What is it, and why is it important?
Positive reinforcement in dog training can go by many names, most of which are valid and worthy: reward-based training, science-based training, force-free or pain-free training, etc. Regardless of the terminology, the general theory behind this line of thinking remains the same.
So what exactly is positive reinforcement? If you give your dog a reward (praise, play, food, toys, etc.) when he responds to you or offers an action or a behavior that you like, then that behavior is likely to be repeated. Your dog learns that good things happen to him when he does the thing you like.
Positive-reinforcement teaching techniques use non confrontational methods to work a dog’s brain – rewarding positive behavior, establishing rituals and training actions that are incompatible with negative behavior, and lessening a dog’s anger and frustration – all while enabling the dog to feel good inside. If you reinforce a dog’s desirable behaviors, there is less of a chance that she will indulge in other behaviors that you do not like. Decision-making is influenced without the use of force, and the dog’s trust in the owner is not violated through threatening treatment.
There are many different methods when it comes to training dogs and everyone has a different idea for the best techniques to use, but what is now becoming clear to much of the dog loving public is that even though there is more than one way to train a dog, there is a right way and a wrong way. Some people argue that a heavier hand is needed for tougher dogs while others say that positive training methods are the only methods that should be used on these dogs, as punitive training causes confrontation and confrontation exacerbates aggressive response. It comes down to not only what is morally and ethically correct, but also what is safer. Positive training has proven to be a much more effective, safer and humane way of teaching dogs than punitive training methods and while ultimately every person has the right to choose what techniques they use, the evidence is clear. Positive training teaches a dog to cooperate, while punitive training teaches a dog to respond through domination. There might be differences in opinion on what techniques to use but there is no arguing with fact. But within the umbrella of positive training, there is no one size fits all! There are many great methods that can be utilized with positive training and while there is only one true philosophy to follow, there are numerous techniques that can be used to help dogs learn within the parameters of the positive philosophy. These include but are not limited to: