In the beginning, deliver positive reinforcers immediately and consistently following the behavior you want to see. Contiguity is the closenenss in time between the behavior and the reinforcer. 
Quick delivery of positive reinforers is the clearest way to communicate to your pet the exact behavior that produced the valued outcome so your pet can repeat the behavior. Your consistency in delivering that positive outcome after everu repetition of the behavior will help your pet learn the relationship – *if* I do this behavior, *then* this will happen as a result.
When the behavior is learned solidly, intermittent reinforcement will help make it strong and lasting.
This is true for all animals including dogs, cats, parrots and others.
