When a service dog receives a treat for applying forward pressure on the harness, what is this an example of?

The action of giving a treat to a service dog for applying forward pressure on the harness exemplifies positive reinforcement. This is a training method in which a behavior that is desirable is encouraged by offering a reward following that behavior. In this case, the dog learns that applying pressure on the harness leads to a treat, which increases the likelihood that the dog will repeat this behavior in the future.

Positive reinforcement focuses on adding a rewarding stimulus—in this case, the treat—to strengthen or reinforce the behavior of forward pressure on the harness. This method is effective in promoting learning and good behavior in dogs.