Obedience schools mostly use positive reinforcement for training dogs. Some schools use this method exclusively while others use correction along with positive reinforcement. One should choose a training method on the basis of his dog’s personality Puppy trainers near me. Dog temperament varies from one breed to another. Even dogs belonging to a single breed have varying personalities. Although all training methods have the same basic commands, one method may suit your dog more than the others. For example, Pit Bull training needs both corrective and positive reinforcement, while timid Yorkies do not respond well to corrective techniques.
Here are the major methods of dog training:
Traditional Training:
The origin of traditional training’s modern version dates back to 1950s. This technique uses physical correction for training a dog. For example, if you ask your pet to sit, but he remains standing, you may jerk him gently on the collar. You should give rewards when he completes a job well by telling him encouraging things like “Good Dog”. Many modern trainers think this technique as outdated. However, some dog breeds like Pit Bull respond well this method. Pit Bull does not respond to positive reinforcement training.
Clicker Training:
Clicker training is a popular teaching method in the recent times. You can use the technique for anything like giving basic commands, solving behavioral problems like excessive barking or for potty training. The principle behind this technique is that dogs learn in the best way from “operant conditioning”. In operant conditioning, animals learn from their environment and they respond to positive consequences more than negative ones. Clicker training is purely positive reinforcement training. The clicker shows your pet dog what he does correctly. The method is very popular as it is gentle, and gives a pleasant experience to you and your dog. Many schools use this teaching technique. Such schools often offer trained dogs for sale.
Reward Training:
Reward training is also a positive reinforcement method. However, here there is no clicker, but some type of reward. The reward is anything your dog loves, food or his favorite toy. While giving the reward, praise your pet with an encouraging, high-pitched voice. This method increases enthusiasm in you as well as your pet dog.
Dog Whispering:
This method is very helpful in training some dogs. The basis of this method is the understanding and connection between your pet dog and you. In this technique, you have to understand your pet’s body language and train him using your body language. The method involves correction, but you have to decide the correction according to the behavior of your pet. For example, if your dog is becoming aggressive to another one, you can correct him by putting a clawed hand over his neck. This is similar to what dogs’ mothers do in the wild in such a situation. You have to study dog behavior to apply this technique. It creates a very strong bond between your dog and you.