Using positive reinforcement to modify behavior in humans, particularly children, has been popular for a number of years. This is just a fancy way of saying that behavior that is acceptable to you will be rewarded and unacceptable behavior will be ignored. In recent times this same method has been found to have positive effects on non-humans.
Watching a Killer Whale doing a routine directed by two young women, I realized that they had trained the large animal to perform in that manner using positive reinforcement tactics. The same method will enable you to train your new puppy. Positive reinforcement is the choice method for most of the experts in the dog training field today. No other training method is considered as humane or effective.
This method of dog training is in direct contrast to some of the now-outdated but once very popular dog training techniques. Some of these outdated, frankly abhorrent, methods included physical pain and intimidation (such as hanging an aggressive dog up by her collar), or inhumane methods of aversion therapy (such as shock collars for barking). These methods can be avoided and still allow you to have a well-trained dog. Positive reinforcement works for dogs as well as for humans.
Puppies are easily confused when given commands. The thing you have in your favor as you train your puppy is that there is a strong desire on her part to please you. Just be sure that she knows each time what you want her to do. To accomplish this you must use the same words each time for the same command. If you want her to sit don't say "sit here" one time and "sit down" another. Always use the same word or phrase. Your puppy will soon know exactly what is expected and behave accordingly.
Use meaningful rewards to facilitate the training process. Dogs get bored pretty quickly with a routine pat on the head and a "good girl". Most dogs don't even like being patted on the head; watch their expressions and notice how most will balk or shy away when a hand descends towards their head. If you want to use touching your puppy as a reward we have found that most dogs really like having the base of the tail (the lowest part of their back, just before the tail starts) scratched gently; having their chests rubbed or scratched (right between the forelegs) is usually a winner, too. You can also target the ears: gently rub the ear flap between your thumb and finger, or scratch gently at the base.
To keep the quality of your dog's learning at a high standard, it's also good to use tempting incentives for good behavior. Food treats and physical affection are what dog trainers refer to as "primary incentives" - in other words, they're both significant rewards that most dogs respond powerfully and reliably to.
Timing is very important in training. Be sure you know what behavior you are going to reward so that when your puppy obeys a command and gets a reward she knows exactly what she did that made her receive the reward.
You can also use your voice to mark desired behavior: just saying "Yes!" in a happy, excited tone of voice will work perfectly. Make sure that you give her the treat after the marker - and remember to use the marker consistently. If you only say "Yes!" sometimes, it won't have any significance to your dog when you do it; she needs the opportunity to learn what that marker means (i.e., that she's done something right whenever she hears the marker, and a treat will be forthcoming very shortly). Here again, consistency is important.
For puppy training to be totally successful you and your puppy must both find it pleasant. Do not schedule training time when you are exhausted; be sure that your rewards are something she is willing to work for.
Watching a Killer Whale doing a routine directed by two young women, I realized that they had trained the large animal to perform in that manner using positive reinforcement tactics. The same method will enable you to train your new puppy. Positive reinforcement is the choice method for most of the experts in the dog training field today. No other training method is considered as humane or effective.
This method of dog training is in direct contrast to some of the now-outdated but once very popular dog training techniques. Some of these outdated, frankly abhorrent, methods included physical pain and intimidation (such as hanging an aggressive dog up by her collar), or inhumane methods of aversion therapy (such as shock collars for barking). These methods can be avoided and still allow you to have a well-trained dog. Positive reinforcement works for dogs as well as for humans.
Puppies are easily confused when given commands. The thing you have in your favor as you train your puppy is that there is a strong desire on her part to please you. Just be sure that she knows each time what you want her to do. To accomplish this you must use the same words each time for the same command. If you want her to sit don't say "sit here" one time and "sit down" another. Always use the same word or phrase. Your puppy will soon know exactly what is expected and behave accordingly.
Use meaningful rewards to facilitate the training process. Dogs get bored pretty quickly with a routine pat on the head and a "good girl". Most dogs don't even like being patted on the head; watch their expressions and notice how most will balk or shy away when a hand descends towards their head. If you want to use touching your puppy as a reward we have found that most dogs really like having the base of the tail (the lowest part of their back, just before the tail starts) scratched gently; having their chests rubbed or scratched (right between the forelegs) is usually a winner, too. You can also target the ears: gently rub the ear flap between your thumb and finger, or scratch gently at the base.
To keep the quality of your dog's learning at a high standard, it's also good to use tempting incentives for good behavior. Food treats and physical affection are what dog trainers refer to as "primary incentives" - in other words, they're both significant rewards that most dogs respond powerfully and reliably to.
Timing is very important in training. Be sure you know what behavior you are going to reward so that when your puppy obeys a command and gets a reward she knows exactly what she did that made her receive the reward.
You can also use your voice to mark desired behavior: just saying "Yes!" in a happy, excited tone of voice will work perfectly. Make sure that you give her the treat after the marker - and remember to use the marker consistently. If you only say "Yes!" sometimes, it won't have any significance to your dog when you do it; she needs the opportunity to learn what that marker means (i.e., that she's done something right whenever she hears the marker, and a treat will be forthcoming very shortly). Here again, consistency is important.
For puppy training to be totally successful you and your puppy must both find it pleasant. Do not schedule training time when you are exhausted; be sure that your rewards are something she is willing to work for.
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