Are You At Your Wits End Trying To Train Fido? One Technique Will Help!

Are You At Your Wits End Trying To Train Fido? One Technique Will Help!
by Kristin Hill


The majority of dog training experts would agree that the most humane and effective way to train a dog is using a process known as positive reinforcement training. This is a fancy way of simply saying: use positive reinforcement to reward behavior you wish to see repeated and ignore ones you don't.

This is in direct contrast to some of the once-popular methods for dog training. Some of them are totally unimaginable: physical pain and intimidation or inhumane methods of aversion therapy (think shock collars). Positive reinforcement works with your dog. A dog has a natural instinct to please you--and the method of positive reinforcement knows that lessons tend to "stick" more and mean more when she's able to figure out what you want on her own instead of you forcing the desired action on her. This way the dog is given time and opportunity to use her own brain.

Here are some ways that you can facilitate the training process:

-Use meaningful rewards. Dogs can get bored rather quickly with a pay on the head. Most dogs don't even like to be patted on the head. Watch your dog's reaction when a hand moves toward their head. They actually shy away from it! To keep the quality of learning high, use tempting rewards. Food treats and affection is what dogs respond to. -Use right timing. When your dog obeys a command, you must specify the behavior that you are going to reward, so that when she receives the treat, she'll know exactly what it is for. -Be consistent with training commands. When teaching a command, decide ahead the verbal cue and stick to it. Dogs learn through repetition. How to reward your dog meaningfully:

Every dog has a favorite treat and a way to show affection. You already know how much she enjoys being played with and touched. They have a distinct level of energy. Stroke your dog either on the chest between the forelegs or at the lower back near the tail.

How to correct your dog meaningfully:

The best thing about positive reinforcement training is that you don't do anything harsh. All you do is ignore the behavior you don't want repeated. If you don't show attention, it can make any dog miserable--your powerful correctional tool. Hopefully this article sheds some light on dog training. It is a complex topic, and there's a lot more to learn. There's a wealth of information and it can be a very educational experience for your dog and her human.