If you have read about dog training recently, you have likely heard the word “positive reinforcement”, the hottest trend in dog training techniques that is taking the world by storm. But what does “positive reinforcement” training really mean? In the world of dog learning theory, positive reinforcement falls under the umbrella of operant conditioning. Operant conditioning is a way for us to condition responses in our dogs using certain types of stimuli. For example, if I want my dog to “sit”, I can condition that response by rewarding the “sit” with a tasty treat. In essence, this is positive reinforcement. This term refers to us applying a pleasurable stimuli (i.e. affection, treats, a favorite toy) in order to condition a response to happen more frequently. If my dog gets something fabulous for sitting, he’s likely to want to sit for me more frequently when asked.

The theory of positive reinforcement seems simple enough – I ask my dog to do something and he does it, I give him a treat. But this method of training requires quite a bit of thinking on the part of the handler. When using positive reinforcement in your training, here are some guidelines to keep in mind:

First and foremost, choose your motivator wisely – It’s important when using motivational techniques in dog training, you select the appropriate motivator. You mustn’t choose what you THINK your pooch will enjoy but rather, what you KNOW he will enjoy. The reward must be specific to the situation. When working on exercises that require your dog to think hard, don’t choose a treat or toy that he goes over the top for. If he loses his mind for the reward, it will be difficult for him to think through the exercise. If, on the other hand, you are asking him for something major (i.e. coming to you when he’s busy playing with his buddies at the dog park), make sure you have a major reward – something he never gets and absolutely loves. This will increase the likelihood of a positive response.

Second, timing is everything! If you have asked your dog to sit, and by the time you fish the treat out of your pocket, he has popped out of the sit and is now in a stand, the behavior you are inadvertently rewarding is the “stand”. Be prepared and consider using a “marker” (i.e. a clicker or a marker word) to bridge the gap between the time the dog complies and the time you are ready with your reward.

Third and perhaps most important, unless you are luring your dog into a position, it’s critical you keep the treat out of sight when asking for behaviors. Dogs are smart! They will be more likely to listen when the promise of food is right in front of them and less likely to comply if they feel the reward isn’t there. Hide treats from your pooch by sticking them into a sweatshirt pocket or a piece of clothing you wear regularly. Many handlers opt for a treat pouch but, unless you hide it well, your dog will become wise to whether or not the pouch is present and will be less likely to comply if you don’t have it on. If you can fool your dog into thinking you have treats on you all the time, he will be far more likely to listen when you ask for a command.

Finally, reward often in the beginning – especially when teaching new behaviors that can be challenging. One treat every half hour isn’t going to keep your dog motivated or focused when you are trying to teach him something new. Keep your training session short and fun and quit with your dog begging for more.

Positive reinforcement training is a great tool to help you reinforce good behavior: you can use it on everything from the simplest “sit” command to the far more complex commands. The training philosophy is fun and easy to implement and can be a great tool in your dog training toolbox.

Meagan Karnes-San Agustin
The Collared Scholar
Dog Training and Behavior Modification in San Diego
www.collared-scholar.com