DSPU: Positive Reinforcement + Operant Conditioning
Positive reinforcement is all about controlling the environment. If your dog performs a certain behavior and something good happens, he’s likely to increase performing that behavior. However, if your dog performs a behavior that results in a negative consequence, over time he’ll learn to decrease that behavior. Anything the dog likes and enjoys is fair game to train with. Verbal cues, hand signals, treats, clickers, toys, and even games are used to help modify behavior, correct bad habits, and even to teach tricks. Training utilizes both positive reinforcement (giving rewards) and negative consequences (taking away rewards.)
It's important to keep in mind that ‘Positive’ and ‘negative’ aren’t good and bad things, they only refer to adding something or taking something away respectively:
- Positive reinforcement – Increases behavior by adding something the dog sees as pleasant. Example: Giving high praise or a treat if your dog sits when asked.
- Negative consequence – Decreases behavior by taking something away that’s desirable. Example: You want to play fetch, but your dog repeatedly jumps up and tries to snatch the toy. You can hold the toy in such a way that he knows he will not get it until he stops and relaxes. He will learn you will only play fetch when he is calm and patiently waiting, thereby reducing jumping and snatching.
Additional operant conditioning may be needed when dealing with over aggression toward people or other dogs, house-training issues, and other unruly behavior. It is still implemented in a manner meant to do no harm, maintain harmony, and accomplish training and behavior modification without violating your dog’s trust. This includes:
- Positive consequence – Decreases behavior by adding something the dog sees as unpleasant. Example: Your dog jumps up and you turn away and ignore him.
- Negative reinforcement – Increases behavior by taking something away that’s unpleasant. Example: Pulling up on your dog’s collar until he sits. When he sits, you release the collar. So an unpleasant thing is removed when the behavior is performed.
Doggie Style Pets University graduates will feel secure around you and will be more willing to work with you and learn.