subject: Dog Obedience Training - Using Positive Reinforcement To Get Desired Results [print this page] Obedient dogs are the happiest dogs because their sole purpose is pleasing you as the owner and companion of the dog. Obedience training allows you and your dog to maintain a relationship full of respect and effective communication. Once your puppy is trained to understand his role in the household, he will be happier and you shall share a bond with him. Dog obedience training using positive reinforcement to get the desired results in the dog's behavior is achieved through praise and rewards and not through punishment.
Without yelling or punishments, the dog through positive reinforcement of the expected behaviors will become a much happier and obedient dog with behavioral problems being few and far between.
Dogs are pack animals and each dog behaves based on how it views itself in the hierarchy. Obedience training is a great way to enforce the dog's standing in the household which will allow the dog to respect and trust you since he will view you as the alpha dog that he must obey if you show him that you are in charge.
As is widely accepted with most dog training experts, the most humane and effective way for dog training is through positive reinforcement. This means rewarding the behavior that the dog displays that you wish to see repeated and ignoring the behavior that you want to get rid of.
This goes against some of the inhumane practices such as using shock collars to stop excessive barking, intimidation or inflicting physical pain when a bad behavior is displayed.
Positive reinforcement is the best way since as we know dogs are man's best friend and their first instinct is to please the owner. They do not have their own agenda in the relationship. When you use positive reinforcement, you are recognizing the dog's ability to think and use his brain.
Positive Reinforcement Techniques
1. Use meaningful rewards since dogs will bore easily with a pat on the head or a "good boy". Some dogs would even prefer not to be patted on the head.
2. Use tempting incentives to promote good behavior and to keep the dog motivated. The primary incentives are food treats and affection and most dogs respond powerfully to these primary incentives.
3. Proper timing is important with dog training. When your puppy obeys a command, mark the positive behavior that is being rewarded. A clicker is used by some that emits a "click" sound when pressed. This is used at the same moment that the desired behavior is performed by the dog.
You can also say "Yes" in an excited happy voice when the positive behavior is displayed. The treat should be given immediately after the marker. You must be consistent with the marker so that your dog understands clearly what the positive behavior that is expected of him is.
