Pet training has many advantages. It allows animals to exercise their intelligence in constructive ways, stops them from engaging in destructive behavior and keeps them under your control. Learning to perform actions or tricks on command can be fun for pets if they get plenty of affection and encouragement in the process. This is why the most successful form of training uses positive reinforcement.
Animals are naturally keen to perform actions that they know will lead to positive outcomes. Positive reinforcement means rewarding your pet for good behavior, rather than punishing him for bad behavior. The rewards most commonly used in training are enthusiastic praise and a tasty morsel of food.
Although you may not be aware of it, you have probably already trained your pet using positive reinforcement. If your dog or cat stands near a door and barks or meows, and you open the door for them, they will associate their actions with the reward of being let in or out. The next time they want you to open the door, they will repeat the same behavior in anticipation of getting the same reward.
To train pets to do what you want them to do, you'll need to get them to perform actions in response to commands. Decide on a specific desired behavior and think of a cue word to prompt it. Single syllable commands such as 'down' or 'shake' are easier for animals to understand than two word phrases like 'lie down' or 'shake hands'.
As soon as your pet performs an action in response to a command, reward him with enthusiastic praise and a tasty treat. Always give the reward before the animal engages in any other behavior. If you are teaching a dog to obey the command 'sit', praise and feed him while he is still in a sitting position. If he moves first, he may think he is being rewarded for standing up.
To teach an animal to get off your favorite lounge chair or any other piece of furniture, use a simple command like 'off'. When you find your pet sitting where she shouldn't, go get one of her treats. Stand near the chair, make sure your pet is looking at you and say 'off' in a loud, clear voice. Gently push or lift the animal to the floor. Immediately praise her and hold the food to her mouth. Repeat the training process every time she climbs into the chair. After a number of trials, she will jump to the floor unassisted when she hears the word 'off'.
When your pet has learned to consistently perform an action in response to a cue word, you can begin to substitute the treat reward with praise and affection alone. Most dogs take pleasure in pleasing their owners. An enthusiastic 'good dog' and a pat on the head is all the reward they require. Some cats and birds will also continue to obey a command without the food incentive, depending on how well they have bonded with their trainer.
Pet training requires a degree of patience and some sessions will go more smoothly than others. When an animal is excited, distracted or tired, he may not perform at his best. Avoid the temptation to chastise your pet if he refuses to cooperate. It could lead him to associate the action you are trying to teach with negative consequences. If your pet gets only positive attention during dog training Kelowna, he will be eager to learn new commands.
Training a puppy can be frustrating, dog training requires discipline and consistancy. When experiencing problems, consult a professional. Bark Busters offer a reliable and affordable service for house puppy training.
