What is positive education of a dog?

Positive canine education is a learning that is based on the stimulation of the dog through a reward. It not only guarantees the good emotional state of your pet, but also a continuous and sustainable learning.

Not pulling your leash too much during walks, cleaning or socializing are examples of things your dog can learn through the prism of positive canine training. ¡ To avoid behavioral problems, it is best to start as soon as possible!

What is the ideal age to educate your dog?

The most propitious period for learning positive dog education is between 2 and 18 months, since their behavior is not shaped by habits. However, there is no age limit because the dog learns his whole life.

Obedience is learned: it is not something innate in the dog. However, some breeds, such as sheepdogs and those that need physical and mental exercise, feel more comfortable learning. A dog’s training is also not the same with an aggressive barking dog as with a docile dog. If the behavior of a dog is characterized by aggressiveness, it is advisable to resort to a specialist as a dog behavioral educator to eliminate bad behaviors.

How long and how often do your education sessions take?

They must be short so that your pet remains focused and frequent to favor the assimilation of behavior. Therefore, it is recommended not to exceed 10 minutes per session and not more than 3 minutes per exercise. However, you can repeat these 10 minutes several times a day.

How to schedule your positive dog education sessions?

At the beginning of the positive canine education session, if your dog is very restless, you may prefer quiet exercises such as lying down. On the contrary, if your dog lacks motivation, give priority to recreational activities such as the ball relationship. In addition, it is necessary to adapt the difficulty to the age of your partner. For example, you can learn the «sitting» from 2 months of age. When it comes to walking on a leash it is best to wait 4 to 6 months.

What kind of prizes can be used?

There are several possible types of reward for positive dog education such as:

Candy: This award is better if you are at the beginning of a learning, as it is a real engine. You can use Small Japhy Treats from knacks or even sausages (in low doses because they are very caloric). ¡ In short you can vary the pleasures!

Caress: This reward is only used when the behavior is rooted. It is advisable to have a focus on the side of the head or on the neck. The treat is very useful but too much used becomes a potential source of obesity.

Voice: This reward is only used when the behavior is consolidated. It is also advisable to adopt a high voice to reward. As father of dog gaga you know well this voice timbre.

Games: It is a special reward that is only used at the end of the session to not lose the concentration of your hair ball. It can be hard enough to win like this...

The three main learning methods

Partnership learning for positive dog education

This method consists of associating an order and a consequence to a behavior.

It therefore includes the concepts of empowerment and punishment.

There are two types of reinforcement: the positive reinforcement that aims to anchor a behavior rewarding the animal and the negative reinforcement that consists of making disappear a behavior by using an unpleasant element that ceases as soon as the dog stops. For this last objective you can also use the negative punishment that consists in making disappear a pleasant element for the animal.

The «clicker training » for positive dog education

You can also follow the clicker training method for positive dog education. This method involves using a clicker that is a small box that emits a sound. It allows you to positively validate and reinforce a behavior while participating in the intellectual expense of your dog.

How does it work? Let’s take the example of learning the «sitting». You can start by clicking and rewarding directly through a treat. Then, ask your pet to sit through the voice and/or put a treat on his or her head. When it performs what it wants validate it by clicking and then it is rewarded with a treat. And ready!

Thus, the method of clicker training is articulated around three learning techniques: the lure technique that consists of accompanying your dog with a treat to adopt a behavior. The technique of catching involves clicking on an attitude that your dog does naturally (for example: barking when someone gets to shake out after being washed...)

Finally the technique of technical forming, which is used more in complex learning as it deconstructs a task in several stages.

Complex, but not so much, as it is explained a little below!

Imitation or observation learning for positive dog education

This method consists in having your dog reproduce a behavior performed by an individual regularly in contact with him (for example, the other dog in the family). Let’s take the example of «give the paw». Ask an experienced dog to do it in the presence of your dog and then reward. So your dog will perform the task to reward himself.

Learning from complex actions

This technique aims to increasingly reward the intermediate stages of a desired behaviour. When the dog reaches a step, reward and then go to the next step.

For example, you want to teach your dog to return a ball. At first it is rewarded when it goes to the ball and then once it has passed at least 4 out of 5 times it is passed to the next step that consists in bringing back the ball and repeat the previous step before passing to «give the ball».

The practical application

Let’s take the example of «learning not to jump»

Firstly, we must understand the reason for this gesture so as not to reinforce undesirable behaviour. So when your dog jumps on you it seeks your attention. Therefore, if you respond with a caress or a look it will have won. On the other hand it should be noted that this behavior is innate because it is in the relationship puppy/ adult dog so sanctioning here would be a mistake. So let’s look together at the learning stages and behaviors to follow.

The beginning of learning

The steps to follow require you to have taught your dog in advance the «sitting» and also require the presence of another human who will understand why. First, place 3 meters from the person with the leash of the puppy and ask him to sit. Then ask your assistant to approach you as he looks at you and smiles. At that precise moment the puppy agitates and tries to jump. The person should immobilize and look away with an expressionless face. As soon as your dog stops rewarding and then renews the step. Once your dog has realized that you need to wait calmly, you can move on to step 2.

This step is to redo step 1 with this time your dog sitting from start to finish. At each step, the person can congratulate you through the voice. When you pass this step in its entirety, congratulate him with a treat. As for daily driving, it is important not to be contradictory, as your dog has difficulty distinguishing situations.

What are the limits of positive education in a dog?

It is important not to fall in the end. In fact, your dog needs a frame and limits, so it is necessary to be firm and uncompromising when necessary. The important thing is to find the right balance.

Not rewarding excessively is a good thing because a dog too rewarded is a dog that will potentially bring out all the tricks he knows in any sauce in order to get his treat. Education must go in both directions and above all it must be a moment of complicity between you.

Conclusion

Positive dog education is a technique aimed at reinforcing desirable behaviors without falling into the «no limit». It is important to set a frame to your pet to allow its good development in the world around you. Currently, there are several techniques available so you can adapt to the personality of your dog. Choose the one that suits you!