It is know world wide among respected dog trainers that the most efficient and kind way to train a dog is though positive reinforcement training. A simple theory that sounds harder than it is.

Using positive reinforcement entails rewarding the behavior that you wish to see repeated, and ignoring the behavior that you don’t. This method is in direct contrast to some of the now-outdated but once-popular techniques for dog training, some of which were frankly abhorrent: physical pain and intimidation (such as hanging an aggressive dog up by her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).

Positive reinforcement works with your dog. Her natural instinct is to please you – the theory of positive reinforcement recognizes that lessons are more meaningful for dogs, and tend to “stick” more, when a dog is able to figure out what you’re asking under her own steam (as opposed to, say, learning “down” by being forced repeatedly into a prone position, while the word “down” is repeated at intervals).

When you use positive reinforcement training, you’re allowing her the time and the opportunity to use her own brain. Some ways for you to facilitate the training process:

- Use meaningful rewards. Dogs get bored pretty quickly with a routine pat on the head and a “good girl” (and, in fact, most dogs don’t even like being patted on the head

- You can tell if a dog doesn’t like its head beaning touched, does he or she cower or bark when a hand comes down to them? It is better to use “primary intensives”, such as food or a more physical reward.

- In other words, they’re both significant rewards that most dogs respond powerfully and reliably to.

Things you may want to read

I hope that this article has given you a basic idea of some powerful techniques to use when training your dog. But, there is a lot more to this subject that can be very complex, I suggest you learn as much as you possibly can in order to effectively train your dog.

Learn more about Training Your Dog To Listen To You and much more, Stop by Matt’s web site where you can find out all about Ez Dog Training at Home and what it can do for you.