Earn a Dog's Trust with Positive Reinforcement

By Linda Cole

Dogs can be as difficult to figure out as humans are, but if we followed the same rule with our dogs as we do with people, we would treat them like we want to be treated. Dogs respond much better to positive reinforcement than they do to force. Training a dog with trust, respect and positive feelings is also much easier for the average dog owner. We should do no harm while interacting with our dogs. We often create unintended behavior by either not training our dogs or by not treating them with respect and understanding. Trust and respect goes two ways, and positive reinforcement will earn both. Gaining a dog's trust should be as important to us as that of another person.

Most dogs respond to us in the same manner we treat them. Affection, attention, understanding and patience are just as necessary when interacting with dogs as it is with children. We don't automatically get a child’s or dog's trust or respect just because we're bigger than they are. Both have to be earned, and positive reinforcement is the path to that goal.

I've been working with my ten month old Border Collie, Keikei. She was beginning to show food and leash aggression issues, and is still way too excited when we get ready to go outside, but she's a work in progress and doing a good job. Training her has been fun, even with her specific behavior problems, because she is willing and eager to learn. Using positive reinforcement to deal with her aggression and excitement issues has been more effective and faster than resorting to force. She's such a good girl and when I look in her eyes, I see a dog that wants to learn. By giving her the respect she deserves, I've gained her trust and respect, and she is happy to do what I ask.

Dogs should have only positive thoughts in their mind about us. I want my dogs to be happy to see me and be excited to learn what I'm trying to teach them. It doesn't matter if it takes a day, a month or longer to teach a dog something. The important thing is spending time with them in a positive way to reinforce your bond and keep their trust by being fair, consistent and patient at all times. Training a dog can be trying at times, but well worth the effort when you have your dog's trust and respect as his leader because he chooses to follow.

I don't believe in bad dogs or bad dog breeds. I do believe unacceptable dog behavior needs to be corrected before it becomes out of control, and changing their behavior is accomplished better by using positive reinforcement. Dogs are smart and they are capable of learning behavior from each other and their owner. Instead of forcing a dog to bend to your will, you teach a dog to do something because of mutual trust and respect. Dogs learn what we teach them, even when we don't realize we're teaching.

Dogs are just as imperfect as we are. Mistakes happen and at times, they can forget what we taught them. It's up to us as responsible dog owners to help our dogs maintain a positive frame of mind even when they need correction. If you have your dog's trust and respect, they know when you're disappointed or upset with them. The important thing about a dog's trust is that they know you will be fair and forgive them. Positive interaction with your pet is positive reinforcement.

Positive reinforcement isn't just about training and giving rewards. It's talking to them, petting them, snuggling with them, grooming and going for walks; this keeps the bond healthy and strong. When you love someone, you protect them, defend them, do what they ask and have trust and respect in their judgment. That's also how a dog sees you when you teach them using positive reinforcement, and why a dog is willing to follow.

Positive reinforcement makes a dog feel good about himself in the same way positive feedback gives us a good feeling. Treating him with respect earns his. Like us, dogs are social beings who enjoy the company of those who make them feel accepted and good. We have a positive image in our mind of people who have our respect, and that's how we want our dogs to see us. A dog's trust and respect goes hand-in-hand with positive reinforcement, and that's why it works.

Ruthie Bently’s article, Training Dogs with Kindness, relates a lesson she learned from her dog Nimber, and how she came to realize that respect and kindness will always get better results than bullying.

Photo by Beth Loft

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Positive Reinforcement: The Power of Praise

By Linda Cole

Dogs and cats are social creatures, and they respond to positive and negative interaction with us. Some days it seems like the only thing I say to my pets is no or stay down. It's easy to see things they do wrong and correct them for it, but they also need praise from us – lots of praise. You can see their eyes light up when you tell them how good they are. Positive reinforcement is a powerful motivator for even the most stubborn pet. There is a correlation between a pet's healthy state of mind and praise.

As responsible pet owners, we understand pets need to feel good about themselves just as much as we do. They can pick up on our negativity and respond to us just like we would to a negative person. A pet who is constantly yelled at has no idea how to please his owner or how to know what's expected. What you say, how you say it and the tone of your voice, along with your body language, tells pets everything they need to know about us.

Of course, you can't praise a pet who attacked the garbage container in the kitchen or left a “surprise” on the living room carpet while you were gone, but how those situations are handled makes a difference to pets. Yelling does no good because even though they look like they know why they're being yelled at, they don't. You can, however, give them positive reinforcement without giving them praise. Pets don't do things on purpose to make you angry, but a bored pet will find ways to entertain himself and some pets can only hold it for so long before they give in to their need. The best thing you can do is clean up without saying a word and learn how to prevent future episodes. In your pet's eyes, he did nothing wrong and yelling will only confuse him. Ruthie Bently wrote an excellent article on how to discipline a dog.

Praise is the most effective way to train a dog or cat. Positive reinforcement makes a pet eager to do what's asked of them. A dog will accept any command as long as he knows what you want. Think back when you were in school. Most likely, your favorite teacher was the one who made you feel good about yourself with positive reinforcement. Learning was fun and rewarding, and you wanted to perform well in class because of it. Now, remember the teacher who was always critical and you never knew what they expected from you. Learning was more of a chore and you didn't respect that teacher. It's the same way with pets. You want your pet to have positive thoughts about you, and sincere praise means everything to them.

Positive reinforcement and honest praise creates a pet who accepts you as their leader because you've demonstrated fairness and respect to them. Dogs follow you from room to room because they want to be with you. They sit a little straighter and puff out their chest, their eyes light up and tails wag with enthusiasm when you look at them. Cats purr a little louder and give cat kisses with their eyes. It's at that moment you know you've earned their trust, and it's accomplished with positive reinforcement from sincere praise.

Sometimes pets need discipline, but it can still be accomplished in a manner that doesn't belittle the pet or leave negative feelings in their mind. The only thing hitting, kicking or yelling at a pet will teach them is that their owner is not a leader nor respectful of them and doesn't deserve their trust or respect.

Pets give you positive reinforcement when they curl up on your lap or lay beside you on the couch or next to your chair. Because they want to be with you every chance they get, it reinforces your bond with them. Every time they rub against you or look at you with satisfaction, that's their way of giving you praise.

The power of praise and positive reinforcement is so strong, it can help a dog or cat with behavior problems modify their behavior to one that's more acceptable, as long as you take the time to help them. A responsible pet owner understands what type of praise works best and can use it to maintain their pet's positive state of mind. Dogs and cats need you to show them by your positive actions how you want them to act. By using praise with an appropriate tone of voice, you will have happy, well adjusted pets who do what you ask because they want to, not because they were forced to comply.

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