Positive dog training is much more fun for both you and your canine companion. If you’ve ever been to a school for dog training then you may have noticed how serious everyone seems to be during the training lesson. You may have observed the dogs getting yelled at and constantly told “No!” and you may have wondered if any of them (dogs and owners) are really enjoying the process.
Just giving thought to dog training can be overwhelming to a lot of people. The constant repetition that must be used and the massive effort it takes to train a dog can be extremely intimidating in the beginning. But, a lot of us forget that positive dog training can actually be a bunch of fun. It is absolutely possible to train your dog to be well behaved while still enjoying the journey you take to get to that point.
It is important to understand that dogs, just like people, will have different personalities, which means that not every dog will respond the same to each method used for dog training. So, my advice is to try a few different methods until you find the one that best suits you and your dog.
Positive reinforcement training is probably the most frequently, as well as, the most effective dog training technique dog owners use. And this is because this training doesn’t focus on the negative things your dog does, it focuses on rewarding your dog and reinforcing all of the positive things they do. By giving your dog a command and then rewarding them for performing the desired action is a very effective and enjoyable way to train your dog.
One positive training method that is used is called click training. The clicker will make a sound when your dog has performed the desired action, therefore providing them with a reinforcement sound which they will learn means they have done a good job. When you first begin clicker training you should give your dog a treat everytime your click the clicker so they will begin to associate the clicking sound with a job well done.
As your training progressed it will become less necessary to give your dog a treat every time you click the clicker since just the sound of the clicker will give your dog that positive reinforcement they are looking for.
Now, clicker training is just one example, there are many different types of positive dog training techniques, however, all the different techniques stick to the basic principle of rewarding your dog somehow when they perform the action you desire.
