Dog training is basically the application of behavioral analysis that applies the external environmental circumstances of past antecedents and result to modify the dog's behavior, either to help it in certain activities or take on certain tasks, or even for it to efficiently engage actively in modern domestic existence. It is not a form of obedience training but an introduction of a well-behaved pet. The underlying principle is that the presence of a dog in a given surroundings shapes its attitude and that a dog should be exposed to favorable as well as unfavorable conditions at least in order for the dog to learn how to deal with them.
One of the most popular forms of dog training in the United States today is called positive reinforcement or simply, reward training. Positive reinforcements are used in dog training in order to train and condition pets to behave in a certain way by giving them the pleasure of a tasty treat or petting whenever they behave in a desirable manner. Examples of the positive reinforcers are verbal praise, treats and physical affection such as petting and hugging. These can be combined with several other kinds of motivational training or positive reinforcements for better results. The trainer must have clear instructions from the outset because, as in any kind of learning, occasional confusion and failure may occur.
A number of experts have expressed the opinion that dog training using the method of positive reinforcement is most effective when it is done in an environment devoid of fear, intimidation or harsh words. This is to ensure that dogs being trained are not distracted by any emotional disturbances. Emotional states in the trainers usually stem from the excitement and from the excitement generated in trying to get the dog to obey some command or perform some trick. This creates an atmosphere of psychological pressure on the dog resulting in poor performance. To overcome this, K-9 Culture experts advocate training in a controlled, calm and neutral environment where the dog can easily respond to commands and perform tricks without any form of tension or anxiety. Such controlled and neutral environments are usually found in day care centers, schools, and dog training schools.
The training environment should also provide an easy alternative to handle negative stimuli such as the shock collar. It should also be very consistent in terms of the delivery of the corrective stimulus, especially in the case of dogs. The classical conditioning is based on the concept that the response of any dog to any type of stimulus is conditioned by previous experience and this conditioning is carried out by giving the dog appropriate responses to different kinds of stimuli. This can be achieved by providing positive reinforcement and punishment to the dog when he behaves in an undesired way.
Classical conditioning is only useful for a trained pet dog with some exceptions such as the highly aggressive ones. In such cases, the classical conditioning is rendered useless as the dog resorts to fighting back. However, the dog will still display a learned response to a particular stimulus as in the case of the shock collar, for instance. If you want your dog to stay calm and learn obedience then you need to combine classical conditioning with progressive training, which is a well-known dog training technique. See this page for more on these services.
The progressive method entails the addition of a stimulus whenever the dog performs undesirable behavior. For instance, you can give a silent treatment if the dog starts to bark incessantly or start to whine at every single sound. This is followed by a treat reward after every accomplished behavior. When the dog responds to the treatment and gives you praise, you can immediately proceed to the next step of the dog training teaching procedure. In this case, the dog has been trained to behave appropriately whenever you give him positive reinforcements. You can learn more on this topic here: https://www.britannica.com/animal/dog/Training.
