Positive Reinforcement
What is positive reinforcement? We can define this as a way of encouraging or establishing a desired behaviour. Behaviours that are reinforced are more likely to be repeated on a regular basis, after all a dogs mindset is not to offer a behaviour for nothing or in other words what’s in this for me. It’s exactly the same as us humans going to work for their boss, after we have completed a set number of hours we are positively reinforced with money which is our incentive to return after the weekend to repeat the pattern .
Dog’s maintain behaviour
It is without doubt the most effective way to maintain and encourage our dog’s to give us the behaviours we desire. If the dog feels satisfied with the reward, he is happy to offer us the behaviour which is likely to be repeated in the future, if the dog is not satisfied with the reward then the behaviour will become extinct!.
Variable Ratio of Reinforcement
To keep the Dog’s interest it is advisable to introduce a variable ratio of reinforcement, you may reward a behaviour first time and then miss the next 3 repartitions, then rewarding on the 4th. This keeps the dog’s mindset alert as they will think oh ok- no reward this time maybe the next?
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