Training dogs using positive reinforcement and reward training has long been recognized as both highly effective for the owner and a positive experience for the dog. Positive reinforcement training is so important that it is the only method used to train dangerous animals like lions and tigers for work in circuses and in the entertainment industry.
Proponents of positive reinforcement swear by the effectiveness of their methods, and it is true that the vast majority of dogs respond well to these training methods.
Reward training has become increasingly popular in recent years, but chances are some sort of reward training between humans and dogs has been going on for hundreds if not thousands of years.
One reason that positive reinforcement training is so effective is that is uses rewards to teach the dog what is expected of it. When the dog performs the desired behavior, he is provided with a reward, most often in the form of a food treat, but it could be a scratch behind the ears, a rub under the chin or a pat on the head as well.Always consistently reward the dog for doing the right thing, this is key.
When understanding what makes reward training so effective, some knowledge of the history of humans and dogs is very insightful.Years ago, wolf pups were tamed and used for protections from predators as alarm systems and later for herding and guarding livestock.
It is possible that the wolf pups that made the best companions were the most easily trained, or it is possible that these early dogs were orphaned or abandoned wolf pups. Whatever their origin, there is little doubt today that the vast variety of dogs we see today have their origin in the humble wolf.
Wolf packs, like packs of wild dogs, operate on a strict pack hierarchy. Due to Dog and wolf packs hunting as a group, this type of hierarchy, and the teamwork it brings, is essential to the survival of the species.The hierarchy of a pack rarely changes with the exception of an injury or death and each dog know it’s status in the pack.
Every dog, therefore, is geared by nature to look to the pack leader for guidance.The foundation for any good dog trainer is to set themselves up as the pack leader in respect to the dog being trained. The pack leader is more than just the dominant dog, or the one who instructs all the subordinates what to do. More importantly, the pack leader provides leadership and protection, and his or her leadership is vital to the success and pack survival.
It is important for the dog to see itself as part of a pack, to recognize the human as the leader of that pack, and to respect his or her authority.Domination of certain dogs is much easier than others. If you watch a group of puppies playing for a little while, you will quickly recognize the dominant and submissive personalities.
A dog with a more submissive personality will generally be easier to train using positive reinforcement, since he or she will not want to challenge the trainer for leadership. Even dominant dogs, however, respond very well to positive reinforcement.It is know that there are very few dogs that do not respond to positive reinforcement also called rewarding training.
Positive reinforcement is also the best way to retrain a dog that has behavior problems, especially one that has been abused in the past. Getting the respect and trust of an abused dog can be very difficult, and positive reinforcement is better than any other training method at creating this important bond.
No matter what breed of dog you are working with, chances are it can be helped with positive reinforcement training methods. Based training methods on respect and trust, rather than on pressure and fear, is the best way to get the most from any dog.
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