Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Reinforcement Techniques Used In Dog Training

By Kurt Dorey

An obedient dog is a good dog, but they do not get this way naturally. In order to get a well-trained dog, one must begin the dog's training and conditioning while the dog is still very young. For the most part, people attempt dog training on their own, however there are a few who may turn to an obedience school for very thorough dog training.

Positive reinforcement is the most widely recognized technique used in training a dog. This is normally achieved by a reward system. The reward can come in the form of verbal praising of the dog's actions or, an even more effective manifestation, in the way of a treat. The dog treat as a reward virtually guarantees cooperation from your pet.

On the other side of the coin, many pet owners use negative reinforcement to combat bad behavior. This can be as simple as the classic "bad dog" or a tap on their behind to let them know that they were bad. Many advanced forms of negative reinforcement use some sort of electric collar.

A bark collar is a common device used in dog training for dogs that bark too frequently. A bark collar can be fitted around the dog's neck and will send out a mild electric shock every time the dog barks. By doing so, the dog will eventually learn not to bark.

There is another form of negative reinforcement that utilizes the same basic principle as the bark collar. A shock collar used in conjunction with an invisible fence is used to contain the dog in a particular area such as a yard or piece of property. The dog receives a mild shock each time she attempts to cross the boundary line which in turn lets her know the limitations.

Housebreaking a dog is a very important step during training. Both types of reinforcements should be implemented, keeping the negative reinforcement extremely mild. When a dog goes to the bathroom outside, she should be rewarded. If she goes to the bathroom inside, use mild dicipline. A dog's name should not be used for negative reinforcement as the dog may think he is just being summoned.

Training a dog is not often a very easy task, but it can be very rewarding. Dog training takes a lot of patience and love and laziness will often yield poor results. A disciplined dog will be a joy to have around the home, but only if the master has the discipline to train them properly.

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