Reward based training normally means giving your dog a treat after he has done something that you simply wanted him to do. Nonetheless, there are problems involved in using treats in case you don’t use a correct approach and plan how and when to offer out treats you might find yourself with a treat junkie in your hands.
What’s a treat?
A treat is something that your dog likes to eat or play with. Nonetheless, for it to have a big impact the treat needs to be something your dog thinks is basically special. You would possibly should try various things to seek out this out as dogs have individual tastes similar to us. Most dogs love liver treats, cheese or kabana so you might start with these. Your dog might just love food and be willing to simply accept anything – even stale bread. Whatever you select to make use of, be prepared that your dog may find that the treat is becoming boring in time. If so, try something different that may stimulate and reactivate his interest in your training sessions.
How do I give treats?
Dogs don’t understand size thoroughly. A treat is a treat; an entire sausage has the identical value as liver chip the scale of a 5c piece. The easiest way is to make your treats small when your dog has done something really special, give him two or more fairly than one big one. Then he’ll see that his efforts have been rewarded.
You need to only use your treats when you’re training. Do not be tempted to offer your dog a treat when he isn’t training. Dogs don’t understand undeserved rewards – of their minds they should earn all the things.
Give the treat to your dog when it has followed your command and performed the behaviour. For those who cannot give it to him immediately, praise him with a high voice, then give the treat when the dog is closer to you.
When should I stop giving treats?
You need to all the time reward your dog for doing what you would like him to do. Nonetheless, you’ve got to coach them to not consider they will get a treat each time. Sometimes a pat or a form remark, reminiscent of ‘good dog’ are reward enough. When a dog has undergone lots of training he’ll need to perform and give you the results you want because he enjoys it and he enjoys working with you. He has got to a stage where learning and doing the tasks you ask him to do is reward enough.
How do I wean my dog off treats?
Dogs learn in stages. If you find yourself training your dog you’re showing him what to do. You will have to offer him a treat after each attempt. When he has learnt the behaviour, reminiscent of sit or stay, and just must practise it, then he’s within the training phase. That is whenever you stop giving treats after each behaviour. Give him a treat 3 times, then a pat. Then one treat, then 2 pats. Mix things up a bit. Your dog will work harder to get the treat and luxuriate in his training more.
How do I do know I’ve got a treat junkie on my hands?
A treat junkie is a dog that will not do anything unless his owner has a treat in his hand. Most dogs get to this stage before their owners realise that it has happened. Follow the rules within the paragraph above regarding when to wean your dog off treats. Don’t surrender; it doesn’t take long to show a treat junkie right into a completely satisfied well trained dog.
What’s the difference between a treat and a reward?
A treat is given after each behaviour when the dog is within the teaching phase of learning; (sit, drop or stay for instance). It will likely be some sort of food. We use treats in basic training and clicker training to implement behaviours that we would like the dog to do and repeat. Treats are given after the dog has followed a command and accomplished the behaviour.
A reward may be the identical as a treat, but you can too reward your dog by fidgeting with his favourite toy after training or making an enormous fuss of him when he has done an awesome job. A reward may be going to the beach or your favourite park after an excellent training session.
