Why Positive Reinforcement in Dog Training is Only Part of the Picture
Dogs are excellent fur pals you and your family will enjoy for years. Training dogs is a huge aspect of creating a bond that allows you to communicate effectively and have a well-behaved pet. There are various methods and ideas for training dogs. All of them include positive reinforcement.
However, providing your canine with positive reinforcement during training isn’t the only aspect of teaching. True Canine’sdog training methodology combines positive and negative reinforcement to help give your dog a holistic training course. Incorporating both sides of the training sphere creates an environment where your dog will learn the benefits of obeying and the undesired outcomes of not following commands.
True Canine’s Training Method
True Canine offers in-home lessons or board and train programs to provide your dog with a well-rounded dog training program that meets its individual needs. Regardless of your dog’s age, breed, or inappropriate behaviors, you can train it with the four-quadrant system.
Our dog training process uses humane forms of positive and negative reinforcement to help guide your dog to successful training. Many past clients use the simple add or take something system away for reinforcement to help their dog understand what actions are correct and which are not.
The Four-Quadrant Training Method
Positive Reinforcement
Positive reinforcement means you give your dog something to reinforce the positive behaviors. For example, if your dog immediately obeys the command to come when called or signaled, you would provide it with a treat as soon as it arrives at your feet. Rewarding your dog reinforces positive behavior.
Negative Reinforcement
Negative reinforcement does the opposite of positive reinforcement in this dog training methodology. It subtracts something pleasant from your dog's behavior. For example, if you're attempting to walk your dog, and it tugs on the leash, you may stop and wait for the dog to release its tug and rejoin you at your side before continuing your walk. When you stop, your dog will notice it can no longer go further and will learn not to go ahead and tug on the leash.
Positive Correction
Positive correction in dog training is different from positive reinforcement. correction means you give the dog something for behavior that needs redirecting. Such is the case when you give your dog a time-out when people arrive at your house and your dog starts barking uncontrollably. Your dog will learn that barking is not a desired behavior and control its bark when people come around.
Negative Correction
Negative correction is when you take something away from the dog as a correction for not obeying it the first time. If your dog runs around the yard one more time after you command it to come, you will take the treat away from your dog. This shows the dog that it did not complete the request appropriately; thus, it loses a tasty treat.
Positive reinforcement in dog training methodology is a crucial element. You want to build your dog’s spirit up while training it in new behaviors or modifying inappropriate ones. Positive reinforcement will dominate negative reinforcement as training becomes routine and your canine learns the benefits of positive vs. negative correction.
At True Canine, our trainers believe you lose a part of the training picture when you take out negative reinforcement. Instead of getting the complete picture of cause and effect, your dog will only see the bright side of the situation. Here are some reasons why leaving out training components can impact your results.
3 Reasons Why Only Positive Reinforcement Dog Training Isn’t The Best Teaching Program
Give Your Dog a Goal
When you are training your canine, you will want to provide positive rewards throughout training, such as treats, verbal praise, or extra playtime. They provide your dog with a goal to work towards when training and learning appropriate behaviors. However, when you only offer treats to your dog, they will become stagnant and stop learning because there is no negative result to their actions. They will also expect the treat instead of weaning off it over time.
For example, during your dog training, if you always give positive reinforcement for going potty no matter where it potties, it may not realize going potty inside is a no-no. It could go to the bathroom in a location you do not desire because it just wants a treat and thinks that going anywhere is acceptable. When you apply negative reinforcement, you can teach your dog that although the carpet may feel like grass, it is not where it should go to the bathroom.
Balance the Positive and Negative Outcomes
Just like humans, your dog needs to understand there are positive and negative outcomes to their choices. The goal of training is to teach your dog the right way to behave at home and in public. However, if you always focus on providing only positive reinforcement in your dog training methodology, your best bud won’t realize that there is a consequence for doing something out of line. For example, if you always praise your dog for sitting but say and do nothing when it doesn’t sit, then, eventually, it won’t sit because there is no gentle correction.
When you provide the opportunity for your dog to choose to do the right or wrong thing and accept the correction that comes with it, your dog will be more apt to follow the positive reinforcement route.
Take Something Away
If you never take anything away from your dog during training, it will not learn the effective powers of positive manners. Negative reinforcement focuses on taking something desired away from your pup. Hence, they behave correctly and earn the treat the next time.
For example, if you provide a treat to your dog for staying and take the treat out of sight when it is not staying, it will learn to stay. Your dog will begin associating your removal of the treat with a heartbreaking moment and change its behaviors to receive a treat when it stays the first time.
Start Training Your Dog With the Whole Picture
At True Canine, we understand that providing a dog with the whole four-quadrant process is the best way to provide your canine with training that will last a lifetime, build communication, and secure a bond between you and your dog. Positive reinforcement in dog training is pivotal but will not paint the entire picture of the consequences of its choices. Keep your dog training methodology balanced with effects from both sides that encourage your dog to do the right behaviors.
We offer a lifetime of training support and refresher courses for questions on any of the steps to the four quadrants during and after training. In-home lessons and board and train programs are available for owners within a 150-mile radius of Scottsdale, AZ. Our negative and positive reinforcement method shows that any dog can succeed in training regardless of age, size, behavior issue, and breed. Simple training steps with follow-up support will give you the instructions to teach your dog good behaviors with excellent communication that result in a loving relationship. Call our trainers today to schedule your dog for training.