There is a lot of information on the best methods for training your pet. Before implementing one, knowing what effects training methods can have on your pet’s overall well-being is vital when building a relationship with them. Studies have shown that positive reinforcement training methods are just as effective and potentially more effective than other methods and can foster a strong bond with your pet.
How Pets Learn
To help understand the training process, let’s start with how pets learn. Most animals learn through operant conditioning, which occurs when behavior changes due to rewards and punishments. Rewarding behaviors reinforce them and make them more likely to be repeated, whereas punishing behaviors make them less likely to occur again. This learning process occurs throughout an animal’s life, whether through intentional training or not.
Reinforcement vs. Punishment
When applying operant conditioning to training, it is also important to note that there is positive (adding something) reinforcement/punishment and negative (removing or eliminating something) reinforcement/punishment.
- Positive Reinforcement: When something is added to increase the likelihood of behavior.
- Example: When you ask your dog to sit, you give a treat once cued, and the pet sits.
- Positive Punishment: When something is added to decrease the likelihood of a behavior.
- Example: Using a shock collar for barking, and pet is shocked when it begins to bark
- Negative Reinforcement: Something that is removed to increase the likelihood of a behavior.
- Example: Using a prong collar for pulling. When the dog pulls, the prong collar causes discomfort/pain. When the dog stops pulling, the discomfort/pain stops, stopping the undesired pulling behavior.
- Negative Punishment: Something is removed to decrease the likelihood of a behavior.
- Example: To try to stop a dog from jumping, you turn away, do not give them attention, and wait until the dog is calm to give attention.
With Fear Free in mind, we want to focus on Positive Reinforcement and Negative Punishment. Again, punishment does not necessarily mean aversive methods. Aversive methods with positive punishment and negative reinforcement can not only increase fear and anxiety throughout the training process but can also have unwanted consequences. Training with shock collars can take precise timing for a pet to learn the desired behavior. Most non-professional trainers cannot get that timing correct, which can confuse your pet, create fearfulness, and, in extreme cases, they can redirect their frustration toward nearby animals and people. It can also slow the learning process, suppress behavior, and ultimately damage the human-animal bond.
Finding a Reward
Every dog is different when it comes to what they find rewarding. Some dogs are very food motivated while others prefer toys. Having different rewards can also make training more enjoyable for your pet. Here are some ideas for treats to try with your pet to see what they might find the most rewarding.
- Dry Food: Make your dog’s daily meal part of the reward! Although most dogs find this a lower-value treat, it can be rewarding without adding extra calories to their diet.
- Fruits and Vegetables: Dog-safe fruits and vegetables are another healthy way to reward while providing variety. Remember to steer clear of grapes, as they can lead to kidney failure in dogs.
- Cheese: Some pets find cheese very rewarding, but try to use lower-fat cheeses like cheddar or mozzarella.
- Deli meat: White-meat chicken breast or nitrate-free hot dogs usually are very high value for dog rewards.
- Canned Food Meatballs: If your pet has a limited-ingredient diet, you can always make meatballs from the canned version of your pet’s food. Sometimes, there are compatible treats for specific diets as well.
We know that, as pet parents, you value your bond with your pet. Fear-free training methods can help foster that bond while eliminating unwanted behaviors from your pet. For further information on how to continue making your home as positive of a place as possible for your four-legged friends, visit the Fear-Free website.