It Positively Works!

Positive reinforcement is the best way to train your companion. We all know that, but the definition of positive reinforcement is a little more vague.

• Positive reinforcement is the presentation of something pleasant and rewarding IMMEDIATELY following a desired behavior.

Why should we use positive reinforcement in a training class? Because it:

• Strengthens and enhances the human animal relationship
• Is used less and less as a behavior is learned to be most effective
• Never leads to avoidance or avoidance related aggression
• Never causes damage to your relationship if you make a mistake with your timing.
• Produces enthusiastic, happy people who love to train animals
• Keeps dogs coming back for more and more training – they love it!

Punishment is Much Less Effective

Punishment is what we think of when we want to correct a problem behavior, or we’re not sure of how to handle something we find troubling to us. But it’s definition also remains fuzzy.

• Punishment is the presentation of something unpleasant and unwanted IMMEDIATELY followed an undesired behavior

Why do we avoid using punishment in a training class? Because it:

• Is confusing when learning is very new – how would you like to be punished for something you don’t know well?
• Is only effective when done IMMEDIATELY at the time of or following an undesired behavior.
• When administered weakly can cause a dog to need higher and higher levels of punishment
• When administered harshly can seriously damage the human – pet relationship