Positive reinforcement training means giving dogs rewards to teach them to perform more of the behaviors we want. Unwanted behaviors are reduced by rewarding the dog for doing something else, or by simply withholding or removing rewards after an undesired response.
Positive training emphasizes using rewards – things the dog likes and will adapt their behavior to earn more of. It excludes the use of aversives – things the dog dislikes and works to avoid or escape from, such as choke collars, prong collars, shock collars, and other devices that function via the application and/or the threat of physical discomfort.
Yes! Positive reinforcement training works for dogs of all ages, breeds, sizes, and personalities.
It’s a common myth that positive training equates to letting the dog do whatever they please – which is quite far from reality. The truth is, there is no shortage of ways that we can set boundaries and expectations for dogs using positive, force-free methods.
For example, we can stop most misbehavior by teaching dogs an alternative behavior and reinforcing the new behavior instead. We can also prevent many unwanted behaviors by changing your dog’s environment to help them make better choices, or by making sure your dog’s mental and physical needs are being met. Certain unwanted behaviors can also be stopped by a well-timed removal of access to fun or reinforcement, otherwise known as a timeout.
Scientists have actually looked at whether praise alone can be used to train dogs. The answer seems to be, not all that well. It’s up to dogs to decide what they find reinforcing or not, and food happens to be very high on most dogs’ lists of preferred rewards. Food is easy and quick to deliver, and it is easy to take with you anywhere you might go with your dog. Plus, your dog has to eat anyways, so those calories might as well be put to good use! When using food to train is truly not practical or advisable for health or other reasons, we will explore using play, praise and other non-food rewards.
We find that even for dogs who aren’t very food-motivated, the solution is usually just a matter of finding the right kind of treats, being mindful about feeding times, and other simple workarounds. Trainer Kate LaSala of Rescued By Training has a wonderful blog post on the topic here.
Collaborative Canines is based in Anaheim, California. We provide in-home dog training in Anaheim, Orange, Irvine, Fullerton, Yorba Linda, and neighboring cities. Sessions outside of this service area may be available for a travel fee.
