Content
- What is positive reinforcement
- Use of clicker
- Bad training tools
- Benefits of positive reinforcement
- Correct use of positive reinforcement
- Incorrect use of positive reinforcement
Many people look on the internet for methods to solve the problems that arise during the education of their pets and this is where positive reinforcement in dogs comes in, a good tool to contribute to their learning. O training a dog it doesn't just apply in your puppy stages, as this also continues into the puppy's adult life to reinforce your behavior.
In other words, behavior strengthens when it is followed by positive reinforcement. The term "positive" means that the reinforcement presents itself or is added shortly after the behavior. Positive reinforcements are often pleasant things for the individual or things that the individual is willing to do some work for.
In this article by PeritoAnimal we will tell you about positive reinforcement in dogs and the effectiveness and results it presents in training.
What is positive reinforcement
There are many different canine training methods and techniques in the world, including positive reinforcement, an option that allows our dog to perceive and positively relate to performing an activity, order, etc.
Carrying it out is simple: it consists of reward with treats, caresses and words of affection our dog when correctly carrying out an order. Unlike other methods, the puppy understands the whole process in a more fun way and makes you feel useful by following our directions.
This way, we can reward him when he sits down or gives his paw, when he shows a calm attitude, when he plays correctly, etc. Positive reinforcement is applicable in a multitude of cases.
The most common positive reinforcers in dog training are food and games. However, there are also other reinforcers you can use. All dogs are different from each other and each has particular preferences. Therefore, it is not possible to say that all dogs have to be trained with this or that type of food or that a certain game serves as a reinforcer in all cases.
Use of clicker
The clicker is a advanced tool that applies positive reinforcement with a small instrument which makes sound thus improving the animal's attention and perception.
Starting with the clicker is a great idea if we are thinking of educating our dog, as it allows us to "capture" certain behaviors of the dog when use is already advanced. If you already know how it works, find out how to press the clicker to start practicing with your puppy.
Bad training tools
Scolding and punishing our puppy is not a way to educate him, since we subject him to a situation of generalized stress, which makes him respond worse and remember less of what we are trying to communicate.
Also, we must remember that after some time the dog no longer remembers what he did wrong and that he shows submission just because he knows we are upset. He'll cringe and be scared because he knows he's done something wrong but doesn't really understand why.
Punishment methods such as choke chain or collar with electrical discharges are very dangerous instruments and negative for the dog, since it has been proven that they can make the dog direct its anger against those closest to it, besides significantly harming its behavior and can become an aggressive, apathetic and antisocial dog.
Benefits of positive reinforcement
The truth is that so much coaches, educators, ethologists and veterinarians always recommend positive reinforcement in dog education, since making the dog learn in a more fun way makes them remember more easily.
In addition, positive reinforcement allows for better relaxation between pet and owner, which makes our pet feel loved, in addition to feeling well-being and socially open.
It is the ideal type of education for people with no experience in caring for dogs and for people who already have experience because it gives the opportunity to positively educate our dog, making him feel happy and respected.
Correct use of positive reinforcement
In our article on teaching your puppy to sit, you can see how we use food for the puppy to do the trick, and once you do, you should reward him (We are using positive reinforcement) to understand that you did it well. Repeating and continuing to reinforce this order helps the dog to understand that you are doing this well and that you are being rewarded for your skills.
Incorrect use of positive reinforcement
If you're teaching your dog to paw, for example, you should make sure you reward good compliance after you've done it correctly. If we allow too much time to pass between the action and the prize or, on the contrary, we anticipate, we are causing the dog do not relate correctly the order with the delicacy.
Educating your puppy takes time and patience, but something much more important, the accuracy of rewarding the animal at the right time.
One of the most common mistakes when scolding the dog is scolding out of time, that is, when some time has passed since you have done something wrong. This type of attitude harms the animal and creates confusion.
