Training Your Dog with Rewards!
Sometimes your dog may have a “what’s in it for me” attitude! This is when rewards come into play. Dogs repeat behaviors that are rewarding. For example, if your dog gets a treat when he lays down, he will most likely do it again in the future. This is also known as positive reinforcement. As with any other training, positive reinforcement takes practice and an accurate understanding of the mechanics. We compiled a list of tips top help you train while implementing rewards.
- A Dog’s View – It is important that you choose a reward that is exciting from a dog’s point of view. If you are constantly giving your dog biscuits, they may not be as excited to complete the task at hand. Rewards do not always have to be treats. You can try to implement fun new dog toys as well. The type of reward can make or break your training. If your dog dislikes something, it will decrease its desire to repeat a behavior.
- Rate of Reinforcement – Your dog will encounter distractions throughout their training. The environment offers its own rewards such as interesting smells, the sight of other dogs, or the chance of running into a stranger. Your rate of reinforcement should be frequent enough to keep you and the training session more exciting than the environment. This is very important as the wrong behavior can be reinforced by the other “rewards” that are out of your control.
- Timing – It is everything! If you take too long to deliver the treat, your dog may become confused about what they are being rewarded for. It is important to deliver the treat as quickly as possible after your dog has performed the behavior that you want to reinforce!
- Placement – You must stop and ask yourself…” What is my dog doing while I give them a treat?” It is important to give the treat (reward) when the dog is in the correct placement. For example, if you want your dog to work at a distance, such as staying on their bed while you walk away, find ways to reward them while they are still on the bed.
As you can see, there are many ways that you can incorporate rewards into your training program. Rewards can be fun, enforce the human and canine bond, and encourage learning!
