Dog training is a demanding business and it’s something every dog owner must place focus on. When you adopt a little puppy chances are that you’re looking for a way to easily train your puppy to grow into a good obedient doggy, but training can be hard!
That’s why we wanted to share some science based dog training tips to help guide you forward on your mission to train your dog to be the best dog ever.
Dominance Theory
This is usually the traditional method for dog training. The concept is that a dog sees you as a member of their pack. In order to get your dog to see you as their authority and boss, you’ll need to prove that you’re the alpha in the pack.
This method of dog training may be science based but utilizes a lot of unwelcomed options to correct bad behavior. Someone who trains their dog using dominance theory will use choke collars, and electric collars to shock their dog into submission so to speak. These methods have worked as a traditional dog training method for many years, but there are a couple of other options that are science based, as well.
Since many people suggest that the use of items like a shock collar or electric shock device can have long-term negative impacts on your pooch, many people have refrained from using the dominance theory of dog training over the years.
Positive Reinforcement
This science based training tip is something that many parents can relate to. You’ll focus on good behavior and rewarding that, as one is told to do with their children. This is a way to remove the negative side of dominance theory and instead focus on the positives by ignoring bad behavior but paying attention to the good behavior of your dog.
During this type of science based dog training, the trainer will not make a sound or do anything when a dog is doing something incorrectly or bad. Since dogs love their humans and want that engagement, they’ll quickly learn that when they do something correctly or act good, that they’ll get a reward. The reward could be treats, positive talking, or petting.
While there’s not enough research to know if this type of dog training will have a positive long-lasting effect on the human and dog relationship, many celebrity dog trainers swear by the positive reinforcement method.
Science Based Dog Training Give and Take
We’re calling this science based dog training theory as give and take. This final option to train your dog will not involve any of the punishments in dominance theory, such as the choke collar, but rather take something away when the dog has bad behavior. If the dog shows good behavior, such as responding to a command properly, they’ll receive a reward.
This science based dog training tip works to help reinforce that good behavior while providing a consequence for the bad behavior without developing any long-term negative impacts on the human and dog relationship. An example of how to use this dog training concept is during leash walking or leash training.
When you take your dog out on a leash to help them understand the best way to walk on a leash without pulling you, you’ll stop walking whenever they pull you. You’ll use a harness rather than a chock collar will give you control over your dog without harming them. Whenever your dog pulls, you simply stop in your tracks and don’t move forward until they stop pulling You’ll repeat this process until they can walk on a leash without pulling you.
Each of these dog training methods will help your dog behave better and choose positive behavior over bad behavior because they’ll know that the reward far outweighs the consequence. In time your canine friend will enjoy taking walks without pulling, sitting upon command, and enjoying their life as a happy member of your family unit.