How To Communicate with your Pet Through Positive Reinforcement
Lets face it, there's a communication barrier between us and our pets. They can't grasp our words, and we struggle to understand their true emotions. While we interpret their feelings through body language and they try to understand us by responding to our actions, do we genuinely comprehend each other's messages?
Don't worry, there's a way to effectively communicate with our pets and overcome that communication barrier. The solution? Implementing positive reinforcement or marker training. Essentially, when your pet exhibits a behavior you approve of, you signal them by marking that behavior. This can involve using a clicker, a tongue click, or a verbal cue like "good" or "yes". By marking the behavior and then associating it with a rewarding treat, you are conveying to your pet that they have done well! Consequently, your pet is more likely to repeat the behavior in anticipation of the reward.
Example: your dog sits = CLICK = treat then your dog is more likely to sit than jump because it has learned it gets a treat when it sits.
You can also implement this type of positive communication by implementing my Trigger = Treat strategy! (See the training video and the blog posting here in the portal to learn more about TT).
Additional Advice for Improving Communication with Your Pets:
Maintain consistency and predictability in your interactions with your pet; avoid permitting behavior one day and reprimanding it the next.
Offer mental and physical stimulation if your dog appears overly energetic or engaged in chewing; take them for a walk and then provide a tasty treat in a feeder toy.
Above all, strive to be fair and consider situations from your pet's perspective.
Ultimately, owning a pet is about fostering a strong relationship and friendship, which relies on effective communication.
