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 The technical term for reward-based training is positive reinforcement. When your dog performs a behavior and you reward your dog with something he/she likes, then that behavior is more likely to occur again. After consistently rewarding the dog, you gradually lessen the reward, and before long the unrewarded behavior is second nature to the dog!
What’s the wrong way to train?
Unfortunately, our society tends to focus on negative behavior. From the time we are children to the time we reach adulthood, we are always told about our mistakes and shortcomings. After a while, we start to have many negative thoughts in our heads about ourselves and about others. Is that a happy way to live? Most people would agree that it’s not. Fortunately, there are many positive individuals who keep reminding us of those jobs we do right. Thank goodness for awesome friends!
Now let’s consider this matter from the dog’s perspective. If you keep yelling “No don’t chew on that!,” “Stop pulling,” “Don’t bark,” why would the dog want to listen to you? We listen to people who we can trust and who can give us positive feedback.
How to train correctly
As a trainer it is my goal to teach you how you can focus on the things that your dog is doing right. You can then give your dog a treat, a pet, some praise, or a toy. As a result, you will become a friend to your dog, and he/she will want to be near you and please you. So please stop the excessive “no’s” and harsh punishments. Give me a call, and let me show you how to build a fun and trusting relationship with your dog!
Free Dog Training Tips!
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January's article discusses clicker training. Future articles will discuss how to train specific commands.
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