When Teaching Your Dog Obedience, Positive Reinforcement is a Must

by Tom Womack

Teaching dog obedience becomes a lot simpler when you understand how important positive reinforcement is. It really is the cornerstone of any kind of dog training course. But it's also important that the dog trainer has a lot of patience, because some dogs pick it up faster than others.

If your dog doesn't pick it up quickly, try not to get upset at him. He's not doing it on purpose, just to spite you. He really is trying his best.

First off, understand that dogs tend to learn by association. So in the dog's mind, if he did something and got a treat for it, he realizes that he's done a good thing. So it's important that the instant your dog does something that you want him to do, whether it be to sit, "gimme your paw", or comes to you, reward him instantly with a treat. The more times this happens to the dog, the more times he'll recognize the pattern.

You also want to keep the sessions short but try to do a few sessions a day, if you can. Also, if its possible, try to do the sessions in different environments, whether it be at home, in your yard, or when you are taking him out for a walk. But when the sessions are active, try to keep distractions away from the dog. You want to make sure you have his undivided attention.

The rewards can also come when the dog does something partially right. Eventually, he'll realize what he's not doing, and correct it.