HOW A DOG LEARNS GOOD BEHAVIOR
Dogs are instinctual and are influenced by patterned behavior.
LEARNING BY TRIAL & ERROR
A dog that is investigating a porcupine might not get hurt the first couple of times. However, the time they get hurt by a quill they will learn not to bother the porcupine again.
REWARDED BEHAVIOR IS REPEATED
Your dog will continue behaviors that offer reward or favorable outcome. Our trial-and-error friend sees a porcupine again and chooses to move out of its way.
A puppy that investigates the counter-top because it can smell something good jumps up and steals the food. They will counter surf again in search of a reward for their behavior.
Any behavior that is met with praise and reward will teach the dog to repeat the behavior.
GIVE ATTENTION FOR GOOD BEHAVIOR
When your dog/puppy is barking inside their crate out of boredom, continue to ignore them. When they have willingly chosen to be quiet then I can let them out of the crate. I showed them they have to be quiet to be let out.
Call your puppy’s name from across the room when they come over you will give them a food reward. Your little friend gets out of the house later that day, but you are able to safely recall them by calling their name and they respond expecting a reward that you give them the moment they return to you.
Dogs do learn to avoid behaviors that have negative outcomes or correction.
A DOG LEARNS BY REWARDS AND CORRECTIONS
They will adjust their behavior accordingly. A dog rewards itself by sniffing and scavenging the ground when walking if they are not redirected by their person. They will continue to do so because they might find food or objects when scavenging.
Your puppy will lunge at another pup and cause uncomfortable tension on the leash. He will continues pulling several times and continues to cause tension each time he lunges. After several attempts he will choose to stand relaxed on your left side.
Your puppy eagerly lets you slide the puppy coat over their head at an early age because you praise and reward them every time you place it over their head.
I will always correct or reward behavior as soon as they occur. Remember that correction and reward affect the outcome of later behaviors.
I JUST DON’T UNDERSTAND
You cannot correct a dog that got into the trash 10 minutes ago when you just discovered the trash on the floor. They will not understand why they are being corrected.
The puppy bites another puppy too hard when they are playing and the other pup snaps their teeth quickly in your pup’s face as a warning. The correction was timed well so your pup understand that the other pup doesn’t want to play roughly.
Never correct behaviors like housebreaking accidents, counter surfing, getting into the trash, or destructive chewing if you did not see them do it. You have to think like a dog to train a dog.