Positive Reinforcement Training for Your Dog

Most experts agree that the most effective and humane way to train your dog is through a procedure called positive reinforcement training.

This is basically a very simple theory. Using positive reinforcement means rewarding the behavior that you wish to see repeated, and ignoring the behavior that you don't. This method is in direct contrast to some of the once-popular but now-outdated techniques for dog training, some of which caused physical pain and intimidation to the dog.

Positive reinforcement training works with your dog. Her natural instinct is to please you. The method of positive reinforcement acknowledges that lessons are more meaningful for dogs, and tend to mean more, when a dog is able to work out what you're asking for themselves instead of learning "down", by being thrust repeatedly into a prone position, while the word "down" is repeated several times. When you use positive reinforcement training, you're permitting her the time and the chance to use her own brain.

When you are practicing positive reinforcement training, use meaningful rewards. Dogs get bored easily with a routine pat on the head and a "good girl". Actually, most dogs don't even like being patted on the head. Watch their reactions and notice how most will balk or shy away when a hand descends towards their head.

To sustain the quality of your dog's learning at a high standard, use enticing inducements for good behavior. Food treats and physical affection are what dog trainers refer to as "primary incentives" They're both significant rewards that most dogs react strongly and reliably to. When your dog obeys an instruction, you must mark the behavior so that when she gets that treat, she understands exactly what behavior it was that gained her the reward.

Using a Clicker

Some people use a clicker for this. It's a small metal sound-making device, which gives off a distinct "click" when pressed. The clicker is clicked at the exact moment that a dog performs the desired behavior. You can also use your voice to mark desired behavior: just saying "Yes" in a happy, excited tone of voice will work perfectly.

Make sure that you give her the treat after the marker and remember to use the marker consistently. If you only say "Yes" or use the clicker occasionally, it won't have any meaning to your dog when you do, she needs the chance to understand what that marker means and that she's done something right whenever she hears the marker, and a treat will be forthcoming very soon.

So it's important to be consistent with your marker and with your training commands, too. When you're teaching a dog a command, you must decide beforehand what the verbal cue is you're going to be giving her, and then keep with it. For example, when training your dog not to jump up on you, you wouldn't ask her to "get off", "get down", and "stop jumping", because that would just confuse her; you'd pick one phrase, such as "No jump", and stick with it.

Even the smartest dogs don't understand languages, they need to learn, through consistent repetition, the actions associated with a particular phrase, and the tone of the trainer's voice. Her rate of obedience will be much better if you choose one particular phrase and use it each time you want her to carry out a certain behavior for you.

Rewarding Your Dog

All dogs have their favorite treats and preferred types of physical attention. Some dogs will do anything for a piece of dried liver, while other dogs just aren't big eaters and would rather be rewarded through a game with a treasured toy, or through some physical affection from you. You'll likely already have a good idea of how much she enjoys being touched and played with.

Nearly all dogs like having the lowest part of their back, just before the tail starts, scratched gently; and having their chests rubbed. You can also scratch the ears gently.

As for food, it's not difficult to work out what your dog likes. Experiment with different food treats until you discover one that she really loves. Dog trainers have noticed an interesting thing about treats, dogs actually react most reliably to training commands when they receive treats periodically, rather than predictably. Intermittent treating appears to keep dogs on their toes, and more interested in what might be on offer. It stops them from getting bored of the food rewards, and from making a conscious decision to forego a treat.

Correcting Your Dog

The beauty of positive reinforcement training is that it doesn't call for you to do anything that might go against the dog's natural instinct. You won't be asked to apply any complex, weighty correctional ideas, or be required to undertake any harsh punitive measures. When it comes to positive reinforcement training, all you have to do is ignore the behavior that you don't wish to see repeated.

Ignoring her is enough to make just about any dog pretty miserable, and therefore is a powerful correctional tool. Modern-day opinion of dog training states that we should simply ignore incorrect reactions to a training command and that, with no reinforcement from us, the dog will stop the behavior of her own accord.

The greater the fuss you make over her when she does get it right, the clearer the association will be between a particular behavior provoking no response at all, and other behaviors, the right response, eliciting massive amounts of positive attention from you.

Recommended Reading

Hopefully this article has given you a good basic insight into the more helpful techniques to use when training your dog. However, the subject remains pretty complex, and it's a good idea to learn as much about these effective training techniques as possible.

One excellent resource for dog training is Secrets to Dog Training: This guide is the ultimate training and knowledge database for dog owners. This program focuses on preventing and dealing with problem behaviors, as well as obedience work. Secrets to Dog Training addresses a huge variety of topics in minute detail. You can check out Secrets to Dog Training by clicking on the link below: