Emphasise rewards when your dog responds to you.
Emphasising rewards when your dog responds to simple commands such as sit, down, wait or stay
and strong praise with high-value rewards that are special to your dog.
Rewarding your dog for carrying out a training command/exercise or right behaviour means that the likelihood of this being repeated next time is high.
Using strong clear-cut rewards to mark behaviours or training only strengthen what is required.
These include using clickers or whistles.
Rewards to your dog are very important not only because they mark the behaviour we required, but
your dog enjoys them.
Make training part of your daily routine with your dog and make rewarding with high value treats
part of your dog’s daily routine. We have treats so why shouldn’t our dogs.
A reward is not a bribe, it is a reward for carrying out the right behaviour or training command. The more you mark the behaviour (reward it) then more your dog will respond to the right behaviour next time you ask him or her to carry it out.
Forms of rewards can include:
- Food
- Toys
- Play
- Touch
- Voice
Remember: Rewarding your dog is one of the most powerful tools for either shaping, changing your
dog’s behaviour or teaching your dog what is required.