Positive reinforcement has been praised in the dog training world for its harmlessness and progressive results. In a nutshell, positive reinforcement training requires owners to reward their pups for good behavior, as opposed to punishing them for bad behavior. Dogs are animals, and adjusting to the world of humans is not so easy. Positive reinforcement is a safe way to ease your dog into the rules of your home while not damaging the trust between you two with threatening actions. The main reason why positive reinforcement works so well relies on the reality that dogs live in the moment. You should react to your dog’s good behavior right away by, for example, rewarding him with Bark at the Moon Beef Liver Jerky. Your pup will associate the good behavior with a tasty Bark at the Moon Treat, and strive to repeat this good behavior in order to get more treats. This is the basis of positive reinforcement training.
This form of training is much more than just indulging your pup in all-natural treats– that’d be too easy! There are a few other things to keep in mind. The first is the most important: consistency. You’ve can’t reward your pet with love and affection when they jump on your bed one day, and then berate them when they jump up the next day. The same rules should be consistent with all household members as well; inconsistency will only confuse your poor pup as he tries to please everyone at once. The second thing to keep in mind is simplicity. Your furry friend may be smart, but not enough to know the whole English language. Keep your commands to a one-word minimum. For example, “sit” instead of “sit down”; “drop” instead of “drop the ball”; “down” instead of “no jumping”. Avoid “stop”, as you’re not giving your dog an alternative action to the one they’re currently performing. Keeping it simple will allow for better understanding between you and your pup. The last tip for effective positive reinforcement training is persistence. Raising a fur baby can be similar to raising a child. Keep a patient attitude and continue their training until you see improvement. Just like a child, your pup may take a while to learn the rules or even surprise you by catching on quickly.
The driving force of positive reinforcement is that you are not creating a barrier of fear and anxiety between you and your pet by resorting to physically hostile behavior. Instead, you are building a bridge of trust and understanding between you two by compelling your pet to associate good behavior– and you– with treats, belly rubs, and praises. The four key elements of positive reinforcement training to remember are: consistency, simplicity, persistence, and a cupboard stocked with Bark at the Moon All-Natural Treats for rewards! Want to begin now? Here’s 10% off your next order of Bark at the Moon Treats so you can start training right away: just use code BARKIN10 at checkout.
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