POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT DOG TRAINING

POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT DOG TRAINING

Many people look on the Internet for methods to solve the problems they encounter in raising their pets. Positive reinforcement dogs training is an excellent tool to encourage learning. Training a dog is not only done when it is young, but continues into its adult life to reinforce its behaviour.

Behavior is said to be reinforced when it is followed by a positive reinforcement, the term "positive" meaning that the reinforcer is presented or given immediately after the action. Positive reinforcements are usually things that are pleasing to the individual or things for which the individual is willing to do a certain amount of work.

In this article from DOG INFO, you will learn about positive reinforcement dog training, its effectiveness and results in training.

What is positive reinforcement?

Among the many dog training methods and techniques around the world, positive reinforcement is an option that allows your dog to understand commands, activities, etc. and associate them with something positive.

The method is simple: it consists of rewarding your dog with treats, cuddles and affectionate words when he performs an action correctly. This method allows the dog to assimilate the whole process in a more fun way and to feel useful by following your instructions.

You can reward him when he sits down or gives his paw, when he adopts a calm attitude, when he behaves well during a game, etc. Positive reinforcement can be applied to an infinite number of cases.

The most common positive reinforcements used in dog training are food and play. However, there are others. Since all dogs are different, everyone will have their own preferences. It is impossible to say that all dogs should be trained with this or that type of food, or that tug-of-war is always an effective reinforcer.

Using a clicker for dog training

The clicker is a positive reinforcement tool. It is a small instrument that emits a noise, improving the animal's attention and perception. It is perfect if you want to train your dog because it will allow you to "capture" the behaviors that you consider good. If you already know this method, find out how to load the clicker to start using it on your dog.

Bad learning tools

Scolding and punishing your dog is not a good way to train him. By putting him in a stressful situation, you only make his reaction worse and prevent him from effectively remembering what you wanted to teach him.

Furthermore, after a while, the dog forgets what he has done wrong and only becomes submissive because he sees that you are angry: he contracts and gets scared when he understands that he has done something wrong, but he doesn't know what it is.

Punitive methods such as a choke or electric collar are very dangerous and negative for the dog, which can lead him to redirect his anger towards the person closest to him, in addition to having a strongly negative effect on his behaviour, making him potentially aggressive, apathetic or anti-social.

Benefits of positive reinforcement

Trainers, veterinarians and ethologists always recommend positive reinforcement for the dog's training, learning in a playful way, which will facilitate their memory. Positive reinforcement also helps to create a better relationship between the animal and its owner. He will feel loved, happy and more socially open.

It is the ideal training method that suits everyone, regardless of experience in dog training, because it offers the opportunity to positively educate your pet, making him happy and confident.

Using positive reinforcement correctly

In our article "BASIC OBEDIENCE ORDERS FOR DOGS", we use the food to make the dog obey the orders and, once done, we reward him (through positive reinforcement) so that he understands that he has worked well. Repeating and continuing to reinforce this order helps the dog understand what he is doing well and why you are rewarding him.

Misuse of positive reinforcement

If, for example, you are teaching your dog to paw, you will need to take care to give him his reward once he has performed the action. If you allow too much time to pass between the action and the reward, or if you give the reward too early, you will prevent your dog from correctly associating the command with the treat.

Positive reinforcement takes time and patience, and the most important thing is to be precise about when you reward the animal.

In our list of common mistakes when scolding a dog, you'll see that the first (and most serious) mistake is scolding him at the wrong time. This kind of attitude harms the animal and causes confusion.

Conclusion

Positive reinforcement is a proven, effective training method, which also allows you to develop a real complicity between you and your dog. The absence of constraint favors a serene learning, with, on the other hand, a lot of training and patience. Exercise is only acquired when you can do it in all situations!