Science Behind Positive Reinforcement Dog Training | Pupford
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Positive Reinforcement training is the most effective and humane route to train your dog. Unfortunately, in the past, aversive, punishment, and now-debunked methods were spread by trainers, the media, and other outlets.
Part of our mission here at Pupford is to help spread the message and power of positive-reinforcement-based training!
Choosing to train via positive reinforcement will help your pup be more confident, attentive, and well-behaved in the long run. But don't get us wrong, it takes lots of time, patience, and persistence! :)
Be sure to check out the studies below. Also, if you are new to being a pup parent, I would thoroughly study and understand the first bullet point below about LIMA dog training & the Humane Hierarchy!
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What is Positive Reinforcement Dog Training?
Positive reinforcement dog training is a method of teaching our dogs what we want them to do by adding (positive) something of value to them (a reinforcement) when they do a desired behavior.
So, when you ask your dog to sit, and they sit you give them a treat to positively reinforce that behavior. By reinforcing the behavior, it increases the likelihood of it occurring again in the future.
As a note, our dogs get to choose what is reinforcing. There are many types of reinforcers for dogs, but here are some common ones:
It's our job as pup parents to figure out what's reinforcing for our dogs and train accordingly! Remember, the learner (your pup) is the only one can decide how reinforcing something is.
Research & Studies about Positive Reinforcement Dog Training
While science isn't perfect and some studies certainly have their own flaws, the vast majority of research and studies show that aversive training methods can lead to increased stress, anxiety, and even more problem behaviors in the long run.
It's important to look at the research around different training types as we make decisions on how to raise and train our pups.
Links to Relevant Articles and Studies About Types of Training:
Not everyone you know will teach you science-backed, positive methods for training. That's why it's important to do the research and find what the professionals and researchers have uncovered about the power of positive reinforcement!
Looking for guidance on how to train your dog more effectively? Be sure to check out our 100% free (and positive-reinforcement-based) dog training app.
If you have questions, please ask them below in the comments. Thanks for listening/watching/reading this episode, please subscribe to stay on top of all new episodes! :)
I’m looking for advice on how to manage training when you have more than one dog – in my case I have 5. All are different ages and one actually belongs to a neighbour and is with us temporarily.
Most training advice I find online seems to be catered towards single-dog households, so I’m wondering how I can effectively train ALL of my dogs.
Dealing with unwanted behaviours and trying to positively reinforce wanted behaviours when you have a group of dogs seems a different ball game to only having one dog to teach.
I’m guessing we need to work with all of them individually and then have certain training activities we do with them as a group?
Suggestions and resources for managing and training a group of dogs would be greatly appreciated!
T
Team Pupford01/26/2025
Hi Kristin, we have some tips here: https://pupford.com/training-multiple-dogs/
M
Maury Middleton01/26/2025
My doggie named Delinquente (Spanish for delinquent) can be naughty and onerous at times. She is a Sweetheart at times. She is a Registered Service Dog. She does not like being confined to our mobile home in an age restricted cramped mobile home park with 575 mobile homes closely next to each other in Mesa Arizona. Delinquente is 2 & 1/2 years old. I got Delinquente 3 weeks after I bought my house in San Carlos, Sonora, Mexico 🇲🇽 when she was a 3 months old puppy. I was walking 🚶♀️ on the beach when she started playing with me. The American couple who owned her could not bring her across the border. They gave her to me. She has had all vaccinations 💉 and was spayed By my veterinarian in San Carlos. My house in San Carlos is on a 5200 sqft. Lot surrounded by 8’ tall wall and 9’ iron gate. The daily routine there is I let her out at 7:00 🕖 am to go potty and to run around the property. She is the boss and is protective barks at people other dogs. I take her to the beach and let her run loose. I throw rocks and shells 🐚. She chases them. I take her out to restaurants. She is spoiled behaving well at times. I reward her with doggie treats for good behavior. She loves to tug on her leash. She loves to chase balls ⚽️. She has separation anxiety for me and other people dogs 🐕 that she makes friends with. There are 2 doggie 🐶 parks here in the Mesa mobile home park. Delinquente gets bored easy. I am a disabled combat veteran liberation of Kuwait. I have severe PTSD traumatic brain 🧠 injury seizures headaches damage to my central nervous system. I have severe 👂 hearing loss and chronic tinnitus as a result of exposure to high frequency loud active sonar during my 20 years of service in the US Navy. Thanks Mauricio
S
Sue01/26/2025
My puppy (7 months) gets very excited when anyone approaches her. She dances and will not obey any commands. How can I teach her to be calm?
E
Emily Hamilton01/26/2025
Hi Sue! Our 21 Impulse Control Training games are perfect for working on focus which results in a calmer dog! Some ages and breeds are more excitable in puppies, so keep training, but if you keep training you will see results.
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6 comments
Leave a CommentI’m looking for advice on how to manage training when you have more than one dog – in my case I have 5. All are different ages and one actually belongs to a neighbour and is with us temporarily.
Most training advice I find online seems to be catered towards single-dog households, so I’m wondering how I can effectively train ALL of my dogs.
Dealing with unwanted behaviours and trying to positively reinforce wanted behaviours when you have a group of dogs seems a different ball game to only having one dog to teach.
I’m guessing we need to work with all of them individually and then have certain training activities we do with them as a group?
Suggestions and resources for managing and training a group of dogs would be greatly appreciated!
Hi Kristin, we have some tips here: https://pupford.com/training-multiple-dogs/
My doggie named Delinquente (Spanish for delinquent) can be naughty and onerous at times. She is a Sweetheart at times. She is a Registered Service Dog. She does not like being confined to our mobile home in an age restricted cramped mobile home park with 575 mobile homes closely next to each other in Mesa Arizona. Delinquente is 2 & 1/2 years old. I got Delinquente 3 weeks after I bought my house in San Carlos, Sonora, Mexico 🇲🇽 when she was a 3 months old puppy. I was walking 🚶♀️ on the beach when she started playing with me. The American couple who owned her could not bring her across the border. They gave her to me. She has had all vaccinations 💉 and was spayed By my veterinarian in San Carlos. My house in San Carlos is on a 5200 sqft. Lot surrounded by 8’ tall wall and 9’ iron gate. The daily routine there is I let her out at 7:00 🕖 am to go potty and to run around the property. She is the boss and is protective barks at people other dogs. I take her to the beach and let her run loose. I throw rocks and shells 🐚. She chases them. I take her out to restaurants. She is spoiled behaving well at times. I reward her with doggie treats for good behavior. She loves to tug on her leash. She loves to chase balls ⚽️. She has separation anxiety for me and other people dogs 🐕 that she makes friends with. There are 2 doggie 🐶 parks here in the Mesa mobile home park. Delinquente gets bored easy. I am a disabled combat veteran liberation of Kuwait. I have severe PTSD traumatic brain 🧠 injury seizures headaches damage to my central nervous system. I have severe 👂 hearing loss and chronic tinnitus as a result of exposure to high frequency loud active sonar during my 20 years of service in the US Navy. Thanks Mauricio
My puppy (7 months) gets very excited when anyone approaches her. She dances and will not obey any commands. How can I teach her to be calm?
Hi Sue! Our 21 Impulse Control Training games are perfect for working on focus which results in a calmer dog! Some ages and breeds are more excitable in puppies, so keep training, but if you keep training you will see results.