Keeping It Positive
If you worked hard and successfully completed a project, wouldn't you appreciate a bonus? And once you received the bonus, wouldn't you try really hard the next time so that you could earn another bonus? Of course you would. The same is true for your dog.
Keep the treats in your pocket or in an open fanny pack so you can give one to your dog the minute she does what you want her to do. You don't have time to walk to the kitchen and fetch a piece of food. If you wait too long to reward her, she will miss the connection.
The reward for a job well done is the basis of positive reinforcement. Using positive reinforcement to train your dog means giving him a reward immediately after he does what you've asked him to do. The reward is the most powerful tool you have in shaping his behavior.
Food Treats
When you're just beginning to train your dog, use the tastiest food treats you possibly can as extra incentive. Something small and soft works better than something crunchy. Your dog can gulp them down quickly, and immediately refocus his attention on you for more. Crunchy treats take longer to eat and your dog will be more concerned with the crumbs than paying attention to you.
Chicken and small pieces of leftover roast beef cooked with garlic, cheese, or apple slices work well. These are easy to use, but you can also motivate your dog to work well for you with his favorite toys or a special, loving pat on his chest coupled with a few upbeat “attaboys.”
Every time you give your dog a treat, back it up with verbal praise in a happy tone of voice. This gives your dog a double reward, and the praise can be used instead of a treat if one isn't available.
Shaping Behavior
When you first start training your dog, give him a treat every time he does what you want. If you want to reinforce something close to the behavior you're training, such as shaking hands, make him do a little more before you give him the treat. At first, give him a treat for just lifting his paw. Once he has that behavior mastered, only treat him for lifting his paw higher. And once that behavior is established, treat him only when he touches your hand.
Ignore undesirable behavior. If your dog knows the command and doesn't perform it when you ask, don't give him the treat. Try another behavior or repeat the command and place him in the right position. When he complies, be sure to reward him either with food or lavish praise.
Once your dog knows a behavior, taper off on the treats. Reward him with a treat three out of four times, and then two out of four times. Eventually, you'll be rewarding him only occasionally, but always give plenty of verbal praise. Dogs are smart, so vary the times you hand out the reward so that he repeats the behavior, thinking that he'll eventually get what he wants.
