Many new puppy parents may wonder how to connect with their new furry friend properly. Puppies can often be anxious in a new environment, especially right after adoption, and you as the parent will need to figure out a way to build up their confidence in you. The best way to build trust and properly communicate with your new puppy is to use positive reinforcement. This technique will encourage positive behaviors in your puppy, allowing them to grow while being comfortable with you. Below we have detailed how to use positive reinforcement to build trust and communicate with your puppy.
What is Positive Reinforcement?
Positive reinforcement is one of the bases of operant conditioning theories credited to psychologist B.F. Skinner. There are two sides to this theory, positive reinforcement and negative reinforcement. Positive reinforcement is the act of adding something after a desired behavior occurs to increase the likelihood of the behavior occurring again. Negative reinforcement is the act of taking something away to decrease the likelihood of an undesired behavior occurring again. When training and communicating with your puppy, we recommend using positive reinforcement to strengthen their good behaviors and build their trust in you. It will help them learn to associate their good behaviors with good consequences.
How to Use Positive Reinforcement with Your Puppy
Positive reinforcement is a very effective way to train and communicate with your puppy. This method is more gentle and doesn’t involve any harsh punishments. It will shape your puppy’s behavior, allowing them to grow into an obedient dog. At Blissful Paws, we’ve noticed that positive reinforcement is a direct cause of good relationships between puppies and their owners. Here is how to use positive reinforcement with your puppy:
Training
Training is the best time to use positive reinforcement with your puppy. Use rewards to signify good behavior as it will encourage your puppy to repeat actions when given the commands. They will start to put together that good things happen when they perform desired behaviors, which will get them to repeat the good behaviors. We recommend you keep the training fun and consistent, as your puppy can get confused and unmotivated if you don’t. Consistency is key for training. It will allow your puppies to have the same expectations for their day while you teach them skills that eventually become habits.
Common Rewards
The use of rewards increases the chance that your puppy will continue to do desired behaviors. When you reward good behavior, you reinforce the positive experience that your puppy will have. You can give them treats when they perform a desired behavior, but be careful not to accidentally reward unwanted behavior. That will confuse your puppy and make them start doing undesirable behavior because they think they’ll get a treat. You can also use praise, toys, and pets as rewards when you don’t want to give your puppy too many treats. For more information, check out our How to Use Treats in Training blog.
Communication
Dogs don’t understand sentences the way that humans do. When communicating with them, use short, direct commands. Training provides the opportunity to learn to communicate with your puppies, creating a shared language and understanding between the two of you. It’s important, though, to keep up with positive reinforcement when communicating. Never use verbal punishments, as it will create a negative experience, and your puppy could develop fear towards you and lose trust in you.
How Positive Reinforcement Builds Trust
Building trust is about making your puppy feel safe in their new environment, helping them understand that interacting with you will result in something good happening. This will allow them to overcome their fears and anxieties of being in an unfamiliar place. We’ve found that it can take time for your new puppy to adapt to the new environment, people, and changes in their routine. Be patient with them and create positive associations as they learn and get more comfortable. Positive reinforcement is the best way to build your puppy’s trust in you. Continuously using positive reinforcement in your home will help your puppy connect positive experiences with you and trust you more.
Obtaining your puppy’s trust is an honor they give you, and having a dependable and consistent environment will make your puppy feel safe, confident, and stable in their new home. Positive reinforcement is the most effective way to build your puppy’s trust in you. We recommend using this technique whenever you can, to ensure your puppy knows that they are safe with you. Learn more about caring for your new puppy by checking out our puppy care page. If you’re looking to adopt a new puppy, view our available Golden Retriever, Golden Doodle, and Mini Golden Doodle puppies looking for a great home. Contact us to get started.
