Last Updated on April 20, 2023 by Kunthida
Positive Reinforcement Dog Training Works!
There are many different dog training techniques that are out there today. Many people often don’t realize that dog training courses often utilize different dog training techniques.
Some of these dog training techniques work better than others.
Whether you are going to a dog training course or if you are doing the dog training yourself… wouldn’t you rather know which dog training technique is the best?
If you answered yes to that question then you should know that positive dog training is one of the best techniques to use.
Positive dog training is quickly becoming the preferred method of dog training. If you would like to learn more about positive dog training techniques, please read on.
Positive dog training techniques involve using only praise and positive reinforcement.
This means positive dog training rewards your dog for good behavior or when it performs a command correctly.
The rewards used in this type of dog training can be treats, kind words, a pat on the head, etc. It has been found that dogs respond much better to positive dog training.
Positive dog training techniques never involve hitting, spanking, scolding, or punishing your dog in any manner. Dogs do not do well with any form of negative dog training.
Now we will go over some examples of positive dog training techniques.
Let us say that you are beginning your dog training by teaching your dog to sit. When your dog sits, reward it with a treat and tell it what a good dog it is.
Another example of positive dog training is to use praise and treats when your dog goes to the bathroom when and where it is supposed to. Dogs will soon learn to relate to doing this when and where it should because it gets rewarded for it.
Thus your dog will be potty trained much faster. When using positive dog training, your voice should always be happy and pleasant. Dogs will want to do as you ask when they get rewarded by any positive means.
This is why positive dog training works much better than any other type of dog training.
Now that you understand what positive dog training is, you may wish to start some of these techniques yourself. You can find dog training courses that use positive techniques and you can also utilize these techniques on your own.
With positive reinforcement, praise, and rewards, your dog is sure to learn much faster and be happier doing so. You will then be happier as well and you will also find that the dog training will go much easier.
With that in mind, you can truly see how positive dog training techniques will give you positive results!
Recommended Reading
Check the Doggy Dan’s Dog Training Program with 200+ Videos that include positive reinforcement by clicking here!
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How to Use Positive Reinforcement Dog Training
Training dogs using positive reinforcement and reward training has long been recognized as both highly effective for the owner and a positive experience for the dog.
Positive reinforcement training is so important that it is the only method used to train dangerous animals like lions and tigers for work in circuses and in the movie and television industry.
Proponents of positive reinforcement swear by the effectiveness of their techniques, and it is true that the vast majority of dogs respond well to these training methods.
One reason that positive reinforcement training is so effective is that it uses rewards to teach the dog what is expected of it.
When the dog performs the desired behavior, he is provided with a reward, most often in the form of a food treat, but it could be a scratch behind the ears, a rub under the chin or a pat on the head as well.
The important thing is that the dog is rewarded consistently for doing the right thing.
Reward training has become increasingly popular in recent years, but chances are some sort of reward training between humans and dogs has been going on for hundreds if not thousands of years.
When understanding what makes reward training so effective, some knowledge of the history of humans and dogs is very helpful. The earliest dogs were probably wolf pups that were tamed and used by early humans for protection from predators, like alarm systems, and later for guarding and herding livestock.
It is possible that the wolf pups that made the best companions were the most easily trained, or it is possible that these early dogs were orphaned or abandoned wolf pups.
Whatever their origin, there is little doubt today that the vast variety of dogs we see today have their origin in the humble wolf.
Wolf packs, like packs of wild dogs, operate on a strict pack hierarchy. Since wolf and dog pack hunt as a group, this type of hierarchy, and the cooperation it brings, is essential to the survival of the species.
Every dog in the pack knows his or her place in the pack, and except in the event of death or injury, the hierarchy, once established, rarely changes.
Every dog, therefore, is hard-wired by nature to look to the pack leader for guidance. The basis of all good dog training, including reward-based training, is for the handler to set him or herself up as the pack leader.
The pack leader is more than just the dominant dog or the one who tells all the subordinates what to do. More importantly, the pack leader provides leadership and protection, and his or her leadership is vital to the success and survival of the pack.
It is important for the dog to see itself as part of a pack, to recognize the human as the leader of that pack, and to respect his or her authority.
Some dogs are much easier to dominate than others. If you watch a group of puppies playing for a little while, you will quickly recognize the dominant and submissive personalities.
A dog with a more submissive personality will generally be easier to train using positive reinforcement since he or she will not want to challenge the handler for leadership. Even dominant dogs, however, respond very well to positive reinforcement.
There are, in fact, few dogs that do not respond well to positive reinforcement, also known as reward training.
