Positive reinforcement for the dog training entails using positive aspects such as physical rewards, praises, foods, toys, or anything that the dog appreciates once it exhibits a desired response to a certain behavior. The central idea of positive reinforcement in dog training is to encourage your dog to do or exhibit that behavior severally. Additionally, using such positive techniques in changing the undesirable behaviors in your dog helps it to establish ethical customs as required. The dog learns to associate the good things he/she gets from you with the behavior. In such a scenario, it does such an action repeatedly according to the given context because it aims at receiving a certain positive aspect or thing. Positive reinforcement is regarded as one of the most effective psychological methods of training a dog. Alternatively referred to as reward-based training or pain free training among other terms, an effective dog training method using positive reinforcement takes the following steps.

Steps to take for effective positive reinforcement dog training

1. Develop a Short term: this means that the dog owner comes up with a short yet convenient and suitable word or phrase for commanding a particular behavior that you want to teach the dog. The word or phrase should be short and precise in such a way that your dog will be able to remember once it is issued as frequently as possible. Examples of such short words or phrases include but not limited to: come, down, stay, sit, off, and heel. During this initial stage, make sure that all the family members are aware of the word and use it consistently and appropriately whenever giving the same command for the desired behavior.

2. Reward Immediately: as soon as your dog exhibits the desired behavior, reward it by either giving it a certain positive treat such as a piece of food or a verbal praise. This should be done to the dog every time it shows the appropriate behavior. Consistency in rewarding your dog helps him/her to develop an association between the behavior and the positive reinforce, thereby enhancing the learning of the behavior.

3. Shorten the Training sessions and make them fun: ensure that the periods that you train your dog are relatively short and enjoyable. This ensures that the dog does not stay long enough to get bored in the process of training. Fun also enables the dog to relate good things with obeying the commands that you issue.

4. Gradually withdraw the Treats: you should slowly back off the or intermittently use the treats you used to your dog once it has successfully learnt the desired behavior. Once the behavior is learned, the treats are not no longer needed. However, be sure to always give a verbal praise each time the dog exhibits the desired behavior.

5. Use positive reinforcement continuously: this is the last step. To maintain the already learned and train other subsequent desired behaviors you want for your dogs, always use the reward-based training technique. The method helps in creating an environment of mutual feelings characterized by trust and confidence between the dog and the owner.

Conclusion

Even though positive reinforcement is the most preferred method of training dogs, sometimes it is not effective especially with stubborn ones. You should consider purchasing e-collar technologies to train these kind of dogs. They are more effective in training stubborn dogs.