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Oh My Dog SuppliesDog Articles & TipsDog Training TipsThe Role Of Positive Reinforcement With Puppy Training

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The Role Of Positive Reinforcement With Puppy Training.

Tuesday, December 2, 2008 | Printer Friendly Printer Friendly

Too often when people get a new puppy they yell or scare the puppy when it does something undesirable. Many people will shout if the dog wets the carpet, or yell at the dog after it has dug a hole. Positive reinforcement however is a far more effective tool to train and teach your new puppy.

Positive reinforcement basically involves rewarding a puppy for good behavior rather than scolding it for bad behavior. Puppies will always respond better to kind words rather than getting yelled at for something which they have no idea that they did wrong.

Positive reinforcement can come in a number of ways. First, it is a good idea to see what your puppy likes. Some dogs are food driven which means they will do anything for a treat. Other dogs prefer toys such as a rope pull or their favorite ball. Whatever the reward is, just be sure your puppy really likes it and give it to them immediately after the good behavior.

If your dog is food driven (as most dogs are) find a treat that is both affordable and desirable to the dog. Some good examples include using meat (ham, sausage, salami etc.), cheese or some dried dog biscuit. Cut them up into small bits so the treats go for longer and the dog doesn't get full up too quickly.

Another thing you should always do when practicing positive reinforcement is to talk kindly to your puppy when it does something good. If it has finally learnt to go to the bathroom outside, give it a lot of attention during and just after it has finished it's business. Say 'yes' to the dog in a high pitched voice. A high pitch voice usually tells a dog it has done something good where as a low pitched voice usually alarms and frightens a dog. Give the dog hugs and kisses and lots of attention. A cuddle, a pat and a scratch will show the puppy that you are really happy with them for what they just did. This kind of attention will show the puppy it has done the right thing and it will give a strong reason for it to do the right thing again. Just make sure that the attention is over the top and happy, and be sure to keep giving the puppy this positive reinforcement each time it does the right thing.

So what if your dog does the wrong thing? Never hit your dog. This is the worst thing you can do. Hitting your dog can cause all sorts of behavioral issues and can result in an aggressive dog down the track. If your dog does the wrong thing, try to show it the right thing to do. For example, if your dog wets the floor, take him/her to the spot that it should go to the toilet. Telling your dog off should only occur if you can catch it in the act. For instance, if you see your dog digging a hole you can tell it off. But if you tell it off hours or even minutes after it has dug a hole, the dog will not understand what it is getting told off for.

Ultimately, positive reinforcement is the best way to get results when training your new puppy. Remember reward good behavior with treats and attention.

Dan Fletcher.

If you want more information about puppies, or just want to browse our puppy sale , please visit http://www.puppiessale.org.


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