by Alisha Parsons

Created on: November 03, 2009

Praising a dog is equivalent to a paycheck. No joke. If your boss handed you $20 every time he asked you to do something, you would do it, AND look forward to the next time he asked for something. Within reason of course.

Praise can come in many forms for a dog. Let's start with the obvious. Food or treats. Basic puppy training teaches owners to reward their dogs with treats and praise. Treats are a wonderful motivator and food also keeps those busy brains focused on their owner instead of their surroundings. Using treats as a reward is a clear cut way of letting your dog know they just did something correct and are being rewarded for it. On the other hand, treats can also have a negative impact if overused. Once your dog is accustomed to receiving treats every time she sits down, when you stop giving treats, she will also stop responding to your commands. Because of this, it is best if you start to wean them off treats once they have their basic commands learned.

If using treats isn't your thing, and for some, it most definitely is not, there are other forms of praise. Life rewards. Using life rewards as praise is a fulfilling way to praise your dog and you don't have to worry about treat dependence. Life rewards consist of playing a quick game of fetch in between training sessions, walks, games, tug of war and so on. An example of how to do this is; if you know your dog enjoys walks, get his leash out and show it to him. Then proceed with a 5 minute training session consisting of the commands that he knows. After he finishes successfully, take him on a quick walk. This method is best for high energy dogs such as Border Collies who enjoy pleasing their owners just as much as exercising or working.

The most common form of praise is physical affection. You ask Rowdy to sit. Rowdy sits and you pet him and scruff him up. You might even possibly kiss him. A lot of dogs who don't show an interest in treats, can benefit greatly from physical affection. Your average family dog responds really well to praise. Some dogs however, have a harder time understanding these signals. Humans and primates are the only species that show affection by reaching over or around the other and hugging one another. In canine language, this can be viewed as a display of dominance or a threat. Hugging a dog can be the best feeling in the world for both human and dog. Just make sure the dog you are hugging is use to it. Otherwise you will end up with some unfavorable results.

Out of all the methods of praised discussed above, it is good to assess your own individual situation with your dog to see what's best. Like humans, dogs are all individuals with extremely individual personalities. What works very well for one dog, may not work at all for another. If you are unsure of how to properly praise your dog, or have questions about training in general, contact a local professional. Dogs can be very complex creatures.

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