Does Negative Reinforcement Training Work?When I think of negative reinforcement training, I think of something bad. Like holding my mouth shut if you want me to be quiet. Or, yelling at me or hitting me for doing something you don't like. This approach will often work, but I am reacting out of fear, which could, and often does, manifest itself through some other unwanted behaviors. A Better UnderstandingIf you look up "reinforcement" in the dictionary, it will say something like, "...a procedure, reward or punishment, that alters a response to a stimulus."Reinforcement is done to strengthen a behavior. I know, it sounds a bit like that Psychology class you weren't thrilled about. The "punishment" aspect is the part the makes the "reinforcement" negative. The reality is that not all negative reinforcement training should be thought of as punishment and not all of it is bad. Good Negative Reinforcement TrainingDon't confuse me for B.F. Skinner, but just by using my dog-sense here, as well as my own experience, I can tell you that there are some forms of negative reinforcement training that can be helpful in shaping our behavior without being cruel or mean.Negative reinforcement can strengthen a behavior by removing something positive without being a punishment. Crate-training, when done properly, is a form of this negative training. You are taking away, or managing, your dog's freedom to reinforce the proper behavior of a housebroken dog. Another good example has to do with not over-celebrating with your dog when you return home if he exhibits any signs of separation anxiety. The "removal" of this positive action, negative reinforcement training, can serve to stabilize your relationship and ease the separation distress. No Punishment?You can certainly scold your dog for an undesirable behavior, like using your house as a bathroom, but don't put their nose in it (yuck!).Chewing power cords or other destructive behaviors call for a tap on the nose or tale and a scolding. Just like a small child, a physical tap, in a light, controlled fashion, will get their attention. Just be sure your punishment is immediate so the dog easily associates their unwanted behavior with your unwanted reaction. Do not, under any circumstance, beat or physically harm man's best friend! They want to please you and be loyal to you. So, don't allow your bad day to motivate you to take out your frustrations on your dog. The Bottom LineStrive for a proper balance in your interaction. You don't want a pet that is fearful, nervous or overly aggressive.When in doubt, always err on the side of positive reinforcement! For more information on understanding and solving canine behavioral problems, check out SitStayFetch. It’s a complete how-to manual for dog owners, and is packed with just about all the information you’ll ever need on dog psychology, canine communication how-to’s, practical advice for dealing with problem behaviors, and detailed step-by-step guides to obedience training.
Back to
Dog Barking 101
or
Dog Training Made Easy!
|
