| FAQs |
What is positive reinforcement, or reward-based training?
This type of dog training is a friendly, non-aversive means of teaching your dog to perform
behaviors using food, toys, play, affection, access to things he/she wants, or anything else that
your dog would consider reinforcing and be willing to work for in a particular situation. Behaviors
that are reinforced are more likely to occur in the future. Reward-based training is a way of
increasing the frequency of behaviors that we like, and replacing the ones that we don't.
Do I have to use food during training?
It is important to realize that your dog’s motivation is always in flux, meaning that what your dog
finds motivating in one context, he or she may not find motivating in another context. For
example, if your dog just ate and is full, he probably won’t be motivated to work for food, but he
may be motivated to work for his favorite toy instead. Food is one of the most powerful
motivators, and it can be used as both a target (to lure your dog into a desired position), and as
the reward. As your dog learns the behavior, you fade out the presence of the food, and
transition to requiring more behaviors for less treats. Also, as a behavior is established, the use
of other rewards besides food should absolutely be incorporated. This includes going for walks,
play, door opening, ball throwing, cars rides, access to other dogs, and so on. There is a
saying in dog training: Control the motivator, control the dog.
How do dogs learn?
Dogs learn by the immediate consequences of their actions (Operant Conditioning) and by
association (Classical Conditioning). An example of learning by consequence would be giving
your dog praise and treats when she sits, thereby increasing the frequency of sitting in the
future. Learning by association has to do with anticipation and predictive power. For example,
dogs learn very quickly that the sound of a treat jar predicts food. Both of these processes of
learning are scientifically proven and are utilized in both training and in working with behavior
problems. Provide positive consequences to behaviors that you want your dog to do more
frequently (sitting, lying down, being quiet, etc.), and make things that you want your dog to
enjoy (car rides, getting teeth brushed, seeing other dogs, etc.) predictive of goodies.
What is clicker training?
Clicker training is a way of training an animal by using a small noise-making device called a
clicker. The click is a way of trainers communicating to the animal the exact behavior that they
liked. The click indicates, or marks the desired behavior. The behavior is then reinforced,
usually with a food treat. Remember, reinforced behaviors are more likely to occur in the future.
Clicker training takes advantage of both learning by consequence and by association. Once
your dog learns the connection between the desired behavior, the click, and the treat, he’ll offer
the behavior more frequently, at which point a verbal cue can be added. The clicker is used
when teaching a new behavior—when your dog is consistently offering the behavior on the cue
only, the clicker is no longer needed. The use of a clicker speeds up training and is
implemented more efficiently than using one’s voice, which varies in tone, pitch, and volume.
This type of dog training is a friendly, non-aversive means of teaching your dog to perform
behaviors using food, toys, play, affection, access to things he/she wants, or anything else that
your dog would consider reinforcing and be willing to work for in a particular situation. Behaviors
that are reinforced are more likely to occur in the future. Reward-based training is a way of
increasing the frequency of behaviors that we like, and replacing the ones that we don't.
Do I have to use food during training?
It is important to realize that your dog’s motivation is always in flux, meaning that what your dog
finds motivating in one context, he or she may not find motivating in another context. For
example, if your dog just ate and is full, he probably won’t be motivated to work for food, but he
may be motivated to work for his favorite toy instead. Food is one of the most powerful
motivators, and it can be used as both a target (to lure your dog into a desired position), and as
the reward. As your dog learns the behavior, you fade out the presence of the food, and
transition to requiring more behaviors for less treats. Also, as a behavior is established, the use
of other rewards besides food should absolutely be incorporated. This includes going for walks,
play, door opening, ball throwing, cars rides, access to other dogs, and so on. There is a
saying in dog training: Control the motivator, control the dog.
How do dogs learn?
Dogs learn by the immediate consequences of their actions (Operant Conditioning) and by
association (Classical Conditioning). An example of learning by consequence would be giving
your dog praise and treats when she sits, thereby increasing the frequency of sitting in the
future. Learning by association has to do with anticipation and predictive power. For example,
dogs learn very quickly that the sound of a treat jar predicts food. Both of these processes of
learning are scientifically proven and are utilized in both training and in working with behavior
problems. Provide positive consequences to behaviors that you want your dog to do more
frequently (sitting, lying down, being quiet, etc.), and make things that you want your dog to
enjoy (car rides, getting teeth brushed, seeing other dogs, etc.) predictive of goodies.
What is clicker training?
Clicker training is a way of training an animal by using a small noise-making device called a
clicker. The click is a way of trainers communicating to the animal the exact behavior that they
liked. The click indicates, or marks the desired behavior. The behavior is then reinforced,
usually with a food treat. Remember, reinforced behaviors are more likely to occur in the future.
Clicker training takes advantage of both learning by consequence and by association. Once
your dog learns the connection between the desired behavior, the click, and the treat, he’ll offer
the behavior more frequently, at which point a verbal cue can be added. The clicker is used
when teaching a new behavior—when your dog is consistently offering the behavior on the cue
only, the clicker is no longer needed. The use of a clicker speeds up training and is
implemented more efficiently than using one’s voice, which varies in tone, pitch, and volume.
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| ©2007-2008 Keen Canines, LLC |
| Positive, Reward-Based Training |
| Favorite Links: Dog treats, food, & Supplies www.sitstay.com www.cleanrun.com www.petexpertise.com www.ruffwear.com |
| Jordan Rothman, CTC Keen Canines, LLC Dog Trainer & Behavior Counselor Roseland, NJ 973-650-1691 jordan@keencanines.net |