When thinking about the most convenient method to shape your pet’s behavior, dog training options may appear never-ending. However , there are two ends of the range and you lean more towards one than the other. Some individuals use punishment in an attempt to deter bad behavior. Others select positive strengthening, or rewards, to inspire good behavior. If you hope to build a deferential relationship with your pet through dog training, it’s recommended to choose the latter.
Positive reinforcement is a textbook term that's a form of operant conditioning. It suggests rewarding a behaviour you would like to see more of to prompt future occurrences.
How significant is this for dog training? Essential. Dogs hunger for praise and they will learn quickly what’s necessary to get it.
Here are one or two other positive reinforcement methods to use in your dog training:
Basic commands: Consistently reward when he responds to shake, stay, roll over, and so on.
Barking elimination: If your dog is too chatty or barks at the wrong times, begin to reward him when he is quiet.
Potty training: When he is going to the loo on a walk or asks to be let outside to do his business, that merits a treat.
Kennel training: each time he goes inside his kennel, reward him. He’ll also feel less apprehensive about the crate.
To guarantee you're effectively using positive reinforcement for a dog training method, define the right reward. If your dog doesn’t like food treats, use his favourite toy. If he likes your attention more than anything, verbally praise him.
When you suspect your pet has learned the pattern, begin to reward less frequently. This is called erratic re-strengthening dog training. He will still know he probably did something good, but will not expect a treat all of the time.
Whatever you opt to do, consistency is vital. Remember that you're in charge of dog training, not the other way around, and you are going to be able to steadily shape his behaviour.
This draft was written to help dog keepers to grasp what dog training strategies are available and which one they should think about drilling with. Also we are advocates of clicker training.