Dog Advice Topic: What is Reward Based Training

Bella,
I wrote to you before asking about compulsion training but now I'm wondering about the alternative of reward based training. Can you explain that to me?
-New Trainer in Naperville

NTiN,
The concept behind reward based training techniques is that a positive response is given immediately during or after a desired behavior. The intended result is that the animal learns that the performed behavior has a positive result and therefore will want to perform the behavior in the future. The most common type of positive response that is used in dog training is food rewards but depending on the dog, access to toys, attention from people or playing with other dogs can be used as a reward also. For example, when a dog greets a person by sitting down, as soon as the dog's bottom hits the ground they get a treat. The concept is that the dog learns that if he sits when he meets a person he will get something good and therefore he will want to do it again.

And that's the bark on the street!
Bark up!
Bella

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