Pet Training With Positive Reinforcement
There are many reasons to begin a training regime with your pet. You may want to stop an animal's bad behavior such as clawing or chewing the furniture. You may want to keep him under control in social situations. Or you may want to teach him to perform tricks on command. In any case, the animal will benefit both from the mental exercise required and from the time and attention you give him. The most satisfying form of pet training uses positive reinforcement.
Animals naturally learn to repeat actions that lead to desirable outcomes. Positive reinforcement works by rewarding pets when they do something right as opposed to punishing them when they do something wrong. Rewards in the form of a human praise combined with a food treat are highly effective.
At some point you may have unintentionally trained your pet with positive reinforcement. If your dog or cat claws at a door to a room and you open it, they will associate their action with the reward of being let out of a confined space. The next time they want a door to open, they will repeat the clawing behavior in anticipation of the same reward.
To train pets to do what you want them to do, you'll need to get them to perform actions in response to commands. Decide on a specific desired behavior and think of a cue word to prompt it. Single syllable commands such as 'down' or 'shake' are easier for animals to understand than two word phrases like 'lie down' or 'shake hands'.
When your pet performs the desired action in response to the command, immediately reward him with verbal praise, swiftly followed by a treat. Consistency and speed are vitally important. If you are trying to teach a dog to respond to the word 'sit', and you wait until he is standing again before rewarding him, he won't know which action to associate with the positive response.
To teach an animal to get off the bed or sofa, chose a simple command like 'off'. When you find your pet sitting on the furniture, get a food treat and hide it in your hand. Stand over the animal, loudly and clearly say 'off' and gently push her to the floor. Immediately praise her and hold the treat to her mouth. Do this every time you catch her sitting where she's not allowed. Eventually, she will jump off the furniture in response to your command, without the accompanying push.
When your pet has learned to consistently perform an action in response to a cue word, you can begin to substitute the treat reward with praise and affection alone. Most dogs take pleasure in pleasing their owners. An enthusiastic 'good dog' and a pat on the head is all the reward they require. Some cats and birds will also continue to obey a command without the food incentive, depending on how well they have bonded with their trainer.
Pet training requires a degree of patience and some sessions will go more smoothly than others. When an animal is excited, distracted or tired, he may not perform at his best. Avoid the temptation to chastise your pet if he refuses to cooperate. It could lead him to associate the action you are trying to teach with negative consequences. If your pet gets only positive attention during dog training Kelowna, he will be eager to learn new commands.
Training a puppy can be frustrating, dog training requires discipline and consistancy. When experiencing problems, consult a professional. Bark Busters offer a reliable and affordable service for house puppy training.
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