Volgograd residents told how to properly raise a dog without harming it

The main method is reward, not punishment

The fastest and most effective way to raise a dog is positive reinforcement. About this RIA "Novosti" said the President of the Russian Canine Federation Vladimir Golubev. The essence of the method is simple: the pet receives praise or delicacy for a correctly performed action.

“Today, training focuses on positive reinforcement, because this is the safest and fastest option for training,” said Vladimir Golubev, head of the RKF. Therefore, dog breeders hear about this method more often. Three other methods can be called aversive. And it is better to apply them only to a professional - a beginner and an amateur risks using methods incorrectly, which will only undermine the trust between him and the pet.

Positive reinforcement is called this method of training, when the dog receives treats, affection or attention with the correct execution of the command.

Skinner Square: Four Approaches to Learning

The President of the Russian Canine Federation explained that positive reinforcement together with negative reinforcement, positive punishment and negative punishment forms the so-called Skinner square.

The name is associated with the name of the prominent American psychologist Berres Skinner. He played an important role in the development of behaviorism. His main contribution to science is the concept of operant conditioning: according to it, behavior is formed through the consequences of actions performed. Today, these principles are widely used in training, including when working with dogs.

Cynologist Vladimir Golubev clarifies: the terms “positive” and “negative” here refer not to emotions, but to whether a stimulus is added to the dog or removed.

Negative reinforcement works like this: the pet masters the command to “sit”, and the owner slightly presses his hand on the croup. As soon as the dog sits down, the hand is removed. Positive punishment is used mainly in emergency cases. For example, if a dog tries to eat a prohibited item on the street, the person pulls a leash.

If the pet behaves undesirablely, you can use a negative punishment. The expert gave an example: the dog bit the owner during the game. At this point, you should stop, turn away and remove the toy. In this way, the animal will realize that in such an action it will lose something pleasant.

Why it is important not to overdo it

The President of the Russian Canine Federation warned that with methods where discomfort is used, it is easy, as they say, to grab over the edge. Inadvertently, you can hurt your dog or scare him. That is why in working with owners, cynologists emphasize positive reinforcement.

“It’s pretty easy to overdo it with ways that use discomfort,” says Vladimir Golubev. You can inadvertently hurt the dog or frighten it. Therefore, in working with pet owners, cynologists emphasize positive reinforcement.”.