Why Positive Dog Training Works

Most adults over 30 who had dogs when they were children are probably aware of only one method of training dogs: Punish bad behavior, and if the dog is not performing the behavior you want, make him! If he wouldn't sit, his butt was forced to the ground while saying the command. If he made a mess in the house during housetraining, his nose would be rubbed in it and he would be banished to the yard. Luckily, today there is a better way to train your dog. It is called Positive Reinforcement.

Positive reinforcement is a reward based training concept. When a dog is performing the actions you want, you reward him. The reward does not have to be food. Some dogs will be happy to receive hearty praise and petting, or the opportunity to play with their favorite toy for a while, though it is common practice to use food treats when teaching complex behaviors.

One of the biggest benefits of dog training using positive methods is that the learned behavior is more likely to be taken in more quickly and remembered, because the dog will associate performing that action with a good experience. Because learning this way is fun, he is also more likely to stay focussed during training sessions and the bond between dog and trainer becomes much stronger.

You will also be surprised at how many different tricks and behaviors your dog will offer up to you in order to get a reward. Dogs can be quite creative, so you might find some tricks that you can expand on in order to show off to friends and family.

Another great thing with positive dog training is that it is great for teaching old dogs new tricks. If you have adopted an older dog from a shelter that may have suffered mistreatment, the last thing you want to do is give him "more of the same". Using rewards will show him that pleasing you is a good thing, and the absence of traditional punishment will show him that it is ok to make the odd mistake and humans are not all bad. You only have to watch TV shows like It's Me Or The Dog for proof that bad behavior caused by age, breed and background history can all be easily overcome using a combination of positive training methods and responsible dog ownership.

Positive training methods are not just for the benefit of the dog, either. You as owner, handler or trainer will find sessions much less stressful. As a dog lover, would you rather spend time being mean to your dog for not doing what you want, or spend the same time setting him up for success and rewarding him for getting things right? No matter how long you spend training him, it is much better for both of you if the whole session is free of any negative experiences or tantrums (from either of you).

It's never too late for human or dog to try new things, so even if you have used the old methods for some time, why not consider teaching your dog a few new tricks, or use a different approach for the ones you have struggled with in the past, with the help of reward based dog training.

Darren promotes positive dog training methods through articles and Squidoo lenses about Positive Dog Training methods. You can also submit your own question via his Dog Training Advice blog

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Dog Training Advice - Teach Your Dog Tricks And Learn How Posture Can Affect Health

My dog was taught to sit on its hind legs and beg. I thought this position would help its back bone if it had a correct posture. Of course, I do not let the dog do it often. Just when it wants to jump on me I let its front paws rest on my left arm. I then let the dog sit on its hind legs like it was begging.
Soon, my dog got used to the position. I was able to take away my hand and there it was sitting straight and tall with its front paws balancing its body.

Sometimes, it can't balance itself and down it goes. The dog can make me laugh when it loses its balance. I don't know if it really helped or not but the dog didn't have any back problem that I know of throughout its life.

My dog was able to do this trick only if it had a supporting hand. All I had to do was put my left arm across my chest and use my right hand to tap on my left arm. I would say "Up, up" and my dog would jump up and rest its front paws on my left arm. I could only show this trick to those who love dogs and would not be afraid to be near one.

My dog doesn't like strangers. It would growl and show its teeth to visitors no matter how much I try to keep it quiet. I did not like to use a dog muzzle and usually, my dog would be in a leash. But there are some people who have a way with dogs and if they are not afraid of the dog, it would quiet down and let strangers play with it. I was pleased to show them my dog's begging trick.

Free dog training advice and dog care articles at our online dog training website. Train your dog for free and read all our advice about looking after your dog at our free dog training website Sit Stay Go Play.

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Dog Training - Avoiding Common Training Mistakes

Dogs are mans best friends. When you ultimately made that big decision to own a dog, you expected it to provide you companionship, be a pleasure to show off to your friends and just plainly be a joy to own. So off you go to the pet shop, choose a dog that catches your attention and bring him (or her) home.

But then, the horror begins. The dog you brought home seems to be anything but the adorable creature you expected it to be. His (or her) behavior is terribly unpredictable and can even be downright embarrassing at times. The dog you brought home to provide you companionship just sits around at the corner of your home, seemingly bored at the things happening around him (or her).

So you read all the books and even went to a dog training class to teach your dog a thing or two about obedience, but you still get no good results. This may lead you to think there is something inherently wrong with your dog. Is he (or she) just plain lazy, hardheaded or a little bit slow in the head?

Have you considered its lineage? Some breeds of dogs are simply not born to be followers; making them naturally hard to train.

Have you taken an honest look at your self and your training style? Are you observing the proper dog training techniques? It would be a good idea to make sure that you do, to make both of your lives easier and to make your dog training sessions an enjoyable and fruitful experience for both of you. To help you make your training sessions easier, here is a list of the most commonly committed dog training mistakes. Please avoid them at all costs.

Not giving enough rewards during the training - Providing treats is one indispensable part of dog training. It gives your dog enough motivation to continue following your commands satisfactorily. However, some dog owners shun this idea. They simply do not want to provide treats during their dog training sessions because they feel that they would not retain authority if ever they do so. They believe that it is the dogs role to follow their commands and giving them treats would be like bribing them.

Being too controlling - Some owners simply have a control problem and can be quite overbearing, nagging and perfectionist during their dog training sessions. If you happen to be one of these control freaks and you own a hard-to-train dog, you can expect to be in for a very hard time!

Being a training fanatic - Training your dogs too often, or repeating the same exercises over and over again, may bore him (or her). This is especially true when you own an independent dog, one that was simply not bred to obey his masters commands. Among these are dogs that belong to the non-sporting, terrier and hound breeds.

Not giving attention to the dogs emotions - Some owners neglect to give enough attention to their dogs feelings during their training sessions. This can be a major problem indeed! Especially during training, it is important to consider how your dog is feeling to get the most out of your efforts. So whenever you observe his (or her) reluctance in doing the exercises, if you notice excessive yawning or that your dog simply refuses to look at you, it may be best to stop and let it loose for a while. Your dog might already be tired or bored from all that physical exertion!

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Dog Training

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