the foundation work for this skill, I was trying to see if he could work it out. I threw the dumbbell, he dropped it too far from me, and I tried again. The second time, he happened to bring it all the way back to me, as he was supposed to. I was thrilled, and I went down to his level to praise him when my entire treat bag – which holds your rewards during training – dropped to the floor. My dog was excited about the treats falling, so I encouraged him to pick them up as his reward. I gave him a jackpot even if it wasn’t intentional that time. He continued to excel at the dumbbell retrieve from that moment on.

The Science of the Jackpot: What Dopamine Teaches Us

Even with relatively limited research to demonstrate that jackpots make a difference, many trainers notice they do in training. In May 2026, a study was published in Science in which researchers reported that mice given larger rewards learned a task faster than those given many smaller rewards. The study found that larger rewards produced longer-lasting dopamine signals in the brain. When dopamine activity remained elevated for longer, the animals learned the task more quickly.

The study was conducted under laboratory conditions, so it doesn’t entirely prove what’s happening in dog training. But it does provide a possible explanation for what dog trainers have been noticing for years, which is why many trainers have been sharing and discussing it since its publication.

Choosing Your Jackpot Moments: Quality Over Quantity

To use jackpots successfully in dog training, it’s important to consider the behaviors you want to reward your dog highly for. Overusing them likely reduces the technique’s effectiveness. With each skill you train your dog, you can consider what’s most important. For example, you might want your dog to respond quickly to a cue. If you say “sit” and your dog responds right away, that could be a jackpot moment, depending on where your dog is in training.

Troubleshooting Mastery: Recalls and Advanced Retrieves

Another example of a skill to consider using jackpots for is the recall. Rewarding your dog highly for fast recalls, rather than for ones where your dog seems to stroll across the yard, can help your dog learn that the recall cue doesn’t just mean run to you; it means run to you as fast as possible.

There is always more to understand about how animals learn. While jackpots aren’t a magic solution, they are one technique that can be helpful when used thoughtfully. To be successful, you should always pay attention to the dog because the dog’s behavior will give you the most insight into what’s working and if you’re communicating clearly in training.