As spring approaches, getting out to enjoy the nice weather by walking our dogs more often and for longer periods of time is a welcome relief. This might also be a great time to brush up on loose-leash walking habits with your four-legged friend. Teaching a dog to walk nicely with us on a leash is one of the hardest skills to maintain. We walk slower and usually in a straighter line than our dogs, and we certainly don’t get giddy about running over to sniff delicious smells. Most dogs will get very excited about the opportunity to go for …
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Positive Reinforcement Training
What is Positive Reinforcement Training? The general concept of positive reinforcement training is in the name—you reinforce and reward desired behavior versus focusing on, and reacting to, the undesirable behaviors a dog is displaying. Rewards for desired behaviors can come in the form of treats, praise, toys or anything the dog finds rewarding. Since the reward makes the dog more likely to repeat the behavior, positive reinforcement is a powerful tool for shaping or changing your dog’s behavior. For example, if you have a dog who jumps all over visitors, it is much faster to teach your dog a behavior …