Rather than punishing your dog for bad behavior, positive reinforcement is the most effective method of training and rewarding your dog for doing the right thing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this guide, we explain how you can use positive reinforcement to reward your dog for a job well done!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Positive reinforcement includes several kinds of rewards, typically:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most dog owners find that using food treats<\/a> is the most effective training reward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The treat you decide to use must be tempting and irresistible to your dog. Food treats should be very small, soft, and easy to eat rather than a large lump of food that crumbles and falls onto the floor or needs your dog to chew it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n We recommend using a variety of treats so that your dog doesn’t get bored by receiving the same reward every time. You should use a verbal praise reward when you give your dog a treat. Say something like “good boy” or “yes” enthusiastically. Then present your dog with a food treat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not all dogs are motivated by food, so you might find using a toy, a brief play session, or petting your dog is more effective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whenever your dog is learning something new, you must reward him whenever he demonstrates that behavior. That’s referred to as continuous reinforcement. You should switch to intermittent reinforcement when your dog has learned that behavior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To begin with, give your dog a treat four out of five times he exhibits the behavior you want. Gradually reduce that until you only reward your dog occasionally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Be careful not to stop rewarding your dog too quickly, as your dog will become frustrated and confused. Keep praising your dog every time, tempering your tone of voice once your pet has learned the behavior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It’s important to vary the reward frequency so that the dog doesn’t work out that he only needs to respond every other time. You want the dog to respond every time you ask him for the behavior until receives the reward he craves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Positive reinforcement doesn’t mean that you always have to carry a bag of treats. Your dog will quickly learn to work for your verbal praise, partly because he wants to please you but also because he knows he’ll occasionally receive a treat too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/span>When To Use Treat Rewards<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Timing<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n