Any breed can be trained with reward-based training. Pictured is Phyllis Beasley and her German Shepherd dog, Elo.
So what exactly is positive training, sometimes called reward-based training or force free training? How does it work? Can a dog be trained completely with positive training?
Truly positive training means instead of punishing the dog when it does something wrong, the trainer rewards the dog with food or play for doing the right thing. A reward-based, force-free trainer does not use training tools such as prong collars or shock collars that work to suppress and punish behavior. There is a lot more to positive training than these things.
Management and preventing unwanted behavior is a foundation of successful reward-based training. As the dog is prevented from practicing the unwanted behavior, a replacement desirable behavior is taught. For example, management tools such as baby gates, tethering or leashes can be used to prevent a dog from jumping on its owners. While the jumping is prevented, then the dog can be taught to sit, touch a hand, or fetch a toy instead of jumping for attention.
Management of the environment must be a part of positive training. The goal is to prevent unwanted behaviors until a desirable behavior can be trained in its place.
To successfully train a dog with only positive methods, you must first understand and respect canine body language. Pet owners who want to better understand their dogs’ behaviors should study canine body language; there are many books and videos explaining the nuances of how dogs “talk” with their bodies. If a dog is showing signs of stress, then the trainer or owner should stop what he or she is doing and evaluate the situation. Subtle signs of canine stress include rapid panting, ears back, yawning, lip licking, and hypervigilance.
An effective reward-based trainer understands dogs learn in foundation steps like children. For example, a child can’t do division until he or she learns addition, subtraction, and multiplication. A dog can’t learn to reliably come when called until it first learns that the word Come means rewards and the behavior is first learned in a non-distracting environment. Stays should first be taught with the handler nearby and in tiny lengths of time. There should be a high rate of reinforcement—many treats. The treats are then faded out and length of time extended only as the dog is successful.
Force free, positive trainers emphasize the importance of training a dog the way you would want to be treated.
Another principle of reward-based training is to catch and reward your dog for doing the right thing. Positive trainers have a saying, “a behavior that is rewarded will be repeated.” For example, if your dog is lying quietly at your feet while you work on the computer, praise him quietly. Or if he sees a squirrel out the window and watches without barking, praise him. This is called “finding your moment of ‘Yes.’”
Positive or force-free training does not mean there are no consequences for unwanted behavior, but a positive trainer will not use physical force or aversive tools to punish a dog. A positive trainer may take away the thing the dog wants to stop the behavior or to show the dog his behavior was not right. For example, a dog jumps on its owner when the owner comes home from work. The punishment for this behavior would be to turn away or walk away from the dog, taking away the attention the dog is seeking by jumping. Of course, the best practice for positive training would be to have set up the environment with baby gates to separate the dog from the owner or have someone hold the dog on leash to prevent the jumping. If the owner yells at or pushes at the jumping dog, the owner actually rewarded the dog by providing the attention the dog sought inappropriately.
Another way to train successfully in a positive manner is to train in foundation steps. Train a stay with you close by before you try to move away.
What is not true about reward-based training? People sometimes say they don’t want to train with treats because then they will always have to give their dog treats. If the treats used in training are used as a reward, not a bribe, then the use of treats can be faded out and other non-food rewards such as playing, going outside, praise, etc., can be used.
The benefits of training positively are multiple. Dogs trained only with reward-based training enjoy, happily respond, and are not afraid they will be punished if they make a mistake. Studies have shown heart rates and cortisol (stress) levels increase when a dog anticipates he may be physically punished. Reward-based trainers and veterinary behaviorists talk about the dangers of “behavior fallout” when punishment-based training is used. This means unwanted behaviors such as fear and aggression can occur when a dog is trained with physical punishment, including shock collars and prong collars. While many dogs can tolerate the use of aversive training with no outward signs of stress, the human-animal bond is increased when both ends of the leash are enjoying the interaction.
Chacho, a dog trained with positive reinforcement, enjoys the training as much as his owner.
Reward-based training builds a strong bond between the owner and dog, which is important in competition, as well as for dogs in the home. Pictured is Phyllis Beasley and her Shetland Sheepdog, Laddie, competing in Rally Obedience.
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