Positive reinforcement is a fancy phrase for what’s essentially a very simple theory: using positive reinforcement entails rewarding the behavior that you wish to see repeated, and ignoring the behavior that you don’t. It has long been recognized as a way to change children’s negative behavior into positive behavior. Now it has been proven to have the same effect on non-humans.
Watching a Killer Whale doing a routine directed by two young women, I realized that they had trained the large animal to perform in that manner using positive reinforcement tactics. The same method will enable you to train your new puppy. Positive reinforcement is the choice method for most of the experts in the dog training field today. No other training method is considered as humane or effective.
Some of the popular dog training techniques of the past are completely opposite from today’s preferred method. Some of these outdated methods are now considered abusive and are avoided by all who wish to treat their dogs in a humane manner. Using the more humane positive reinforcement method you can have a puppy that is a well-trained and a loved member of the family.
Puppies are easily confused when given commands. The thing you have in your favor as you train your puppy is that there is a strong desire on her part to please you. Just be sure that she knows each time what you want her to do. To accomplish this you must use the same words each time for the same command. If you want her to sit don’t say “sit here” one time and “sit down” another. Always use the same word or phrase. Your puppy will soon know exactly what is expected and behave accordingly.
Use meaningful rewards to facilitate the training process. Dogs get bored pretty quickly with a routine pat on the head and a “good girl”. Most dogs don’t even like being patted on the head; watch their expressions and notice how most will balk or shy away when a hand descends towards their head. If you want to use touching your puppy as a reward we have found that most dogs really like having the base of the tail (the lowest part of their back, just before the tail starts) scratched gently; having their chests rubbed or scratched (right between the forelegs) is usually a winner, too. You can also target the ears: gently rub the ear flap between your thumb and finger, or scratch gently at the base.
Using tempting rewards will help maintain the quality of your puppy’s training. Most dogs will respond in a positive way on a consistent basis to physical attention and food treats. Just be sure you give your puppy something for a food treat that you already know she likes. The same goes for physical attention
Use the right timing. When your dog obeys a command, you must mark the behavior that you’re going to reward so that, when she gets that treat in her mouth, she understands exactly what behavior it was that earned her the reward.
Using your voice as a marker will also help your puppy in her training. However, you must be sure that even though your voice helps, she must receive a treat immediately. Do not give her verbal praise unless you are going to be consistent with it.
For puppy training to be totally successful you and your puppy must both find it pleasant. Do not schedule training time when you are exhausted; be sure that your rewards are something she is willing to work for.
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