What is Positive Reinforcement Dog Training?

Positive Reinforcement Dog Training, also called “Positive dog training” or “Rewards-based dog training“, is when you use rewards to encourage and teach your dog or puppy the behaviors you expect from them. Our at-home dog training instruction and puppy training program uses this method.

As your dog learns that good behaviors result in rewards, they are more likely to repeat them. The rewards are not bribes, and your dog or puppy determines what is the most motivating positive reinforcement.

Shelly Haines, Positive Dog Trainer in Austin, with her dog Kai the golden lab.
Certified Positive Reinforcement Dog Trainer Shelly Haines, VSA-CDT

Positive reinforcement is one of your most powerful tools for shaping or changing your dog’s behavior.

humanesociety.org

Positive Dog Training example video: “Turn & Spin”

Watch this 5 minute video and get a better idea of what Positive Reinforcement Dog Training looks like.

Certified Dog Trainer Shelly Haines demonstrates Positive Reinforcement Training with a “lure” method.

Positive Reinforcement Dog Training isn’t just one trick or behavior and for the best results you need a professional dog trainer as a guide. Text Shelly @ 512-537-8104 or message her to get started with positive dog training.

“Traditional” dog training is outdated.

Traditional dog training, which often uses punishment, can stress and scare dogs ultimately resulting in a negative relationship with the owner.

Punishment and dominance based dog training techniques are now considered to be outdated and not based on modern scientific understanding. One well-known study by Schenkel (published in 1947) was the genesis of the idea of an “alpha dog” and later dominance training but is now widely understood to be a flawed study as it was based only on wolves in captivity (read “Why everything you know about wolf packs is wrong”).

Today we understand that most wolf packs consist of a pair of adults called “parents” or “breeders,” (not “alphas”), and their offspring.

https://davemech.org/wolf-news-and-information/schenkels-classic-wolf-behavior-study-available-in-english/

Even accidental punishment is bad.

Punishment can so often reinforce other (unimagined) bad behaviors that punishment is bad even by accident.

A good example from The Spruce Pets is when you catch your dog urinating on your carpet and you scold it or resort to the age-old trick of smacking it with a rolled-up newspaper. Your intention is to tell the dog that it’s not acceptable to pee inside your home but instead, dogs often learn that it’s not safe to pee when you are around. Through your good intention you instead have taught your dog to avoid you and to be scared of getting caught.

Punishment can be something you do to the dog, or something you take away from them.

All forms of punishment can cause your dog not to trust you, and worse, punishing our best friends makes us feel awful.

Thankfully we can avoid punishment and other negative methods with Positive Reinforcement Dog Training.

Positive Dog Training is better.

The real question in choosing “traditional” (aversive-based) dog training or the modern Positive Reinforcement Dog Training is “Do you want your dog to fear doing bad things, to fear you.. or do you want them to enjoy doing good things?

With positive dog training methods, we teach with love not fear.

How Positive Dog Training Works

Positive Reinforcement Dog Training uses rewards to build good behaviors into habits. When a dog behaves as desired they are promptly rewarded by the trainer establishing a positive connection to the action. Repeated rewards-based training solidifies behaviors into habits.

Furthermore, being rewarded for good actions keeps the focus for both pet and owner on positive activities. You shouldn’t have to feel guilty for training your dog and avoiding harsh methods keeps dog training fun.

  • Rewards work!
  • Rewards are fun! 😃

Positive Reinforcement Training involves selecting goals, rewards and setting a consistent training schedule.

What are good goals? What bad behaviors can be fixed?

Dog owners commonly have many problems with their dogs behaving badly.

  • Dogs jumping on people or unwanted areas.
  • Dogs barking too much.
  • Dogs begging for food, or stealing food.

Almost all issues can be addressed with simple methods from Positive Dog Training.

Puppy running with ball in mouth

What are rewards?

Most dogs are food-motivated, so treats work well for training. Keep a variety of bite-sized treats available – something that your dog will not have to spend much time chewing or that crumbles and falls to the floor. Having a variety of rewards helps to keep them from getting bored. Treats should be accompanied by verbal rewards.

For dogs that are not motivated by treats, try a favorite toy, petting/praise, or something else they love!

Whatever reward you and your dog choose, make sure you keep it handy so you can reward them when they prove they are learning.

When should rewards be given?

The timing of the reward is one of the most crucial parts of the process.

For example, if your dog sits for you, the treat should be given as soon as they sit. If you wait until they stand up to give the treat, they are no longer being rewarded for sitting, they are being rewarded for standing.

While your dog is learning a new behavior, treats should be given every time they perform that behavior. As your dog is reliably able to demonstrate the behavior, slowly start decreasing how often a treat is given, while continuing to praise them.

Eventually, you will give them treats occasionally, but not predictably, and your dog will learn that they will get a treat sometimes if they keep doing what they are doing.

Examples in Positive Dog Training.

Following a proper training plan will generally be focusing on repeating good behavior, however sometimes we accidentally reward the dogs unintentionally and reinforce bad behaviors.

Positive reinforcement that teaches GOOD behavior:

  • Sit before going through a door (between rooms and/or inside/outside).
    • Helps keep your dog from darting out doors before you.
  • Sit before meals.
    • Good mealtime manners.
rewards based training with treats
Puppy training is the most important training you can establish.

Positive reinforcement that teaches BAD behavior (things not to do):

  • Every time your dog barks at a noise outside, you let them outside to get them to stop.
    • Rewards them with access to the yard for barking.
  • Feeding your dog treats from your plate.
    • Teaches your dog to beg for food when you are eating.

Consistent training is best for your dog

Every member of the household should be using the same cues and only reward the behavior you desire. If you or a member of the household thinks your dog needs a treat, they should be performing some behavior to earn that treat.

Even outside of designated dog training sessions we need to be consistent.

Why Positive Reinforcement Dog Training is the best.

Positive dog training strengthens the bond between dog and owner.

Positive dog training keeps dogs engaged and stimulated.

Positive rewards-based dog training is fun!

Why work with a Professional Dog Trainer?

A professional dog trainer can help assess and design the best learning plan for you and your dog.

It’s important to consider:

  • Realistic goals & expectations
    • Depending on your dog’s history and age the trainer will suggest appropriate training adjustments.
  • Consistent & sensible training schedule
    • How often should you train?
    • Are you working too hard?
  • Experience to deal with common issues and adjust accordingly
    • E.g. Are you relying too heavily on treats?

A professional dog trainer with expertise in Positive Dog Training will know what is best and help guide you and your pup to the best results.

Get Positive Reinforcement Dog Training in Austin & Virtually

Shelly Haines, Positive Dog Trainer in Austin, with her dog Kai the golden lab.

Let Shelly be your guide.

Shelly Haines of Fetch Worthy Dog Training in Austin is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer who learned under the prestigious Victoria Stilwell Academy for Dog Training & Behavior.

  • You don’t have to deal with bad behavior.
  • You can get better results.
  • You can enjoy a well-behaved dog.

Get in touch today to start training your dog with rewards-based positive dog training!

References

  1. https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/positive-reinforcement-training
  2. https://gizmodo.com/why-everything-you-know-about-wolf-packs-is-wrong-2-502754629
  3. https://davemech.org/wolf-news-and-information/schenkels-classic-wolf-behavior-study-available-in-english/
  4. https://www.thesprucepets.com/positive-reinforcement-dog-training-1118248
  5. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33326450/
    • Study: “Does training method matter? Evidence for the negative impact of aversive-based methods on companion dog welfare”

Working with a trainer is a sign that you love and value your dog enough to have a better relationship.

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