How to Get Started with Positive Reinforcement Training for Your Dog
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Establishing a strong bond with your dog through positive reinforcement training can help your dog grow into a wonderful companion. Positive reinforcement training overcomes the challenge of communication, allowing you to reward the behaviours you want while ignoring the ones you don’t.
Positive reinforcement training uses an immediate reward such as a treat, praise, play or a toy to tell your dog when they’ve been good. It’s a highly effective method of operant conditioning that will help you to steer your dog away from negative behaviour.
Scientific studies support the use (Si apre in una nuova finestra) of positive reinforcement training, citing it as one of the best ways to teach your dog to associate their behaviour with consequence. As time goes on, your dog increases the frequency of behaviours with pleasant consequences and they faze out the frequency of behaviours that result in unpleasant consequences. Correct timing (Si apre in una nuova finestra) is essential when using positive reinforcement, as is consistency. Consistent positive reinforcement training will be the fuel that keeps the fire burning long enough to achieve the change you desire.
How to start positive reinforcement training with your dog
It’s important with positive reinforcement training that you get everyone in your household involved. This is possible because of the simplicity of positive reinforcement training, allowing even small children to get involved under supervision. Children may even learn a lot about the importance of displaying good behaviours (Si apre in una nuova finestra) via the training they deliver with their dog.
Training sessions should be short and upbeat, making it fun for both the trainer and the dog. Once your dog recognises that training can lead to rewards that they love, they may start to view their education as playtime and may respond to it more eagerly and for longer.
One of the best ways to start with positive reinforcement training is to put yourself in your dog’s shoes (Si apre in una nuova finestra). Think about how you’d respond if your boss rewarded you for all the good things you do at work. Would it make you want to work harder? Think about the monetary reward you gave your child when they did well on their report card. Did it make your child want to do well in their next report? The same principle applies when training dogs - it’s all basic animal psychology.
The benefits of positive reinforcement over other dog training methods
Dogs have lots of options when it comes to their education. Some training techniques are more successful than others, especially when it comes to operant conditioning.
A natural instinct when trying to condition a dog’s behaviour is to punish your dog when they do something bad. What science tells us however, is that this only teaches your dog that the behaviour is unpleasant. It doesn’t teach your dog what behaviour is desirable.
As a general rule, positive reinforcement (such as treats) is always more beneficial than negative reinforcement (such as scolding or smacking). When you administer punishment, it only serves to stop the behaviour when you are present. Your dog can quickly learn that the behaviour goes unpunished when you’re not around or they can also take the punishment as a form of attention, which actually reinforces (Si apre in una nuova finestra) the undesirable behaviour.
Your responsibility as an owner is to train your dog in a way that supports their safety and happiness. Applying negative reinforcement can cause your dog to fear engaging in behaviour that may result in punishment, and this can ultimately delay a dog’s development and can harm the strength of your human - dog relationship.
Positive reinforcement on the other hand builds your dog’s confidence (Si apre in una nuova finestra) by teaching them what is a pleasant and wanted behaviour. Your dog’s increased confidence makes them feel good about learning new behaviours and the result is a happier, more spirited dog that approaches learning with eagerness instead of fear. This type of training provides your dog with lots of mental stimulation needed for proper development and it strengthens the bond that you share.
Positive reinforcement training in practice
A common example of positive reinforcement training for tackling undesirable behaviour is when your dog jumps up on people to greet them. Jumping up is effectively addressed (Si apre in una nuova finestra) by ignoring your dog until it is sat still and is quiet beside you. Your dog gets no form of reward for jumping, because they are ignored for the behaviour. There is no eye contact, no pat, no scolding and no telling them to ‘get down!’. It’s only when they are still and calm that they receive a reward.
In the above example, it helps if your guests are on the same page when it comes to the appropriate response. If your guests come in the door only to pet your dog while it’s jumping, the hard work of your training can be undone. Prepare your guests ahead of time by instructing them to ignore jumping behaviour and you will see positive results more quickly.
Another example is a Zoom call. Let’s say that your dog is barking just as you’re making a presentation. You could give him a bone to get him to be quiet, but this teaches your dog that by barking he will be rewarded with a bone. The bone is his pleasant consequence.
Consequences drive behaviour (Si apre in una nuova finestra), so never give your dog something he wants for doing something you don’t want him to do. If need be, hold a few pretend Zoom meetings and reward your dog for being quiet. If he barks, ignore him until he stops.
Choosing positive over negative
Aversive training methods are still common in dog training but that doesn’t mean you should be using them. Aversive training methods can cause injury, pain, suffering or distress so say no to negative training methods and yes to positive reinforcement. Your dog will thank you for it and just like your dog you’ll be rewarded for your wanted behaviour.
Positive reinforcement builds trust, strengthens your bond, and encourages a confident, happy dog. It also reduces the risk of stress-related behaviours that can lead to health issues down the track. If any issues do arise, having Buddy Pet Insurance (Si apre in una nuova finestra) can help cover the cost of behavioural consultations or follow-up vet care—giving you peace of mind as you focus on raising a well-adjusted companion.
