Remember how happy you used to feel when your parents rewarded you with a dollar for every A on your report card? Their action motivated you to repeat your achievements, didn’t it? This is known as positive reinforcement.
Dogs prioritize praise and rewards like food or toys over money. Positive reinforcement training involves using rewards such as treats, praise, or toys, which the dog finds enjoyable, to encourage desired behaviors. By making the dog more inclined to repeat the behavior, using positive reinforcement is an effective method for shaping or altering your dog’s behavior.
Rewarding your dog for good behavior may seem straightforward, and in fact it is! However, in order to effectively apply this technique, it is important to adhere to a set of fundamental guidelines.
Timing is everything
To ensure the effective use of positive reinforcement, it is crucial to have accurate timing. The reward should take place promptly, within seconds of the desired behavior, so that your pet can properly associate it with the correct action. For instance, if you make your dog sit but only reward them after they have stood up, they may mistakenly believe that they are being rewarded for standing.
Keep it short
Dogs do not comprehend sentences. If you say “Daisy, I want you to be a good girl and sit for me now,” they will most likely just stare at you. In reality, dogs learn primarily from our body language, so the first step is to encourage your dog to sit or lie down using gestures before using verbal commands. By holding a toy or treat and gradually moving your hand over and slightly behind your dog’s head, they will have to sit in order to look up and see it. Once your dog is sitting, you can lure them into a lying down position by slowly lowering your hand and bringing the reward closer to the ground, between their front paws.
Once your dog is reliably doing the behavior, begin introducing the word “sit” or “down” using a calm tone and aim to avoid repeating the word. Keep the verbal cues concise and straightforward.
The verbal cues that are most frequently employed are:
- watch (eyes on me)
- sit
- stay
- down (lie down)
- off (get off me, someone else, the furniture)
- up (stand up)
- come (to me)
- heel (walk close to my side)
- leave it (don’t touch or pick up something from the ground)
- drop or give (when trading something in their mouth for a treat or toy)
Consistency is key
To avoid confusing your dog, it is important for every member of the family to use the same cues. Sharing a list of cues in a visible location can assist in familiarizing everyone with them.
Consistency also involves consistently rewarding the desired behavior and refraining from rewarding undesired behavior.
When to use positive reinforcement
THE GOOD
Positive reinforcement is an excellent technique for instructing your dog commands as well as encouraging desirable conduct. For example, you can have your dog assume a sitting position.
- before letting them outside (which helps prevent door-darting)
- before petting them (which helps prevent jumping on people)
- before feeding them (which helps teach good mealtime manners)
Reward your dog by giving them praise or treats when they display good behavior, such as lying quietly at your feet or chewing on a suitable toy like a Kong, instead of your shoe.
THE BAD
To avoid unintentionally reinforcing undesired behaviors, be cautious about using positive reinforcement as a reward. For instance, if you grant your dog access to the yard every time they bark at a noise in the neighborhood, you are essentially rewarding an action that you wish to discourage.
6 Tips to Keep in Mind as You Get Started with Positive Reinforcement Dog Training
According to Haylee Bergeland, CPDT-KA, RBT, a pet health and behavior expert, it is possible for any animal, regardless of age, to learn and modify their behaviors. Therefore, if you have decided to teach your dog new skills and want them to learn quickly, there is good news.
Dogs acquire knowledge similar to humans by evaluating if their actions result in favorable or unfavorable outcomes within their surroundings. Upon this assessment, they adapt their conduct to increase desirable outcomes and decrease undesirable ones. Employing positive reinforcement training is the most effective approach to influence your dog’s future conduct and enhance your relationship with your furry companion.
1. You and Your Dog Are Teammates
In order to earn your dog’s respect, it is not necessary to behave like a “pack leader”. Micromanaging every action of your pup is a source of stress for both you and your dog. Instead, view yourselves as teammates who are working together towards a common objective.
2. Stock Up on Plenty of Treats
Motivating most dogs can be effectively done with treats. Opt for soft treats that can be easily broken into small, pea-sized nibbles. In addition to commercial dog treats, pieces of chicken breast, hot dogs, and cheese are also suitable options.
3. Create Trust and Understanding With Your Dog
Teaching your dog to navigate the human world requires patience, much like raising a child. According to Bergeland, it is common for people to label their dogs as “naughty,” but that is never accurate. It is essential to take a moment and contemplate how you can assist your learner in comprehending your teachings.
4. Always Give Your Dog Choice
Positive reinforcement training can provide enjoyment for both you and your dog, but it is essential to respect your dog’s willingness to participate. It is advised to refrain from physically coercing your dog into commands such as sitting or using a leash to pull them. If your furry companion is uncooperative, it indicates that it may not be an appropriate moment for training.
5. Make Sure Your Dog Is Enjoying Training
If you observe specific behaviors in dogs during skill-building sessions, you can determine whether they are enjoying it or not. Are you noticing your dog focusing on you? Is your dog excited about receiving the treat? If the answer is yes, then continue teaching. However, if the dog appears uninterested or easily distracted, it is advisable to try again at a different time.
6. Create the Best Environment for Positive Reinforcement Training
To help your pup improve focus, it’s important to remove distractions such as children or other pets in the vicinity. Additionally, ensure that your pup has relieved themselves and that you are training them at an appropriate time. Providing training when your pup hasn’t recently eaten a meal will increase their motivation to work for treats.
