It sounds lovely: a dog gets a command, it does it and gets a treat or a reward for that. It won’t end with one moment in the perfect case and it will become the basic idea of a whole training for a dog that will become an obedient pet using positive motivation. But what should you do if this kind of upbringing doesn’t work? And is positive motivation suitable for any breeds, for example also for temperament Boxers?
Rewards as Motivation
The basic principle of positive motivation is the presupposition that after giving instructions for a task or a command the dog understands it will be rewarded for it in one of many ways. Besides a treat, options also include caressing or praising. The tasks should be very easy and doable at first so the dog isn’t demotivated from not fulfilling them and it may be more difficult over some time. The result of the whole process should be a well behaving dog that knows what it can or cannot do. And of course, the whole training should influence the relationship of the dog and its owner and the relationship between them should be harmonious and based on mutual trust.
It depends on the dog’s nature
“The dog should know what I expect it to do and what it will get for it. This is not only a treat, but also a smile and a sign of satisfaction from my side. Our relationship should be on the level where it cares about me and appreciates these signs.” comments breeder Michaela Martinů on positive motivation. However, she adds that some breeds may be less suitable for this kind of training. Boxers may serve as an example as they are often stubborn.
Consistency Is Necessary
A necessary part of a successful training using positive motivation is consistency and many owners often forget about that. This may lead to many undesired situations and how serious they are differs depending on the size and the breed of a dog. When large breeds especially are not trained consistently enough and their upbringing is based mainly on positive motivation, they may, in some cases, even bother other people and pets and their owners may not realize that.
Boxers Need Strict Rules
“In the past, “a carrot and stick” approach was used and these days it often ends up with “a carrot and carrot” and that might not work with stubborn Boxers at all times, especially when the training is not particularly consistent. However, it should always hold true that if I want a dog to do something I need to clearly explain it. Motivation is very important for everything we want to do with a dog.” says Martinů.
This agrees with the training based on positive approach; however, Michaela Martinů differentiates between several types depending on what discipline she wants to do. “Most often, motivation lies in balls, fetch sticks and treats. For defence, a decoy is the motivation, for rescue skills it’s a whistling or pulling toy and for tracking it’s a treat” describes the breeder.
Fun Is Crucial
The very basis of any kind of training, including the positive approach that requires great consistency, is fun. However, it needs to have suitable rules so there isn’t any undesired development. “Boxers are dogs that like any kind of fun and if they have clear explanation of the training, the biggest motivation for them is playing with their owner. If a Boxer doesn’t understand the training, it makes fun of the owner. Fun is therefore always present when training Boxers but it’s only up to us how we behave and if the dog is having fun with us or it makes fun of us,” concludes the breeder.
Cats are no longer the outside countryside homeless animals that come closer to a house just for a while when they are in the mood for it. Rather the opposite, they have started living in city flats and have adjusted to our lifestyle. However, it’s...
Rabbits are popular pets especially for city flats. It’s because they don’t require a lot of space and don’t need to go outside very often (no garden needed). However, it doesn’t mean taking care of them is easy and no time or efforts are needed. We...
It sounds lovely: a dog gets a command, it does it and gets a treat or a reward for that. It won’t end with one moment in the perfect case and it will become the basic idea of a whole training for a dog that will become an obedient pet using positive...
Every dog owner knows that feeling when (s)he has to leave house to work or (s)he can’t take his/her pet with him/her for any reason and (s)he doesn’t know what’s going to happen. Can a dog handle the situation or will it bark and go on the rampage?...
Fear is natural for people and everyone has their own fears. While someone is scared of spiders, heights or confined spaces, others are scared of dogs. This fear is common in children who haven’t explored the world so well yet and who don’t know the...
Guinea pigs are popular pets especially in families with kids. They are small animals that can bring a lot of joy. If you consider buying a guinea pig, there are some aspects you shouldn’t neglect before making the decision. We talked about what to...
Have you heard about sport called Disc Dog? It basically consists of throwing a disc to your dog that fetches it. Disc Dog can be done as a recreational or a professional sport. For professional competitors, there are several disciplines for which...
Siberian Cat is quite a new breed that was only recognized by the Fédération Internationale Féline (FIFe) in 1992. It emerged from crossbreeding domestic cats and breeds brought from the Near East and it found its home in Russia and Ukraine where it...
Most of us have this long thought-to-be-true idea that one dog year equals to seven human years. So, if you have a two-year-old puppy at home, it is already 14 years old when compared to humans. Therefore, if you have a ten-year-old dog at home, it is...
Breast milk is, in the beginning of life, the best thing a pup can get from its mother. It is full of the nutrients it needs to grow and develop properly. However, as the offsprings grow, milk needs to be supplemented with other food, so they are...
Cat lovers and breeders know very well that one cat is often not enough, and that there is sometimes a need to get another cat companion. However, this decision will affect the whole household and, above all, it is necessary to prepare the cat you...
Many of us are under the influence of the need to fulfill a dream of getting an unconventional pet, which the minipig certainly is. This trend has been present in the Czech Republic for about ten years. But don’t be fooled by those cute snouts, taking...
