Your dog rests all four paws on the floor when you arrive. That small moment can go unnoticed among the keys, the bags and the greeting. It can also become an opportunity to teach him how you want to meet him.
Positive reinforcement consists of a pleasant consequence increasing the probability of a behavior. It is not enough for the reward to seem nice to us: it must be something that dog values in that situation. Food, play or attention can have different value for each individual. [3]
Decide what you want to recognize
“Behaving well” is too broad. Choose something you can see: waiting while you put the bowl down, coming closer when you call him at home or keeping his paws on the floor during a greeting. The more concrete your goal, the easier it will be to recognize the moment.
Imagine you want to practice a calm arrival. Before entering, put your things down so you can pay attention. Look for a brief moment when the dog is on the floor and offer the reward right away. If the scene turns out too exciting, simplify the practice with professional help instead of insisting amid the disorder.
The idea is to communicate a clear relationship between what he does and what he gets. If he first sits, then jumps and only then receives food, our intention may not match what we are teaching.
The reward is also chosen
Observe what your dog enjoys and respect his feeding needs. If he has a diet indicated by his veterinarian, agree on what you can use. Edible treats are part of what he eats during the day; they are not an invisible addition.
A caress is not a universal reward either. There are dogs who prefer space at certain moments. Do not insist on touching him because he “should like it.” The reward makes sense from the dog's experience, not from our preference.
If he doesn't participate, review the difficulty and the environment. Do not increase the demand or deprive him of his basic needs to get a response. A useful session can be brief and end before either of you gets frustrated.
Clarity is built together
Agree at home on the same cue and the same expected behavior. Write a simple instruction anyone can apply. A small family agreement prevents the dog from having to guess different rules with each person.
The AVSAB recommends reward-based methods to teach and to address behavior problems. [4] That includes planning, preventing and asking for support when appropriate.
Recognizing what your dog does well does not diminish the bond or turn it into an emotional negotiation. It gives him information. And living together with clear information is usually much kinder than living together trying to guess.
Keep reading: Teaching Starts Before You Give a Cue · Setting Limits Without Scaring Your Dog