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Originally Posted by Lovetodream88  Yeah I don't think one method works for all dogs some learn one way and some learn the other way. I haven't used it on Callie since she was a pup but I use it on the younger two when their wrestling gets out of hand. I go for like the hip/back end area when I spray. It's funny they all learn differently. Joey likes training but you have to make it fun or he gets bored. He wants lots of verbal praise and rubs sometimes more then a treat. My trainer also suggested when working on something hard or not completely gotten yet always end with something they know of do well to end it off positive. This was Joey doing a big leave it at his training place. Sorry I had to share. |
I'm so glad Callie wasn't intimidated by the spraying and now obeys you, whereas some dogs would psychologically suffer trust issues if they thought you were so unhappy with them you did something sudden and unexpected they disliked during their training. It's just a fact with some dogs so that's why positive-rewards training was begun, I'm certain. Thankfully, your dogs don't have any of those issues!
Just for the sake of readers who want to read more about it, positive-reward training, when done with enthusiasm and fun, can essentially create a dog that is reflexively programmed to obey you every time without thought and sees obeying you as a big ,big win vs. getting sent a no-nonsense message he's misbehaving, usually a downer for many dogs. "Leave it" positive-reward training worked so well for Tibbe. When he would nip at my socks, show an unhealthy interest in an electric plug, went for something I dropped or even started to do something I didn't want him to do, I'd tell him, and occas. yell it, "Leave it!" or "Stop" in an upbeat voice and he couldn't back off fast enough in hopes of getting his reward and my praises, the occasional full party-time celebration. He got them. I'd be praising him mightily on our way to the treat box, him dancing expectantly along at my feet, so pleased with himself. Only once has he gone for a bit of meat I dropped but couldn't get "Leave it!" out B4 he was on it.
A month ago, he was on the front porch with me after dark and a stray cat flew from nowhere across the porch, Tibbe suddenly on its heels. I yelled out "Stop! Leave it!" and, you know what, he DID!!!! (That's the third time he's stopped chasing the cat at my request.) And he turned, came running to me for our party. Don't think we didn't celebrate THAT special moment with happy dances, me repeating 'What a BIG win - goooood boy!' praises, serial treats and back scratching, hugs. See what I mean - positive-reward training creates times of expectation of fun celebration and rewards in your dog vs. aversive punishment with your dog backing away from a spray feeling chastised/guilty/intimidated or you relying on using a tool that might not be available when you most need it?