3 Awesome Reasons to Use Positive Dog Training!

Positive reinforcement reward-based training is the choice of many kind and ethical canine professionals, and an ever-increasing number of dog guardians, and here’s why…

Science proves that positive reinforcement reward-based training is effective. The alternative methods such as physical or verbal punishment are often unkind and can cause fear and pain for the dog. The first link in this paragraph is to a scientific paper that also found reward-based training to be more effective than aversives, in this case an e-collar.

Positive reinforcement works by making connections. Doing a certain thing results in a pleasant consequence. We are giving the dog something really good that has value for them, such as fuss, a game, or a tasty treat as a reward.

We can also alter the amount of motivation for the dog by varying the rewards that we use. Easy cues can earn lower value rewards, while difficult tasks gain the dog something they really want and don’t often get.

By knowing that the good result will come during the coaching session, the dog will be keen to take part and find out what we would like from them this time.

What is Positive Reinforcement?

What comes to mind for most people is food rewards. These are one form of positive reinforcement, but the dog is the one who decides what’s rewarding. Food works for most dogs, but some respond well to praise, fuss, or a game with a favourite toy.

It’s very important to remember to listen to the dog, and let them pick their different levels of reward. Ideally, we want a range of possible rewards. Variety stops life becoming boring, including for our dogs. Imagine only ever being offered one thing to eat as a treat, or having one activity that you’re allowed to take part in, and never trying anything else!

Here are three definite benefits to choosing positive reinforcement training.

1.) Strengthening the Canine-Human Bond

One of the most important things we can focus on is our relationships with our dogs. Increasingly (and happily), our dogs now more often live as part of the family and are treated as family members, not possessions.

By using positive reinforcement training and rewards to show our dogs when they are doing the things we want, we make ourselves fun to be around and fun for the dog to interact with during training. As we are not using negative, aversive, or scary methods, we increase our dogs’ trust in us to keep them safe and happy.

2.) Create a Keen and Enthusiastic Learner

Earning a reward, as in positive reinforcement, triggers dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that hooks straight in to the brain’s reward centre. It is also involved in mood, motivation, and learning.

By making the choice to use reward based training to reinforce our cues we are harnessing the body’s own processes. The natural mood boost that comes along with the release of dopamine makes our training extra effective.

Helping our dogs to learn in a kind and scientifically proven effective manner makes them feel good at the same time. By increasing their confidence to try ever more new cues for us and with us, we gain the extra benefit of feeling good about the training ourselves.

3.) Build Choice into Our Dogs’ Lives

By the definition of living as human companions, the choices available to dogs can be quite restricted. Humans control their access to food, water and social contact whether with humans, dogs, or other animals. Many dogs, even those living in loving family homes, don’t receive many opportunities to exercise the power of choice. I discuss dogs and their place in a very human world in the first chapter of my book ‘Understanding Reactive Dogs’.

A growing number of people are following a more cooperative path with their dogs. This is not ‘letting the dog be in charge’ or anthropomorphism. Instead, it is simply a less controlling way to live together.

One of the central themes of the more cooperative ways of working with our dogs is offering choices, and respecting the choices our dogs make. Try to offer your dog as many choices as possible in their lifestyle, as it will benefit them greatly, and may well improve your bond even further. 

This includes giving dogs the choice not to participate in coaching at that moment. We all have days when we’re just not feeling quite right and would rather not do something. We should extend the right to choose whether to take part to our dogs as well. When our dogs know they have the power to choose, they can often be even keener to engage.

With the right methods used in introducing and reinforcing cues, our dogs want to do what we ask them, because the results are enjoyable. Done in a positive and careful way, many dogs will actively enjoy training sessions.

With all of that behind it, why would we not use positive reinforcement?

If you want to find out more about positive reinforcement and reward-based coaching, take a look at Canine Principles Canine Coaching Foundations course or Canine Coaching Advanced certificate.