Dogs will naturally do things that we don't want them to do. They will chew anything that they can get their teeth on, they will bark like there is no tomorrow, they will pee and poo where they please, they will dig holes and destroy the backyard, and so on. If we want the dog to behave, we must train him. Dogs do not possess the ability to learn proper behavior on their own.

There are two basic methods of dog training - positive and negative reinforcement. Most experts in the field of animal behavior recommend positive reinforcement as a primary method of training.

Positive reinforcement is a punishment-free training method where the trainer rewards a dog for good behavior. A desired behavior is reinforced with rewards such as treats, verbal praises, toys, and so on. The dog will associate something positive for specific behavior and this will increase the likelihood of performing that behavior in the future. Eventually he or she will do it with no tricks or treats.

The opposite of positive reinforcement in a negative reinforcement where the trainer delivers a punishment, or negative consequence, when the dog performs an undesirable behavior. Punishment gets the dog to stop doing something. Negative reinforcement is connected to misbehavior.

Most experts agree that dog friendly training based on positive reinforcement is more effective that negative reinforcement. It's not associated with fear, discomfort, pain, or avoiding something and in general produces better results.

Although the main training method should be positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement does have its role in the training process. But it should be used very carefully, because it can produce a significant long-lasting negative effects.

I myself always use mainly positive reinforcement techniques to train my dogs and I love training them. This builds a strong relationship and it's a great way to bond. Always remember, a well behaved dog is a happy dog and a credit to its owner.

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3. Know The Different Types of Dog Training
4. The Dog Training Basics You Must Know
5. Here Is What You Can Do To Stop Dog Chasing

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