Positive And Negative Reinforcement In Dog Training
An obedient dog is a good dog, but they do not get this way naturally. In order to get a well-trained dog, one must begin the dog’s training and conditioning while the dog is still very young. For the most part, people attempt dog training on their own, however there are a few who may turn to an obedience school for very thorough dog training.
A reward system is widely recognized as one of the most effective ways to train a dog into good behavior. By using positive reinforcement, such as verbal rewards along the lines of “good dog” or the much more effective method of the dog treat, proven results have been achieved. The treat as a reward in the early stages will guarantee continued good behavior later on.
Many pet owners may have to choose a form of negative reinforcement in order to curb bad behavior. The negative reinforcement may come by way of a sharply spoken “bad dog” or the trusty rolled up newspaper tapped on the nose. There is another level when it comes to negative reinforcement and this is found in the form of shock collars.
Incessant barking can be a major issue for some pet owners and may be eliminated with a particular method of dog training. By using what is known as a “bark collar” this issue may be eliminated over time. These collars emit a low-voltage electrical shock each time the dog barks and over the course of the dog wearing the collar, barking will eventually stop.
There is another form of negative reinforcement that utilizes the same basic principle as the bark collar. A shock collar used in conjunction with an invisible fence is used to contain the dog in a particular area such as a yard or piece of property. The dog receives a mild shock each time she attempts to cross the boundary line which in turn lets her know the limitations.
Housebreaking a dog is possibly the most important piece of dog training. Utilizing a bit of both reinforcement methods with the negative reinforcement being kept to a minimum will accomplish this. Reward the dog when he has alerted you to the need to go outside or discipline him when an accident indoors occurs. One should not shout the dog’s name by itself when disciplining the dog as the dog will not know the difference between discipline and a simple call.
Training a dog is not often a very easy task, but it can be very rewarding. Dog training takes a lot of patience and love and laziness will often yield poor results. A disciplined dog will be a joy to have around the home, but only if the master has the discipline to train them properly.
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Mar 10, 2010 | | dog training

