This is no secret that we all work best in more comfortable and pleasant conditions than in a sturdy, strict, harsh environment. The very famous trick of the “carrot or stick” approach works just fine in the power play or affairs of world politics. But when tending to behaviors of living beings, be it humans or your canine friend, the best approach will always be “carrot or carrot”. It simply implies that to move or motivate your pet to do something, you would need to resort to a more tender way, such as rewards or treats, rather than being harsh or delivering punishments and rebukes. This reward system is, in technical terms, also known as using positive reinforcement for pets.
The practice of positive reinforcement focuses on prioritizing rewards for good behavior rather than punishment for unbecoming conduct. AVSAB mentions that dogs trained in brutal ways of yelling, jarring commands, and shock collars are less likely to get off well than dogs trained with rewards in return. This reward-based method or positive reinforcement can help instill behaviors in your pet that you like and appreciate. There are many great ways to compensate for your pooch or reward them pleasantly.
Treats N’ Treats
Treats are the easiest and most common form of reward when enforcing positive reinforcement for pets. Edible rewards like cookies or any other food your pet prefers are a great way to teach any desired habit in your pooch. For instance, reward your pal with a decent treat if you’ve asked them to do something, and they have done it. This will move them to repeat those habits consecutively.
But the thing with treats is it’s hard to carry them around everywhere, thus making their availability challenging. Specific health issues or allergies may also prevent you from applying this trick.
Fun up the Training
The training itself sounds like a sturdy, monotonous task, and portraying it exactly so would only make it worse. Add multiple sparks of joy and zeal to complete the training session full of fun. Try keeping it short and engaging. If you observe your puppy acting off and spacing out, try scheduling the session for another time. Make training more relaxing and less like a chore, and end it on a calming and fun note for you and your pup. Turn it into a playful sport or invigorating amusement.
Mental Stimulation helps
Boredom can set off even the liveliest of souls. Behavioral problems can arise out of boredom or a monotonous routine. To keep that on hold, make the training more stimulating physically and mentally. Indulge in brain-teasing activities to keep them active and cheerful all the time.
Involve everyone
Good values trickle down in the family, so you must include all the members while training your dog. Make sure that all members follow the basic etiquette of avoiding shouting, yelling, using harsh tones, using strict leash rules, etc. Let the adult members handle the more heavy-lifting part of the training. At the same time, the responsibility of rewarding small treats to the pup should be handed over to the younger ones in the family.
This also requires you to establish good communication with your pet. The first step toward good communication is eliminating fear in teaching manners. Instead of punishing them for the unwanted behavior, resort to appraisal when they perform the desired behavior.
Strengthening the bond forms the essence of positive reinforcement for pets while being present and more involved. Treats and games are fun and good, but at the end of the day, those bushy tails and bright eyes appreciate nothing more than a pleasurable moment of joy spent with you. Be that ideal parent. Your pet looks forward to spending time with you rather than scooting away in fear of avoiding punishment. Above are some tips to ease your task of regulating positive reinforcement. Stay tuned to Jaldee Vets blogs for more insights on your pup’s behavioral and health habits.