Positive Reinforcement Dog Training

Positive Reinforcement Dog Training

A growing list of recent surveys is indicating that positive reinforcement dog training is far more effective and ultimately more successful than traditional training between dominance and reward. 

Negative behaviour training only tends to teach the dog that negative behaviour is acceptable. The new study indicates that dominance, rather than reward, correlate with poor training outcomes. This reinforces the fact that positive reinforcement dog training is by far the most successful method to date.

It's a well known fact that many behaviour problems stem from removing something rather than providing a solution to a problem. For example, an extremely aggressive dog that lunges at you as it charges could be removed from the environment, but not the aggression itself. A patient with cancer may be advised to remove all symptoms, but remove the cancer itself. This is a clear example of how removing something can create new problems.

With positive reinforcement dog training, removing something creates a win-win situation for both you and your pet. The dog is aware that his actions are creating a problem and knows that he must be removed from the situation. Positive reinforcement immediately stops the negative behaviours and allows the desired behaviours to be reinforced. The desired behaviours are then reinforced more and the dog recognise that these behaviours are good. This provides positive motivation for the desired behaviours.

Although this sounds very simplistic and even commonsensical, many people still utilise a form of punishment in their dog-training methods. They often rely on punishing the dog by applying pain to stop unwanted behaviour. Although pain is not the appropriate means of training a dog, many people still use this method despite the fact that it doesn't work. One reason that many trainers still employ this form of training is because it is so widely used.

Many people also rely on a clicker-training system. Clicker training involves using small, harmless electronic "clickers" to give your dog a positive reinforcement for good behaviour. You can use one of these systems in two different ways. First, you can use the clicker to immediately give the dog a treat, which is a form of reward.

Alternatively, you can give the dog a treat and then use the clicker to reinforce the specific behaviour. The clicker, when coupled with the appropriate positive reinforcers, gives the dog the desired response, such as a treat, while giving the dog zero attention and discipline in return. Both of these methods effectively teach dogs how to behave without any form of punishment or negative reinforcement.

As previously mentioned, most people who practice a no-reward-either-kind philosophy are not interested in the prospect of giving their pet a treat, and therefore rely heavily on negative reinforcement or punishment to shape the dog's behaviour. While this method can be effective, there are a number of problems associated with it. One of the main problems is that negative reinforcement can actually teach a dog to dread certain behaviours, such as silence. This can lead to the dog developing an even harder shell to live in and may cause your pet to act out even more, as a way to get rid of the negative treatment.

In this article, we've discussed some important basics to keep in mind when teaching your dog how to behave. Keep in mind that operant conditioning and negative reinforcement both work very well, but that in order to teach your dog a new behaviour you must be flexible enough to adjust your enforcement strategy to suit the situation. For example, if your dog is exhibiting bad behaviour in a public place such as the park, you should refrain from physically punishing your pet until it learns to behave properly in such a public place. On the other hand, if you are walking your dog on a leash, you should apply a consistent, positive reinforcement. In this manner, you are not only teaching your dog the proper behaviour, but you are also instilling in it the habit of behaving well in public.

4 Easy Tips For Positive Reinforcement Dog Training

Positive Reinforcement

If you are like many dog owners, when it comes to training your dog you often run into the same problems that most dog owners have. The main one is that your dog doesn't understand what's acceptable and what isn't. So, instead of just telling your dog what is expected of you need to give them positive reinforcement and help train them to understand what is not acceptable.

When training your dog, you need to start with positive reinforcement first. When you give your dog praise then they will be able to understand what you are trying to teach them. But, if you don't praise them when they do something good then they will not learn. Instead of just punishing them for doing something wrong you need to give them positive reinforcement first and then they will start to understand what is right and wrong.

Negative Punishment

Another problem some dog owners run into when they are training their dog is that they use negative punishment. Now when I say negative punishment, I am not saying that you shouldn't reward your dog at all. What I am saying is that you should vary your approach to training depending on what the behaviour is. One example of this is giving a treat or high-pitched sound every time your dog does something right. When they are doing something wrong they should only receive a low-pitched sound or a no-pitch sound.

Using Mixed Techniques

You will find that using mixed techniques throughout your training can make it easier for you to train your dog. For instance, if you are punishing your dog for chewing on something then you should only do that when your dog is chewing something that is not acceptable. In order for you to know when your dog is doing something bad to try to give them praise. If your dog loves to chew then give them praise but if they are just bribing then you should only reward with a no-pitch whistle. Both of these techniques can work, so give them a try and enjoy reading this article.

Giving Treats

Positive reinforcements can also come in the form of treats. There are all kinds of goodies that you can give your dog to reward them when they are doing good. For example, your dog loves to get a pat on the head. So, when he does a good job to give him a treat and lots of affection. You might also want to try giving them a toy whenever they do something good and if you are not a fan of traditional treats then try giving them a toy that your dog has been wanting to play with. Either way you should never punish your dog for something they were doing as they will not understand why they are being punished.

These tips are just a few of the many different things you can do to improve your dog training skills. Do yourself a favour and check out some dog training books at your local library or bookstore. They are full of great tips for teaching your dog how to be the best dog owner possible. If you need additional help, you can always find DVDs that can teach your dog new tricks. These DVDs will provide you with additional training methods to learn and practice.