What’s the best way to train my new puppy?
Training your Bernedoodle with positive reinforcement can be a rewarding and effective way to teach them new behaviors and strengthen the bond between you and your furry friend. Here's everything you need to know about using positive reinforcement to train your Bernedoodle:
What is positive reinforcement?
Positive reinforcement is a training method that rewards desirable behaviors with something the dog finds reinforcing, such as a treat, praise, or play. This reinforces the behavior and makes it more likely to be repeated in the future.
Why use positive reinforcement?
Positive reinforcement training is a kind, gentle, and effective way to teach your Bernedoodle new behaviors. It's based on the principle that dogs are more likely to repeat behaviors that are followed by something they find reinforcing. This means that you can use positive reinforcement to teach your Bernedoodle a wide variety of behaviors, from basic obedience commands like "sit" and "stay" to more advanced tricks like "roll over" and "fetch."
How to use positive reinforcement
Using positive reinforcement to train your Bernedoodle is easy and fun. Here are a few steps to get you started:
Choose a reinforcing reward
Your Bernedoodle is unique, so what works as a reinforcing reward for them may be different from what works for other dogs. Some common reinforcing rewards include treats, praise, toys, and play. Experiment with different rewards to see what your Bernedoodle responds to best. We use a clicker and treats.
Identify the behavior you want to reinforce
Before you can start reinforcing a behavior, you need to know what behavior you want to teach your Bernedoodle. For example, if you want to teach your Bernedoodle to sit, you'll need to identify the specific behavior of sitting.
Mark the behavior with a cue
A cue is a signal that tells your Bernedoodle what behavior you want them to perform. For example, the word "sit" is a common cue for the behavior of sitting. It's important to choose a consistent cue for each behavior you want to teach your Bernedoodle, and to only use that cue when you want them to perform the behavior.
Reward the behavior immediately
As soon as your Bernedoodle performs the behavior you've cued, reward them immediately with the reinforcing reward. This reinforces the behavior and makes it more likely to be repeated in the future.
Gradually fade the reward
As your Bernedoodle becomes more proficient at a behavior, you can gradually fade the reinforcing reward by rewarding them less frequently. For example, you might start by rewarding them every time they perform the behavior, and then gradually reduce the frequency until you're only rewarding them occasionally. This helps your Bernedoodle learn to perform the behavior without relying on the reinforcing reward.
By using positive reinforcement to train your Bernedoodle, you can teach them a wide variety of behaviors and strengthen the bond between you and your furry friend. It's a kind, gentle, and effective way to train your Bernedoodle, and it's sure to be a rewarding experience for both of you.
