Training dogs using positive reinforcement and reward training has long been recognized as both highly effective for the owner and a positive experience for the dog.In today’s entertainment industry, positive reinforcement training is the only method that is used to train dangerous animals.

Proponents of positive reinforcement swear by the effectiveness of their methods, and it is true that the vast majority of dogs respond well to these training methods.

Reward training has become increasingly popular in recent years, but chances are some sort of reward training between humans and dogs has been going on for hundreds if not thousands of years.

One reason that positive reinforcement training is so effective is that is uses rewards to teach the dog what is expected of it.Provide the dog with a reward, most commonly in the form of a dog food treat, but it might also be a scratch behind the ears, a pat on the head or a rub under the chin when the dog performs the desired behavior.  The important thing is that the dog is rewarded consistently for doing the right thing.

When understanding what makes reward training so effective, some knowledge of the history of humans and dogs is very insightful.Years ago, wolf pups were tamed and used for protections from predators as alarm systems and later for herding and guarding livestock. 

 It is possible that the wolf pups that made the best companions were the most easily trained, or it is possible that these early dogs were orphaned or abandoned wolf pups.  Whatever their origin, there is little doubt today that the vast variety of dogs we see today have their origin in the humble wolf.

 Wolf packs, like packs of wild dogs, operate on a strict pack hierarchy. Due to Dog and wolf packs hunting as a group, this type of hierarchy, and the teamwork it brings, is essential to the survival of the species.The hierarchy of a pack rarely changes with the exception of an injury or death and each dog know it’s status in the pack.

Every dog, therefore, is geared by nature to look to the pack leader for guidance.  The basis of all good dog training, including reward based training, is for the trainer to set him or herself up as the pack leader.  The pack leader is more than just the dominant dog, or the one who instructs all the subordinates what to do.The pack leader provides protection and leadership and their leadership is vital to the survival of the pack.

 It is important for the dog to see itself as part of a pack, to recognize the human as the leader of that pack, and to respect his or her authority.Domination of certain dogs is much easier than others.  If you watch a group of puppies playing for a little while, you will quickly recognize the dominant and submissive personalities. 

A dog with a more submissive personality will generally be easier to train using positive reinforcement, since he or she will not want to challenge the trainer for leadership.Dogs that are dominant by nature also tend to respond very well to positive reinforcement.It is know that there are very few dogs that do not respond to positive reinforcement also called rewarding training.

 Positive reinforcement is also the best way to retrain a dog that has behavior problems, especially one that has been abused in the past. Getting the respect and trust of an abused dog can be very difficult, and positive reinforcement is better than any other training method at creating this important bond.

No matter what breed of dog you are working with, chances are it can be helped with positive reinforcement training methods. Training methods should be based on respect and trust, rather than pressure and fear is the best way to obtain the most from any dog.

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