Page 322 - The Complete Dog Breed Book Choose the Perfect Dog for You, New Edition (DK)

322 C ARE AND TR AINING

Rewards-based training FAVORITE TOY
There has been a great deal of research into the best Many dogs are motivated by
methods for training dogs. The results show that resorting toys. If your dog loves to play,
to harsh punishments for disobedience, such as using a set his favorite toy aside and
bring it out only as a reward
choke chain, shouting and hitting a dog, or pinning him during training.
down, is simply not effective. Such treatment is likely to
cause more problem behaviors, including aggression and instance, your dog may
anxiety. The most successful way to train a dog is to find choose to ignore your calls
out what motivates him and use that to reward him for when he is running after a
behaving in the way you want. rabbit. This is not because he
To do this, you need to find out what works with your own no longer loves or respects
dog. All dogs are individuals and react differently to rewards, you; it is simply that for a
but there are some common motivators that can be used as few thrilling moments he
training aids for the majority of dogs. Simple praise is a very finds the unusual excitement
effective reward for a young puppy. Dogs are sociable of the chase more rewarding
animals and find positive contact with people in their family than your praise, which is always on offer. To overcome such
unit deeply rewarding. Most dogs will happily do what you distractions during training, you must find other things that
ask of them in return for praise. are particularly rewarding to your dog. The most powerful
However, for some dogs the situation in which they find motivators used in dog training are toys and food. Use
themselves can be so distracting that the desire to please something that your dog really loves and will therefore be
may temporarily be taken over by more impelling urges. For strongly motivated to receive.

USING PRAISE
One of the best forms of reward is praise. This
requires no training aids—you simply have to make
a big fuss over your dog. Talk to him in a friendly
tone and stroke him.
MOTIVATING FOOD
All dogs find food motivating. Treats used for
training should be small, bite-sized pieces of a
food that is particularly tasty to your dog. Go for
healthy choices, such as cooked chicken or cheese.

US_322-323_178795_Rewards.indd 322 10/09/19 11:48 AM