Rewards - An Important Part of Dog Training

Rewards are a very important part of training. How you reward your dog will affect your dog's learning and performance now and in the future.

Rewards come in different shapes and sizes. A reward is anything your dog finds of a high value, in other words, something that is extremely important to him. This can be any of the following:

· Petting

· Verbal Praise

· Food Treats

· Toys

· Play/Games

What you use for a reward for your dog really depends on your own dog's likes and dislikes. The higher the value - the quicker the response.

Personally, I believe that Petting and Praise should be the main reward. You want your dog to work for YOU, not what you may or may not have. Play using toys is my second choice - above food. Interaction is a great way to reward your dog, again he or she is working for you, not what's in your pocket. Your dog has the ability to form a psychological bond with you, so use that to your advantage. Make him want to please you and try to please you for your attention, rather than what food treat you can offer him.

My dog, Hodge, will spit out food for a ball or other fetch toy. He lives for Fetch. That, along with Petting and Verbal Praise, is what I use as his main reward. Sometimes I do use food treats, but mainly we play Fetch after a training session. This is how I get him to truly work for me, not for what I may have for him. He knows that after work always comes play and that's what makes it worthwhile for him.

So, as you are training your dog, try to figure out if there is another reward you can give your dog other than food. You want your dog to work for you and listen to you when you don't have treats in your hand. Doing this will help to facilitate a better relationship with your dog and will put you on the road to having a dog who listens to you with or without food!

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Why Isn't Punishment An Effective Training Method For Puppies

Have you recently received a new puppy? For many people, this is a very joyous time in their life. Unfortunately, it's not always fun when you are raising a puppy simply because they can become very unruly and are also hard to train. It could be simple things like teaching them not to chew on literally everything that is in your household, or teaching them how to not go to the bathroom on your carpet or floor. It can push you to your emotional limits, causing you to want to punish them every time that they make a bad choice, but this might not be the best way to train your puppy. Here are a few reasons why punishment is not an effective training method for puppies, and what alternatives exist that may prove to be much more beneficial.

Why Punishing Your Puppy Is Not The Best Choice

Starting with a simple example of a puppy that is chewing on a piece of furniture in your home, your first inclination would be to use a rolled up newspaper, smacked them on the nose, and tell them in a very affirmative tone that they have done something wrong. Obviously, the dog is not going to understand the words that you are using, but your tone will speak volumes. However, is smacking them on the nose, or swatting them with your hand, actually the best choice that you can make?

Alternatives To Punishment

There are a couple different alternatives to actually physically striking the dog in order to get your point across. We have already mentioned that the tone that you use is very important when you are trying to train your puppy. This applies to any problem that they may be having which could be biting, scratching, digging, or not waiting to go outside in order to relieve themselves. In conjunction with your negative tone, the alternatives that you will want to use will include removing them from the situation, all the while telling them in a strong condescending tone that they have made the wrong choice. It doesn't matter what words you use, but your actions need to be fast, quickly addressing the issue and removing them from the situation. You could take them to a different area of the home, or if it is a problem with potty training, take them outside and then begin the second stage of the process.

Rewards For Improving Behavior

Once you have removed them from the situation, you will want to immediately reinforce the bad behavior with presenting them with the option to do something good. Once they are in the new location, you can ask them to set, or lie down, something that they already know how to do, and when this is accomplished, you can reward them with a positive tone and some form of treat. By doing this quickly, transitioning them from the bad situation to a good one, and then following that up with a reward, they will become aware that making good decisions leads to rewards and praise from their owner, and theoretically through this process, the need to be praised and receive rewards will carry over to the problematic area. This can inspire them to avoid doing the bad things, hoping to do good things in order to receive positive input from you. Once done several times, and done on a consistent basis, you should start to notice a definite change in their bad behavior, transitioning them into something good.

The reason that this particular strategy does not work all of the time has to do with the lack of consistency on the part of the owner. The transition needs to be immediate, which is why in the early stages of raising your puppy, you need to be there as much as possible. By giving them an appropriate toy to chew on, or placing them outside where they can actually relieve themselves, and rewarding them once the good behavior has been accomplished, they will begin to understand. As long as this form of positive conditioning is used on a consistent basis, you can avoid the need for punishing your puppy in order to train them, it's a philosophy that many dog owners are adopting today.

Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?Why-Isnt-Punishment-An-Effective-Training-Method-For-Puppies&id=9037837

5 Ways To Make Dog Training Easier on You (and Your Pet!)

Whether you've adopted from a shelter, a breeder, or somewhere in between, the joy of bringing a new pet into your home can feel like bringing a baby home from the hospital. Like babies, new pets can come with new responsibilities, like training them to fit in your environment. Some new pet owners don't realize this until they're stressed and dealing with a confused dog. The good news is that dog training doesn't have to be as stressful as you think! Check out these five ways to make it a breeze.

1. Make a Schedule

Remember that we're all creatures of habit, so setting aside 15 to 20 minutes every day (or at least on a regular schedule) can make all the difference. Making dog training a habit will help you and your new pet succeed, so pencil it into your schedule ahead of time and commit to making it a priority. If you aren't able to commit to a regular schedule, try to involve other family or household members in the dog training so that a consistent regimen becomes part of the routine.

2. Prepare Mentally

You can't teach an old dog new tricks-unless you have the patience to keep at it! Proper dog training is a marathon, not a sprint, so make sure to prepare yourself mentally for the long haul. Try to remain calm, patient, and avoid showing signs of frustration, which your new pet may pick up. Don't forget to go slow and repeat commands until they get it right multiple times.

3. Have the Proper Equipment

Talk with a trainer about what tools are available to you as you begin creating new habits with your pup. Chances are, the trainer will want you to work separately without the pet so that you're able to build a bond that isn't reliant on outside help.

4. Manage Your Expectations

Remember that canines vary in intelligence and temperament, especially when it comes to the wide spectrum of breeds available. Make sure you set realistic expectations for your dog training based on breed traits, as it will be harder to teach a Chihuahua herding commands than it would be a Shepard.

5. Give Immediate Positive Feedback and Rewards

We all do better with positive feedback, and animals are no different. Make sure you offer rewards or treats immediately after a job well done so that the animal learns right away which habits are good and which offer no rewards. This will help them learn faster and easier-besides, who doesn't love treats?

Teaching your new family member how to get along in their new environment can feel like a monumental task, full of frustration and stress, but it doesn't have to be that way. Practice patience, positive reinforcement, and consistency, and your new best friend will fit into the family in no time.

Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?5-Ways-To-Make-Dog-Training-Easier-on-You-(and-Your-Pet!)&id=9515053