Too many dogs have been taught with the use of consequences. Teaching your dog behaviors with positive reinforcement is a much more effective and overall better way to train. There are numerous benefits to positive reinforcement. Effective training with positive reinforcement requires some patience, but ultimately can be accomplished by any dog owner. Below we have some tips for how you can use positive reinforcement when training your dog.
Clarify Communication
It may seem silly to work on communication with your dog, but it is actually an important component of training and positive reinforcement. When a dog receives positive reinforcement after a good behavior, he or she is much more likely to repeat that behavior. On the other hand, punishing your dog can be confusing. Did the dog get punished because of the bad behavior or because the bad behavior was done in your presence? Positive reinforcement is a great way to help clarify your communication.
Whole Family Involvement
Several forms of training can be dangerous. Fortunately, positive reinforcement is safe for all members of the family. For example, swatting your dog as a form of punishment can make your dog angry and cause him or her to bite in self-defense. Although the adults in the home may not be overly worried about a bite, children are a different story. Every member of the family can use positive reinforcement when your dog behaves in the desired manner.
Build up a Bond
Many forms of training can teach your dog to behave in a certain way. However, no other forms build a bond quite like positive reinforcement. Positive reinforcement strengthens the bond between owner and dog in many ways.
- Your dog trusts you.
- There’s no fear in the relationship.
- Your dog will be more willing to follow commands.
- Both dog and owner are happier.
There are numerous benefits to positive reinforcement. Ultimately, treating your dog with praise over punishment is the best way to build a lasting bond. It is also a great way to ensure that you have a well-behaved and trained pup.
Have Fun!
Training does not have to be stressful for you or your dog. There are numerous ways in which positive reinforcement brings fun into dog training. When your dog is misbehaving, punishment can worsen the situation. By redirecting your dog and offering praise when the new action is done, both the dog and owner will have more fun. The initial anger at your dog’s mistake will quickly fade when a new, acceptable behavior takes its place.
Having fun is the greatest benefit of positive reinforcement. Training is far easier when there is fun involved! Plus, adding fun to training times makes it seem like playtime, which is something your dog will love.
Contact Canine College
For ideas and help in positive reinforcement training, the trainers at Canine College are here to help. As an expert in dog training, we can teach you and your dog how to handle numerous situations. Training your dog can be stress-free! Contact Canine College today to learn more about our group dog training classes and private training sessions in Holbrook MA. Give us a call at 781-767-3908 or fill out an online form.
