Positive Dog Training Methods |
Positive Dog Training or Positive Reinforcement Training is using a reward or reinforcement to increase the behavior that you want.
Rewards can be a number of things such as praise, petting, time with you, a walk, a car ride, to go outside, play, tugging, a ball, a toy, play with other dogs and of
course food. As a trainer we often use food because it is a convenient quick easy way to reward behavior and most dogs will work for food.
Some people say they don’t want to use positive reinforcement training because they have to reinforce or reward their dog. They feel their dog should work for them because they say so and are loyal to them.
Well dogs are very much like you and I. They need a reward to work for us. Let me ask you, how about if I was your boss and I didn’t want to reinforce or reward
you. I thought you should just come to work every day for the pleasure of seeing me and working for me because that's what I want it.
Now, honestly tell me how long you would work for me. What if I threaten to hit you and intimidate you to work for me. Again, would you like to work for my
company?
Well, I find it interesting that we expect our dogs to work for us under these conditions. We need a reward, a pay check, to work so why do we think our dogs are any different.
Reinforcement is proven scientifically to increase or maintain a behavior. So this means you work and continue to go to work for your paycheck. So your work
behavior is maintained or increased based on your reinforcer or reward (paycheck) you earn. This is why we use money so often to reward people because it works.
This is the same principal in positive reinforcement dog training we use a reinforcer or reward to increase or maintain a dog’s behavior because it works beautifully and easily. As I mentioned before there are many different things that can reinforce your dog.
You will find that with positive dog training your dog will be eager to work for you, your relationship with your dog will be stronger and you get the increase in
behavior that you want from your dog. All this can be done without ever using cruel harsh training methods.
Positive reinforcement training is based on proven scientific methods and is the most humane way to train your dog. These are the methods that I use at All
Paws Pet Training. |