Negative Vs. Positive Reinforcement Dog Training
An obedient dog is a good dog, but they do not get this way naturally. In order to get a well-trained dog, one must begin the dog’s training and conditioning while the dog is still very young. For the most part, people attempt dog training on their own, however, there are a few who may turn to an obedience school for very thorough dog training.
The first and most common form of training for dogs is positive reinforcement. Positive reinforcement simply means doing something positive for the dog to reward the correct behavior. This can come in the form of physical or audible praise, or more effectively, in the form of a doggie treat. Pet owners often give dogs a treat to reward good behavior, as this is one of the surest ways to ensure the dog repeats those good behaviors in the future.
At the other end of the spectrum is negative reinforcement. Negative reinforcement can come in the form of a tap on the butt or the obligatory “bad dog,” spoken aloud. A more extreme form of negative reinforcement used to curb bad behavior can come by way of the utilization of a shock collar.
Incessant barking can be a major issue for some pet owners and may be eliminated with a particular method of dog training. By using what is known as a “bark collar” this issue may be eliminated over time. These collars emit a low-voltage electrical shock each time the dog barks and over the course of the dog wearing the collar, the barking will eventually stop.
There is another form of negative reinforcement that utilizes the same basic principle as the bark collar. A shock collar used in conjunction with an invisible fence is used to contain the dog in a particular area such as a yard or piece of property. The dog receives a mild shock each time she attempts to cross the boundary line which in turn lets her know the limitations.
House training a dog is a very important part of dog training. The best way to house train a dog is with a mix of positive reinforcement and mild negative reinforcement. Give the dog a treat when it goes outside, and discipline it when it goes to the bathroom inside. Dogs can often recognize tone, so use this to your advantage. One quick note: try and avoid using their name (as in just shouting their name when they do something bad) as they cannot distinguish this and may think that you are just calling them to go out.
Training a dog is not often a very easy task, but it can be very rewarding. Dog training takes a lot of patience and love and laziness will often yield poor results. A disciplined dog will be a joy to have around the home, but only if the master has the discipline to train them properly.
We built www.dogcollarandmore.com for all dog lovers like ourselves. We continue to build the site as a complete resource for you. One area of concern with owning a dog is dog training. You can find all the answers to your dog-related questions along with a lot of training techniques written by experts on our site.
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Dog Training Can Be Positive and Fun
While training is optimistic and enjoyable, both you and your canine can get pleasure from the process plus the outcomes. To instruct your puppy on anything new, the task must hold some type of incentive when effectively finished.
In order to encourage your pet that training exercises are enjoyable, contemplate what he’ll work toughest for. For many dogs, by far the most persuasive reward is a small but delicious piece of food, such as whole-wheat toast or freeze-dried liver.
Dog Obedience Classes for Positive Reinforcement Training
If you are unskilled in proper dog training, take into consideration enrolling your dog in a proper class. A desirable advancement in thinking normally takes place once we join training classes.
Despite the fact that people may sign up for only one class -typically two months of instructional classes – they enjoy the feeling a lot that they typically re-enroll for yet another level of training, challenging themselves to make the next.
Most basic obedience classes – includes: “sit,” “down,” “stay,” “come” (or “recall”), and “heel.” Each command plays an important role in day-to-day communication between people and their dogs. An experienced instructor can help guide you with issues such as the timing of rewards when your dog “listens” and the best way to respond when he doesn’t listen.
In some classes, time may also be centered on dealing with actions not associated with obedience competition, for instance jumping up, dropping objects on-demand, and handling walking (without having a proper “heel”).
Could, in addition, be elements involving suitable socialization, and short classes on other similar subject matter, as well as basic training. Behavior training classes regularly have their own traditions that may be mentioned between the attendants, several other people who love their dogs nearly as much as you do.
Making use of What You’ve Both Learned
Remember to use and practice exercises after you’ve earned them. Your dog may be “staying” beautifully while in class, but he may ‘act deaf’ in other environments. So, help him practice – in your home, back yard, near playgrounds, and in crowded shopping plazas.
Apply the skills you and he have worked so hard to master so that he can join you everywhere and be the companion you always knew he could be. After all, obedience exercises are meant to be a dance for two.
Ed Randall’s site on puppy trainers can certainly bring out the best in your dog. Stop by and find out all about the best ideas to train your dogs and other amazing dog facts.
More Resources About Positive Reinforcement Training
Get great brain training for dogs with many dog brain games!
A Channel on Youtube about Positive Dog Training
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5 VIDEOS About Positive Dog Training
This dog training technique can better be understood by watching the following outstanding video. Discover how to train your dog at best!
German Sheperd Training Video
How to Teach Any Dog Perfect Obedience
How to Teach Your Dog to Fetch Perfectly
How to Train Your Dog to Settle Down
How to Housetrain Any Dog
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