Too Much Praise?

"Praise your Dog!"

Have you heard those words often especially in dog training?

Praise provides feedback that tells your dog, "You did well," but it becomes meaningless if given without consideration for the behavior preceding it.

Ineffective accolades before discounts what should be an anticipated reward.

Consistency is the key to any good training method. It includes using properly timed praise to reward desired behaviors.

Withholding praise lets your dog know she missed the mark and must try again to earn rewards. A correction can be the withholding of praise, food, or a toy, followed always with the reward once the desired behavior is achieved. Use, "Try again," when withholding praise, so your dog learns that additional effort brings success and the highly valued praise that means a job well done.

Is Your Dog an Obedience School"Drop Out"?

Is your dog an obedience school "drop out"? If not, congratulations! You've done a great job. But if your dog has failed to learn his lessons ... you are not alone.

I know lots of dogs that are obedience school flunkies, so to speak. I say this in a fun way, but if your dog is untrained or poorly trained, you know that there's nothing fun about it.

Some dog owners don't want a dog that is trained. But it is fun to have a dog that is well behaved, or one who will do tricks. If you are one of those people who would like to have this kind of dog, it is never too late to teach a dog new tricks.

The best way to teach or train a dog is to use positive reinforcement. Give praise or treats when the dog does what you want.

How do you do that?

After a "correct" response, immediately reward your dog. This should be done within one to two seconds of the command. If you wait too long to give the reward, your dog may not understand the connection between his good behavior and the treat.



For motivation and rewards, treats and praise work great.

Another great motivator is praise. A pat on the head or some cheerful words can be very effective motivators for many dogs.

Many pet stores have weekly training sessions for dogs and puppies. This can be a great way for your dog to start learning new "tricks".

But don't worry even if your dog is an obedience school drop out. All dogs are loveable! But remember - it is never too late.