There are numerous dog training strategies you can use on your dogs but you have to understand that not all methods are applicable because there are dogs that do not respond well to certain training methods. This means that even if you spend the entire day training your dog there’s a big chance you won’t be able to see results and this may cause you to become frustrated and disappointed. If you have tried one method and you failed, don’t stress yourself out because you’re not the only one.
In order to know which training method will work best on your pet, you must first understand the different training techniques professional dog trainers use. You can use one technique or a combination of methods to get the best results. There is no cut and dried rule to dog training. Let’s check out popular dog training methods and how your dog can benefit from them.
Positive Reinforcement
The dog trainer who popularized positive reinforcement is Dawn Sylvia-Stasiewicz. The concept behind this dog training technique is that when you reward your dog for being good, it will repeat the good behavior. You are not supposed to reward your dog for bad behavior. This type of dog training comes in the form of providing and withdrawing reward. The concept is very straightforward, you reward your dog for being good and you don’t reward your dog for being bad. It’s that simple. In this training, reprimanding your dog isn’t needed. The training starts by rewarding your dog for being good a couple of seconds after it happens so your dog will be aware why it was given a treat or a toy.
When you use positive reinforcement, use it consistently. Everyone in the house should follow the system so your dog wont’ get confused. You can start providing rewards every single time your dog behaves or obeys your command. Remember, only reward your dog for good behavior.
Scientific Training
Scientific dog training can be hard to define because it depends on information that is continually changing and evolving. The goal of this training is to try to comprehend the nature of your dog and how it can be conditioned and to see the efficacy of the reward and punishment training.
Animal behaviorist experts are always studying, researching and experimenting to analyze dog psychology. Trainers mostly rely on scientific studies when they work with dogs. Before they correct a particular behavior they have to make sure that they understand the factors that have led to that behavior. Other scientific trainers suggest that positive reinforcement is a good technique in strengthening good behavior but it doesn’t necessarily have to involve rewards.
Clicker Training
Clicker training is another form of dog training that depends on similar principles as positive reinforcement. It uses a device that makes a sharp and quick noise or a clicker to let your dog know when a behavior is considered good. The upside to this training is that it shows the exact time a desired behavior is performed so your dog will know instantly. You can also use this training to structure new behaviors. However, at the start of the training you must condition your dog that the clicking sound is a sign that a reward is on its way. In this way, your dog will be able to associate the good behavior with the clicking sound.
Takeaway
These dog training methods have been used for several years and they may or may not work on your dog the first time you try them. Don’t worry, you can always use trial and error methods to check which training method will work best on your dog. You may not get it the first try but eventually you will discover which method is effective on your pet.