Page 323 - The Complete Dog Breed Book Choose the Perfect Dog for You, New Edition (DK)

TIMING REWARDS
Giving rewards too slowly may make your dog learn
the wrong thing. If his attention is distracted, by
the time he receives the reward, he may not make
the connection between it and adopting the
desired “sit” position (see above). Be prepared to
give your dog his reward as soon as he follows your
command (see right), and he will learn very quickly.

The importance of timing sitting and a reward. It is then fairly simple to insert a voice
Probably the most important skill for you to master as a dog cue as he folds into a sit, creating a learned behavior that
trainer is good timing. Dogs learn exclusively by association. your dog will produce on command. However, if you keep
This means that if they do something and immediately your food treats in your pocket and take a few moments to
receive a reward, they are more likely to repeat that get them out, your dog will have sat, got bored, and jumped
behavior. Of course, this also causes some behavior up at you by the time he gets the treat. Again, he learns that
problems. For example, if a dog that wants attention jumps jumping up is a
up and gets pushed off or shouted at, he has received the rewarding behavior
attention he wants. Effectively, he has been rewarded for and will therefore
jumping up and is therefore more likely to jump up again. repeat it more often.
If this is repeated, jumping up becomes a learned
behavior—one that is repeated frequently. NAPTIME
Nevertheless, the way that dogs make associations is also Your puppy will learn
extremely useful in teaching them how they should behave. better if he sleeps
If every time your dog sits he receives a food treat between lessons. A young
puppy tires easily, so keep
immediately afterward, he will start sitting more frequently. training sessions short,
An association has been made between the behavior of with frequent breaks.

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