Glossary

Shaping

Building a new behavior in small steps by rewarding each step that gets closer to the final goal.

Also called: successive approximations, free shaping, shaping behavior

Shaping is a way of teaching behavior the dog would not offer in one piece. The trainer rewards any small movement in the right direction and then raises the standard step by step. To teach a dog to touch a target, for example, the first reward goes for looking at it, then for moving toward it, then for a sniff and finally for a nose touch.

Clickers and marker words suit shaping because they pinpoint the exact moment of progress. Sessions are kept short and the dog is rewarded often, so it stays keen to try new things.

Shaping differs from luring, in which food guides the dog, and from capturing, which waits for the whole behavior to appear. Many dogs find it a mentally tiring and enjoyable game.

Last reviewed November 8, 2026

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Related terms

Capturing Marking and rewarding a behavior the dog offers on its own, such as sitting or lying down, so that it happens more often. Luring A teaching method in which a treat held near the dog's nose guides it into a position, such as sit or down, which is then rewarded. Clicker training A reward-based method in which a small device makes a click at the instant a dog does the right thing, followed by a treat. Positive reinforcement Adding something a dog likes right after a behavior so that the behavior becomes more likely to happen again.