LIFESTYLE NEWS - Positive reinforcement when training dogs, is not simply about giving treats for good behaviour and ignoring unwanted behaviour. There is so much more to it. 

Qualified local animal behaviourist George van Huyssteen of Neuro Paws explains more about this subject. 

"I hear people about positive reinforcement when training dogs, so all you have to do is give treats and ignore anything you don't want the dog to do. I have tried that, and I am telling you now that it does not work," says Van Huyssteen. 

Positive reinforcement-based training is often misunderstood and misrepresented. Many people genuinely don't understand how it works and think it is a matter of simply supplying food all day long for what you would like to happen. So here are a few myths regarding positive reinforcement in dog training.

1. Positive reinforcement-based training is often mistakenly seen as permissive, but it's far from it. Before I delved into learning theory, I, too, was unaware of the depth of positive reinforcement. 

I used to think it was just about giving treats for good behaviour, which seemed absurd. 

However, positive reinforcement-based trainers don't just reward desired behaviours; they also employ humane techniques to prevent unwanted behaviours from being reinforced. 

These techniques, such as antecedent arrangement (setting up the environment to encourage the desired behaviour), reinforcement of alternative behaviours (teaching the dog a different behaviour to replace the unwanted one), and, in some cases, negative punishment (removing a desired stimulus to discourage an unwanted behaviour), are part of a complex, thoughtful process that requires careful thought and planning. 

Positive reinforcement-based training isn't a casual approach; it's a precise and deliberate method to train a dog.

2. Positive reinforcement trainers have a deep concern for the well-being of dogs and aim to shield them from aversive experiences. This commitment to the dog's well-being is at the core of their training approach. 

They acknowledge the challenge of completely protecting dogs from all mild to moderate aversive stimuli in life. Dogs often face various aversive stimuli, such as heat, loud noises, unsocial other dogs, or vet visits, which can be distressing for them. 

While advocating for minimising the use of aversive stimuli in training, it's important to recognise that dogs may encounter unavoidable aversive experiences at times. 

For instance, when a thunder-phobic dog seeks refuge from a storm, he hides inside the house, reflecting a natural negative reinforcement as the dog is comforted by escaping the thundering noise. 

Nevertheless, leveraging a dog's fear in training to elicit a specific behaviour is not in line with the caring approach of positive reinforcement trainers

3. I want to emphasise a crucial point regarding dog training. Positive reinforcement-based trainers do not always ignore bad behaviour. It might be easy to imagine a pet owner indulging in their pet's undesirable behaviour, such as jumping on people, rummaging through the trash, and surfing the counters. However, that is not at all how we approach unwanted behaviour. 

Here is what we actually do: 

1) We prevent the behaviour from happening in the first place, 

2) We teach the dog an alternative, acceptable behaviour, and 

3) Occasionally, we use negative punishment. It's crucial to understand that ignoring reinforced behaviours does not make them go away. However, there are two specific situations where "ignoring" is used in training. 

First, when we are training new behaviours and associating a verbal cue with them, in these cases, if the dog makes a mistake, nothing happens – we do not reward the behaviour. 

However, it's important to note that we are not dealing with ingrained, harmful behaviour that is being reinforced in some other way. It's simply a mistake in learning a new behaviour. 

The other situation where ignoring might be used is when the animal's behaviour is being reinforced with attention. Even in this case, we would not rely solely on ignoring as a training technique.

4. Positive reinforcement-based trainers do not unknowingly use punishment techniques. While some claim that withholding a reward constitutes punishment, it is actually a process called extinction. Extinction is a behavioural term that refers to the gradual disappearance of behaviour when it is no longer reinforced. 

As long as there are no positive consequences for the dog's incorrect behaviour, it will eventually stop. Trainers using negative punishment are fully aware of its application. It is crucial to acknowledge that certain tools can be used aversively, so trainers diligently implement counterconditioning and teach the dog alternative behaviours to eliminate any potential discomfort. This approach starkly contrasts with the use of the aversive properties of training equipment.

5. Positive reinforcement-based training can indeed be stressful, but this is usually due to trainer errors or unintended aversive situations. It's unfair to claim that a method involving rewarding a dog for good behaviour is as aversive as a method using discomfort, pain, or intimidation.

Benefits of using positive reinforcement in dog training:

1. In educational and therapeutic settings, embracing positive reinforcement is key to cultivating a constructive and nurturing learning environment. Owners and dogs are more likely to engage, participate, and thrive when they feel that their efforts are valued and acknowledged.

2. Promoting consistency through positive reinforcement empowers individuals to recognise that their positive actions lead to favourable outcomes. This consistent approach is essential for behaviour modification as it assists individuals in establishing the correlation between their actions and rewards, ultimately contributing to lasting behavioural changes.

3. Positive reinforcement is essential for boosting a dog’s confidence and driving him to exhibit the desired behaviour consistently.

4. For me, the most critical aspect is that it is crucial for building trust and creating positive relationships between the person providing the reinforcement (owner/trainer) and the dog receiving it. When individuals feel valued and appreciated for their efforts, it contributes to a more supportive and uplifting environment.
As you can see from the above, it is not a matter of simply giving treats all the time; it is much more complicated than that.

Article by: George van Huyssteen (DipCAPT, CCAB, MHERA, CABPT)

As part of an educational drive, Van Huyssteen will answer readers' questions once a week on our website and social platforms. This way it could also help others facing similar problems with their pets.
Describe your challenges in a short email and send it to neuropaws@gmail.com.

Every week, he will select a question to answer.

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