Dog Behavior Training – How to get your dog to do what you want!

It is generally acknowledged amongst the majority of dog training experts that the most effective and kindest way to carry out dog behavior training is to use an old established method called Positive Reinforcement Training.  What this basically means is that when your dog behaves correctly he is rewarded, and when he behaves badly he is ignored.

Positive reinforcement training is the complete opposite of the old dog behavior training methods that were widely used in the past. It is where good behavior is rewarded by a treat or with affection and bad behavior is simply ignored. Ignoring the bad behavior actually means not hitting or harming the dog in any way. Every dog’s natural instinct is to please their owner and when you hit a dog it actually interprets the bad energy coming from you as an acknowledgement of what he has done is ok.

When the dog is ignored no energy is being omitted and this makes him sad so he soon understands that he has done wrong and will learn very quickly to do the things you want because that’s when he will get a positive reaction.

Positive reinforcement works with your dog by using their natural instinct to please. The logic behind this type of dog training recognises that by giving dogs repeated lessons they tend to retain what is being asked of them as opposed to training them by force.

So for example when you are training your dog to lie down instead of physically forcing him into the down position try giving him a firm “DOWN” command and rewarding him when done correctly. When you use positive reinforcement training, you do two things. 1) You are allowing him to use his own brain and 2) by repeating the exercise over and over again you are giving him the time to learn.

Here are some tips that you could use to help with your dog behavior training:

Meaningful Rewards

Use rewards that are meaningful. Dogs are very intelligent and will get bored very quickly with just a pat on the head and “good boy”. Did you know that dogs actually don’t like being patted on the head! If you watch their reaction when the hand moves down they will often pull back or shy away. It’s much better to use food treats (special canine ones are best) and physical affection to reward good behavior.

Most dogs love treats, but you may have to try a few to get to the right one and some dogs are very fussy eaters and will not want whatever you give them. So in this case you could try giving them physical affection, or maybe play a game with their favourite toy, but remember every dog is different and they all have their limits as to what they will do and when. Just like us really!

When you initially start your dog behavior training you should always give your dog a treat when he has performed correctly, but when he is actually performing  the task consistently you should then start to be sporadic with the treats and let them do the required command using just your voice. This sporadic giving of treats keeps the dog interested and alert and stops them getting bored.

Dogs loved to be petted and one area that gives them the most pleasure is to scratch them gently with your finger at the base of their spine right where their tail starts. Watch them melt when you do this. They also love their chests rubbed or scratched and they adore their ears being played with.

Timing

Timing is also important as any reward must be given immediately after your dog has obeyed your command so that he understands what the treat was for. With repeated lessons he will learn very quickly that what he has done was good because he always gets a treat.

Clicker Method

Dog behavior training can be helped by using the clicker method. This is a simple gadget that makes a metallic click sound when pressed. How you use it is to click the device at the precise moment that your dog correctly does what is asked of him. So say you want your dog to sit, you give the “SIT” command and click the device at the precise moment that his backside hits the floor. If you don’t have a clicker you can also use your voice in exactly the same way. So for example you could say “YES” or whatever word you want, but make sure it is said in a positive tone and also don’t forget to give him a treat afterwards.

Use Consistent Commands

Also remember to be consistent both in your commands and when you give them. When you want your dog to stop jumping up, he will not learn if every time he does it you give him a different command like “GET DOWN” or “GET OFF” this will just confuse him and he will not learn. A better option is to have the same command like “DOWN” or “NO” and stick with that command. Dogs are very clever but they do not understand human language. They actually learn through consistent repetition and they associate the different commands with specific actions requested of them.