Positive Dog Training

Positive Dog Training: Using positive reinforcement dog training

In my view, certainly the most valuable training tips that I could possibly think of for dog training will be the usage of positive dog training techniques when getting my dog to learn various tasks for obedience. Many different professional dog trainers sometimes have gone along paths that eventually result in somewhat negative ways of getting dogs to learn things. This is very unfortunate.

When you look at dog obedience training, you have the possibility to give reinforcement either positively or negatively through the process of extending a reward or punishment. Those positive sources or people that you learn from in regards to dog training will say that using punishment as a means to reinforce dog training has absolutely no value in training a new puppy or dog. For a good lasting relationship with your dog, only positive methods will work.

The foremost approaches and dog training will be with positive reinforcement. This simply means that you will reinforce the command through praise and sometimes food in addition. Whenever you see your dog not responding correctly, you simply do not get the reward. That actually goes for anything your dog does negatively. For example, some people really don't understand why their dog continually begs at the table yet they give in to their dog to stop his actions by giving him food....DUH! Hello! That just reinforced their dog's bad behavior. Try to only reinforce good behavior.

Also, you most likely saw that I did not talk about reinforcing your dog's actions with a treat every time. Treats should be used infrequently while praise should be used frequently. There's no reason your dog should expect to have a treat every time he does something correct. Your praise and pleasure will be sufficient. In fact, after your dog has successfully learned these commands, your next task will be slowly removing dog treats as a way of reinforcement because all your dog really needs is your praise.

Treats will be best used together with praise for a dog that will be either new or a puppy. Using a treat helps you keep your dog's focus on you. It also helps your dog put more effort into making sure he does what you want. Later after he has learned these various commands and you have formed a rather nice bond with your pet, you should slowly remove the treats you give to your dog to where they will only be given very infrequently.

Positive dog training should be the only way to go when you want to keep your dog stable and bonded lovingly with you. Remember that the better connection you have with your dog, the more fulfilling your dog will be for you. This, of course, is not rocket science. You certainly would do no less with your own flesh and blood child. There's no reason why you should have to use any negative reinforcement for your dog to respond as you want.