The use of praise and positive reinforcement has been accepted as the most effective means of training for pet owners, and also preferred by dogs. Praise, as opposed to reprimand and beating, is the only method used to train wild animals like lions and tigers by professional trainers in the circus and movie sets.
Dog training professionals and veterinarians alike, agree almost entirely that praise as a training technique is far more effective, and likely to produce better results than any other training method.
The aspect of praise which makes it so effective is the fact that it uses the reward system to motivate the creature when he has done well. When the dog has behaved as expected by the trainer, he is then given a praise, usually in the form of a snack or a treat of some kind. Praise doesn’t necessarily need to be made of food though; it could simply be a scratch behind the ears or a tap on the forehead. As long as the dog is recognized for doing a job well done, it influences his behavior in a positive way.
Praise as a form of training has been going on for a long time. Although not as widely accepted as it is today. Usually, training took place in the form of reprimands and beatings. But humanity has slowly come to understand that this method is neither effective on humans or animals.
In order to better understand the history of praise as a training method, we must go back in time when dogs where used primarily to protect the herd from wolves. Speculation exists that the early dogs where simply domesticated wolves pups that where abandoned and taken in by humans. There are many similarities between dogs and wolves. One of the most apparent is the fact that they both hunt and live in packs, or groups. Their social structure for example, they both maintain a hierarchy in which every animal knows its place among the group.
It is in their instinctive nature to look up to the leader of the pack for guidance. In order for the trainer to be successful at his job, he must establish himself as the pack leader. The pack leader is not necessarily the strongest dog, although he usually is. This dog provides guidance to other dogs in the pack, leads the hunt, and basically tells others what to do. This social structure is crucial for their survival.
It is important for trainers to quickly establish themselves as the leader of the pack. When watching the behavior of puppies in a litter, one can quickly notice patterns of behavior among them, in which some are strong tempered leaders and others are submissive, and soon a leader will appear, even as they play dog games.
For obvious reasons submissive dogs will be easier to train than the hard headed ones. However, they all seem to respond very well to positive praise, and should not pose any problems when training. Positive reinforcement has also proven to be very useful when treating dogs who have been abused. These dogs are usually shy and refuse to interact with people and other dogs. The use of praise is very important when trying to restore these dogs.
Regardless of the breed of dog you own, and the type of training you wish to impalement, chances are you will use praise as a training method.
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