Dog Training Using

the Reward Training

Method

While reward training is commonly viewed as the

most current style of dog training, it is actually a lot

older than most other methods of dog training. It is

likely that the reward training method has been in

use since dogs were domesticated thousands of

years ago. Early humans likely used some unofficial

type of reward training when refining the wolf pups

that ultimately became domesticated dogs.

A lot of the ideas about current methods of reward

training go back several decades. But what we know

as reward training today has only enjoyed its

recognition for the past 10 or so years.

Most reward training proponents are not so eager

about other methods of dog training, like the leash

and collar style. It is likely, though, that the best

approach to training your dog will be a mixture of

leash and collar training with reward training.

Additionally, a certain training style might work

great for one particular dog, but not for another.

Some dogs who are not motivated by reward

training but do well with the leash/collar method,

and other dogs respond well to reward training while

leash/collar training does not work at all.

Fortunately, the majority of dogs fall somewhere

in between.

One of the more popular methods of reward training

currently is clicker training. While clicker training

does not work for every dog, it can still be a highly

useful method of training dogs. The way clicker

training works is by teaching to associate a clicking

sound with a positive reinforcement, such as a treat.

When the dog does something well, the trainer

reacts by clicking the clicker, then immediately

offering the dog a treat. In time, the dog learns to

react to the clicker only.

In reward training the most common type of treat is

a food reward. Almost always, complex tricks or

behaviors can only be taught using this type of

reinforcement. In fact, trainers who train dogs for

movies and television use food-based reward

training almost totally.

Reward training is used for all types of dog training,

including for police and military work. The majority

of training in scent detection and tracking utilize a

kind of reward training. You can also use reward

training in teaching the basic dog training

commands.

In reward training a lure is frequently employed to

entice the dog into a desired position or stance. The

lure helps to convince the dog to perform the sought

after behavior of his own volition.

Getting the dog to carry out a behavior without

being handled is important. The point of the training,

in fact, is to get the dog to execute a behavior

without any handling by the trainer.

Once the dog has carried out the commanded

behavior, he is rewarded with a positive

reinforcement, such as a food treat. Treats are often

used in order to reinforce good behaviors, but other

positive reinforcements, such as verbal praise, can

also be used for reinforcement.

It is important that a reward-trained dog also be a

reliable dog. If a dog is trained to do a job, such as

police work or drug detection, outside distractions

are to be expected. Therefore it is important to train

the dog to work and be focused around diversions,

as well as to socialize him with other animals and

people.

Sometimes dog trainers only train the dog inside the

house or back yard, only when the owner is there,

free of distractions. It is important to take the dog

outside of his comfort zone and introduced to new

people and situations

It is also important that the dog be trained to pay

attention to the handler always. When the owner has

the complete attention of the dog, he has complete

control of the dog. When executed correctly, reward

training is a very effective training method that

helps to earn the respect and the attention of the

dog.

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