Training with reinforcement

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Positive and negative reinforcement have become buzz words for animal behaviorists, but they are also concepts that you, as your dog's trainer, can use to help your pet develop into a well-behaved canine companion--if you understand what each term means.

Keeping it simple, positive reinforcement is purely something which the dog perceives as pleasant, that occurs during, or immediately following a behavior, which makes that particular behavior more likely to occur again. An example would be: your dog lies down at your feet, you say "good dog, good down" and your dog's tail begins thumping. He has been positively reinforced, with praise, for lying at your feet.

Confusion exists over the difference between positive reinforcement versus reward. Here's an easy way to distinguish them: Rewards come after a behavior, whereas reinforcement comes during, or so closely following a behavior that the dog feels almost as if it happened during the behavior. If you ask your dog to sit and he complies, and you say "Good boy, you can have a cookie," and you trot off to the kitchen to get a dog cookie from the jar on the counter, then the cookie he receives is his reward.

Using positive reinforcement

On the other hand, if you have small food treats already in hand, ask your dog to sit, he does so, and immediately you mark that he has done the right thing by saying "yes!" and letting the treat appear, then you have positively reinforced the behavior.

If you're working on a down-stay, and while the dog remains down you give him soothing praise and drop small treats to him, that will positively reinforce the behavior of staying down, by letting him know he is doing the right thing while he is still in position.

Most dogs work extremely well for a combination of positive reinforcement and rewards. Keep in mind that not all dogs are motivated by food, so you can use a combination of treats, praise, touch or a favorite toy or game your pet enjoys. Get to know your dog to find out what he or she likes best.

When you use food treats, be sure to remember to give praise before the treat, so that your dog is being  [Continued]

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