Building a relationship with a dog and learning what kind of training supports their welfare and lifestyle can be one of the most rewarding experiences. When done right, it builds trust, strengthens your bond, and creates a happier home for both of you. I’ve found that using humane dog training methods makes all the difference. Plus, these methods have been highly researched and proven effective in dog training and across species in the zoo environment. These approaches focus on understanding who your dog is as a sentient being, their evolutionary history, and what types of training match their needs and the needs of your household, rather than punishment or fear (methods that clearly don't work when looking at long-term change and the research). Today, I want to share how you can utilize positive reinforcement techniques to help your dog learn and thrive.
Why Choose Humane Dog Training Methods?
Humane dog training methods prioritize your dog’s emotional well-being. Instead of using harsh corrections or intimidation, these methods encourage the development of new behaviors through rewards and positive experiences. This approach not only teaches your dog what you want but also makes training enjoyable for both of you.
Here are some key benefits of humane training:
Centers the welfare of our dog
Builds a strong, positive relationship.
Requires you to observe your dog, which deepens your understanding
Encourages consistent, reliable behavior
Reduces fear and stress in your dog
Makes training sessions fun and engaging
The Foundation: Get to Know YOUR Amazing Dog
While you are learning about and trying to apply positive reinforcement, it is crucial that you also spend time getting to know your dog. This is lifelong work and the key to figuring out what to train in the first place.
Just because someone says "your dog needs to learn to sit" doesn't mean that is actually good for your dog. For instance, my dog has a chronic back issue. It took months of advocating with her veterinarian to get the X-rays that proved what I had observed in my dog. At the same time, I was still trying to teach her to sit, instead of jump on people. She was struggling with the process of learning to sit, even though she was thriving when learning other behaviors. I could have easily lost my patience and called her "stubborn" and continued to try to use positive reinforcement to get her to sit. However, the pain she was experiencing was making the entire process aversive. I stopped training a sit, because I learned more about my sweet Venus. Her relief and trust in me grew, because I listened.
Here are 4 areas to continually explore as you Get to Know your Dog using the LEGS Framework built by the Family Dog Mediator program:
Self: What are your dogs internal conditions like? For instance, health, age, reproductive status, any medical issues.
Genetics: What genes does your dog carry that might influence his behavior? We humans have artificially selected genes for many of our breeds. These can influence behavior. It is important to know this as we continue to support the welfare or our dogs and our own lifestyles.
Environment: What do your dog's external conditions, his home environment and daily lifestyle look like? How does her current environment compare to the habitat and conditions for which she was bred?
Learning: What kind of life experiences has the dog had? Were they well socialized as a puppy? What are some good or bad habits they have developed?
All sessions with me start with personalized understanding of your dog before building a training plan.
How Positive Reinforcement Works in Dog Training
Once you have a solid understanding of your dog, you can begin to develop some items to train based on your knowledge. For instance, letting your dogs sniff and explore the environment on walks is an important part of being a dog. They need this experience to support their welfare. They also need to learn how to do this safely and be able to look to you for important information or to make a U-Turn quickly when you see a potential trigger approaching. Therefore, after understanding your dog, you may choose to use positive reinforcement to train a U-Turn to get out of sticky situations.
So, how do we use Positive reinforcement to train behaviors. Positive Reinforcement is all about rewarding your dog when they do something right. This could be a treat, praise, a favorite toy, or even a quick play session. The goal is to make the behavior so rewarding that your dog wants to repeat it. Food is the best reinforcement, because it is a primary reinforcement. Food has an inherent, biological value that satisfies a basic need.
For example, to begin training a U-Turn, I always start at home in a calm environment and get to a 90 - 100% success rate, before slowly and intentionally introducing out in the world.
Here’s how to get started with positive reinforcement:
Choose the right reward - Find what motivates your dog most. For example, food, experiences (wanting to go out the door), and toys. Notice if your dog is not comfortable taking food, especially high-value treats, in certain environments. This often denotes your dog is stressed.
Be timely - Give the reward right after the desired behavior so your dog connects the two. For a U-Turn, at home, I will grab a handful of high-value treats and get my dog's attention and give a treat. Then, I'll start walking a few steps in one direction. My dog will likely follow me, because I have the goods in my hand. After a few steps, I'll turn my body and throw a treat in the new direction. As soon as my dog's body turns and goes after the treat, I'll mark with a "Yes". Running after a treat is highly reinforcing.
Keep training sessions short - Dogs learn best in short bursts, about 5-10 minutes at a time. I love to grab 5-10 treats and stop training when the treats have run out.
Be consistent - Use the same commands and rewards every time. Once your dog understands the game of turning and chasing a treat when your body turns, you can start using a verbal cue, like "This Way." Eventually, your dog will hear your verbal cue and immediately turn in the opposite direction ready to go the new direction.
Practical Tips to for using Positive Reinforcement Techniques
Now that you know the basics, let’s get practical. Here are some tips that have worked well for me and many dog owners:
Use high-value treats: Save special treats for training only. This keeps your dog excited and motivated.
Mark the behavior: Use a clicker or a consistent word like “Yes!” to mark the exact moment your dog does the right thing.
Start at home and the yard first: Train and practice new behaviors at home first and then, once solid at home, begin to slowly introduce in settings away from the home.
Be patient and calm: Dogs pick up on your energy. Stay relaxed and positive, even if progress is slow.
Break down complex behaviors: Teach one step at a time.
Cooperative Care: Work with your vet to come up with 1-2 behaviors you can train at home that will help them feel more comfortable at the vet and be able to feel more at ease with needles, creams, and having their bodies touched.
Remember, every dog learns at their own pace. Celebrate small wins and keep sessions fun.
Building a Stronger Bond Through Training
Training isn’t just about obedience. It’s a chance to connect with your dog on a deeper level. When you use humane dog training methods, you’re showing your dog that you respect and care for them. This builds trust and makes your dog feel safe.
I’ve found that training sessions become special moments where my dog and I communicate without words. It’s a shared language of cues, rewards, and affection. This bond makes everyday life easier and more joyful.
To strengthen your connection:
Spend quality time together outside of training
Use gentle touch and soothing tones
Pay attention to your dog’s body language
Celebrate progress with play and praise
Training is a journey, not a race. Enjoy every step with your dog, because as you know their lives on this earth are way too short.