Positive training is a method of training animals that does not use force, coercion, or other harsh methods. The basis of positive reinforcement training is to help the dog do what you are asking him to do, then reward him for doing it. Many of my clients have made this comment to me after watching training take place: “It’s just like teaching my kids”.
Top 10 Reasons Why To Train Your Dog With Positive Reinforcement
1. You will get their attention. Dogs love to learn new things when their behaviors are rewarded. Take any clicker-trained dog and watch their faces light up when you present the clicker. You will have their utmost attention.
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2. More successful training outcomes. Pets learn quickly when their behaviors are reinforced. Using rewards to reinforce the behaviors we want is key to positive training success.
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3. It’s a confidence-builder. The human-animal bond is made stronger when we reward the behaviors we want from our pets. Positive training builds healthy confidence in our pets, helping them learn how to live in our human world.
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4. You and your dog are happier. It is more fulfilling for us when we train our pets with rewards instead of punishing them for misbehaving. Plus, no harm is done to your pet if you make a mistake such as poor timing of a reward.
Alternatively, poor timing when delivering punishment can cause your dog or cat to fear you or worse, to shut down completely.
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5. A better bond is built. Dogs and cats are more trusting of humans in general when they are trained with rewards.
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6. Behaviors that are rewarded often are repeated. So, reward the behaviors you want, and ignore or redirect the behaviors you would like to change.
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7. Violence begets violence – so don’t use it. Many dogs will “fight back” when they feel they are being threatened. Pinning a dog down in the “Alpha Roll” is extremely threatening to a dog. Just be consistent with your dog and he will automatically see you as the leader.
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8. Pets learn “how to learn”. Positive methods teach dogs how to think and figure things out. This is likely because they are not afraid to offer behaviors since nothing bad happens if they get it wrong.
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9. It’s proactive. Training with positive methods is actually teaching your dog, instead of reacting to your dog’s behavior.
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10. Find What Really Motivates Your Dog. Positive reinforcement doesn’t mean just giving treats. You can reward your dog also by giving praise, petting, or by playing with a favorite toy. Experiment and find out which one motivates your dog the most.
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11. Positive Reinforcement can help with wide variety of behaviors. It can even help dogs with aggression issues and ones that are fearful. In some cases, punishment can make the problem worse.
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12. Results are more measurable. Training with positive reinforcement is rewarding to your pet. Results that you can see easily and quickly can be measured with every training session.
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