If you want to reward your dog and not to cause any harm by doing so, you need to take it responsibly and think about it. It doesn’t matter if it is about a treat, caressing, compliment or a game.
For most dogs, positive motivation works. You can have brilliant results with it in obedience or practising new tricks. It doesn’t matter how you decide to reward your dog or if you change the types of rewards. It isn’t probably a surprise that the most common reward is a treat. Caressing, a favourite toy, a short game or a simple compliment and showing you’re happy might also work well.
With regard to treats, the most important thing in order not to mess with your dog’s health is to pick suitable treats. Your dog might be very obedient if you have a pocket full of bacon or biscuits but you might cause obesity or other health problems to your dog because of this. Fortunately, there are many healthy dog treats and even treats specifically designed for training on the market nowadays.
A treat pouch is practical for treats. When you have the right rewards prepared in it, you can start with training. However, you need to remember that not only the form of a reward but also its timing is very important. It has to come immediately after doing the requested task and the dog needs to know why it got the treat. A clicker might be great for this as you can do this signal even from a distance. You can read here about how to work with it.
It also needs to be mentioned that rewards shouldn’t be regular. It’s very appropriate to change it. And it doesn’t matter if you change the kind of reward or just a kind of treat. It needs to be unpredictable for the dog and therefore more attractive. The size of the reward should also equal to what we ask the dog for. So, if it obeys your command “Sit”, the reward won’t be the same as for catching prey.
Regular rewards are good for the stage of explaining and learning. And when the dogs know the commands well and definitely knows what you want it to do, it is time for variable rewards. The expectation provides the dog with the necessary energy, increases its activity and even releases dopamine.
For some dogs, even the activity itself might be a reward. It mainly applies to sports during which adrenaline is released (e.g. jumping within agility). This is because adrenaline is an addictive substance and the dog can easily become addicted to it. However, this might be also harmful if it crosses a certain line. If the dog rewards itself by doing a certain activity, we lose control over it and it loses its concentration. See the videos of dogs that run across the playground after agility like crazy. :)
For the end, remember that a dog should always exercise with joy. If it isn’t in the mood or the activity bores it, take a break. Do not force your dog to do any task. If it is needed, find a way to make training more attractive for it. It might be rewards, the environment or also inviting another dog companion to join you.
If you’re thinking about starting canistherapy with your four-legged friend, but you don’t know whether you would manage, here you will find a brief overview of the characteristics your dog is supposed to have and what he should all know.
Dermatological problems are one of the most frequent reasons of veterinary visits. Cats often suffer from them as well. A skin problem may appear due to several reasons and you may not notice it immediately. Also because of the time that cats devote to...
Toxocariasis is the most frequent parasitosis in dogs and cats. If we want to keep both ourselves and our pets safe, regular deworming is necessary. Do you know what’s behind this disease and how it’s transmitted?
If you’re thinking about getting a rabbit, maybe you will find handy a bit of advice how to house him at home. A rabbit has certain needs as any other animal and it’s up to us, the owners, to make its life as comfortable as possible.
Holiday time is approaching fast and maybe you’re considering where to go with your four-legged friend. If you’d like to go camping, there are certainly many things you should consider. You have to plan and pack not only for yourself, but also for your...
Zoonoses are diseases common to both animals and humans. Are you interested in how such a disease can be transmitted, which ones are we at risk of in the Czech Republic or how to defend against them?
Guinea pigs are one of the most common pets that parents get for their children. They are considerably less demanding to take care of than cats or dogs. They stand out among rodents because of their sociable nature, willingness to snuggle and they are...
I have already written about dogs and how they (don’t) feel pain. So let’s look at cats. It is often not very simple to recognize. But the early recognition of the problem is important for their health and well-being.
Last time, I explained that allergy to fur as such does not exist. I wrote about allergens, the symptoms of allergy and the breeds that are hypoallergenic. Today, I will share with you how to cope with the allergy without giving your pet away.
Did you know that the concept of "allergy to fur" is actually a nonsense? The hair itself are not the only allergens. So what exactly is the person allergic to if he/she is allergic to dogs/cats and does he/she have to get rid of the animal immediately...
No matter that the surgery is minor, each brings certain risks. It is also a mental and physical burden for the animal. I wrote down several tips how you can eliminate the risks and the burden as much as possible.
This is really what this sport is about – herding balloons. The aim is the same as for herding sheep, get all the balls into the gate. And do not be mistaken, treiball is not only for herding dogs. You can do this sport with dogs of any race, size and...
