Dog Training: Do You Know the Basic Methods

Dog owners all want their pets to be well-behaved, and professional dog training relies on scientific methods. Below, Wang Ge will walk you through the fundamental techniques of dog training.

1. Rewards: Positive Reinforcement in Dog Training

Rewards are the most favored training method for dogs. During training, rewards reinforce correct behaviors, solidify acquired skills, regulate a dog’s nervous system, and encourage more active cooperation.
Generally, minimize food rewards in dog training, as frequent treats can foster bad habits like greediness or stealing. Instead, use verbal praise or physical affection—such as petting the back of the ears, neck, top of the head, or under the chin. These non-food rewards often yield better results than treats.
Additionally, during training, rewards should not be given if the dog fails to complete an action fully. Once a dog masters a specific command, training should progress to assess its ability to apply the skill comprehensively. Avoid rewarding minor, insignificant parts of the action; instead, wait until the entire sequence is performed consecutively before offering a reward. This transition from rewarding individual components to rewarding the complete action is crucial. This approach encourages the dog to focus on learning and executing a full sequence of commands in subsequent training sessions, rather than fixating on just one or two actions.

2. Punishment: Correcting Behavior in Dog Training

Punishment is an effective method in dog training to curb undesirable behaviors and habits. When employing punishment during training, the owner must maintain a stern demeanor and use a high-pitched, sharp tone. The primary purpose of punishment in dog training is to convey a threatening posture, stimulating the dog’s nervous system to instill a lasting lesson and prevent recurrence.
For example, if a dog sneaks into the kitchen to eat food while the owner isn’t looking during training, this behavior must be firmly punished without leniency. During the correction phase of dog training, bring the dog back to the kitchen where the food was placed. Shout at it sternly with a fierce expression, raising a stick as if to strike. This allows the dog to associate the location and the act of stealing food with fear through the punishment experience, preventing it from repeating the behavior.
If your dog exhibits coprophagia (feces-eating), strict punishment must be applied during training to eradicate this harmful habit. A direct punishment method involves placing feces in front of the dog. When it eats it, loudly scold and reprimand the dog while removing the feces. Repeat this process in training every day or two until the dog stops eating feces.
If the dog pretends to obey in front of its owner but continues the habit behind their back, indirect punishment can be used in dog training: pick up one or two small stones, observe discreetly, and when you see the dog about to touch the feces, throw the stones forcefully. Startled, the dog will associate the consequence with its own actions. After repeating this several times, the dog can overcome this bad habit during training. Another training method involves sprinkling chili powder or other pungent, non-toxic substances on the feces before leaving. The intense burning sensation will teach the dog to avoid this behavior permanently.
Furthermore, some dogs enjoy shredding items like slippers, toys, or towels. If such behavior is observed during dog training, punishment should be administered without hesitation. If the dog persists despite repeated corrections, one or two painful lessons may be necessary during dog training to effectively awaken its understanding.

3. Induction: Establishing Conditioned Reflexes in Dog Training

Induction is a method in dog training that uses food, objects, or the owner’s actions to prompt the dog to perform a specific action, thereby establishing a conditioned reflex. This helps the dog understand training commands more quickly.
For example, when teaching a dog to respond to the “come” command, the owner can dangle a piece of meat or dog treat in front of the dog. The dog will typically obey and “come.” However, during this phase of dog training, the meat or treat must not be given as a reward. Otherwise, the dog may mistakenly associate ‘come’ with “eat.” Repeating this process multiple times allows the dog to understand that “come” means “walking from a distance to the owner’s side.” Afterward, without using meat, repeating the training a few more times will enable the dog to accurately comprehend the “come” command.

4. Compulsion: Command Reinforcement in Dog Training

Compulsion is a dog training method that uses mechanical stimulation and intimidating commands to compel the dog to perform a specific action. Mechanical stimulation in dog training refers to actions like pulling on the leash, applying pressure, or delivering light taps or pats.
For example, during dog training, the owner lifts the dog’s collar with their right hand while pressing down on the dog’s waist with their left hand, compelling the dog to perform the “sit” action. In dog training, coercive methods are more direct than enticement techniques, preventing misunderstandings and allowing the dog to grasp the command’s meaning through compulsion. While this approach may seem somewhat crude and disregards the dog’s preferences, it becomes essential in specific situations. When verbal reprimands have lost their effect and the dog ignores all forms of encouragement, certain actions or behavioral changes must be enforced through coercive methods during dog training.
For instance, if a dog bullies smaller household animals and loud reprimands prove ineffective, training may involve administering a strong stimulus to compel correction. This could include placing food dusted with chili powder into the dog’s mouth or fitting it with a muzzle, forcing it to abandon its behavior through painful correction. While this represents an extreme form of coercion and punishment in dog training, it remains one of the most effective measures.
However, in dog training, the intensity of coercion should generally not be excessive. Strong stimuli should only be applied when necessary. During the initial stages of dog training, excessive intensity should be avoided, and coercive methods should be used with particular caution when training timid dogs.