How to Train Your Dog Using Positive Reinforcement and Rewards

How to Train Your Dog Using Positive Reinforcement and Rewards

Good reinforcement and reward training have long been acknowledged as very successful for the owner as well as a good experience for the dog. Positive reinforcement training is so crucial that it is the sole approach used to teach hazardous creatures such as lions and tigers for employment in circuses as well as in the film and television industries.

Positive reinforcement proponents swear by the efficiency of their tactics, and it is true that the great majority of dogs react well to these methods of training.

Positive reinforcement training is successful because it utilizes incentives to educate the dog about what is expected of it. When the dog accomplishes the desired action, he is rewarded, most typically with a food treat, but it might also be a scratch behind the ears, a massage under the chin, or a pat on the head. The crucial thing is that the dog be continuously praised for doing the correct thing.

Incentive training has grown in popularity in recent years, although it seems likely that some kind of incentive training between humans and dogs has existed for hundreds, if not thousands, of years.

Understanding what makes reward training so successful requires some knowledge of human and dog history. Early dogs were most likely wolf pups that were domesticated and employed by early humans for predator protection, alarm systems, and eventually for guarding and herding cattle.

It's likely that the wolf pups that made the finest friends were also the easiest to teach, or that these early dogs were orphaned or abandoned wolf pups. Whatever their origins, there is little doubt that the great majority of dogs we see today descended from the simple wolf.

Wolf packs, like wild dog packs, have a tight pack hierarchy. Because wolf and dog groups hunt in packs, this form of hierarchy and the cooperation it fosters are critical to the survival of the species. Every dog in the pack understands his or her position in the pack, and the hierarchy, once established, seldom changes, save in the case of death or injury.

As a result, every dog is hardwired by nature to seek out the pack leader for direction. The handler must establish himself or herself as the pack leader, which is the foundation of all excellent dog training, including reward-based training. The pack leader is more than simply the dominant canine or the one that orders everyone else about. More significantly, the pack leader offers direction and protection, and his or her leadership is critical to the pack's success and survival.

It is critical for the dog to consider itself a member of a pack, to identify the human as the pack's leader, and to respect his or her authority. Some dogs are much more easily dominated than others. If you observe a bunch of pups playing over a short period of time, you will rapidly identify the dominant and submissive personalities.

Because he or she will not desire to challenge the handler for leadership, a dog with a more submissive nature will be easier to teach via positive reinforcement. Positive reinforcement, on the other hand, works quite effectively with even dominant dogs. Few dogs, in fact, do not react well to positive reinforcement, commonly known as incentive training.

Positive reinforcement is also the most effective technique to retrain a dog with behavioral issues, particularly one that has been mistreated in the past. Getting an abused dog's respect and trust may be challenging, and positive reinforcement works more than any other training strategy at forming this vital link.

Positive reinforcement training techniques may assist any dog, no matter what breed you deal with. The best way to get the most out of any dog is to base training techniques on respect and trust rather than intimidation and fear.

Summary:

Good reinforcement and reward training have long been acknowledged as very successful for the owner as well as a good experience for the dog. Positive reinforcement training is so crucial that it is used to educate hazardous animals.