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How to train your dog with reinforcement

Rewards

Use positive reinforcers -- anything that the dog finds rewarding, such as special food treats, the chance to play with a tug toy, social interaction with other dogs, or the owner's attention. The more rewarding a dog finds a particular reinforcer, the more work he will be prepared to do in order to obtain the reinforcer. Be happy about a dog's accomplishment; that also rewards them.

Use treats that are particularly favoured by your pooch. Your dog or puppy may particularly enjoy liver treats or cheese (Yaremenko & Randolph, 2004). However, always make sure that the treat that you use as a postive reinforcer is healthy and will not damage your dog or puppy's overall health (Yaremenko & Randolph, 2004).

Teach a puppy to strongly desire a particular toy, in order to make the toy a more powerful positive reinforcer for good behaviour. This process is called "building prey drive", and is commonly used in the training of Narcotics Detection and Police Service dogs. The goal is to produce a dog who will work independently for long periods of time, in the hopes of earning access to its special toy reward.

Punishment

Don't use traditional forms of punishment; they are least used by modern dog trainers. A dog is generally only given this type of punishment if it is willfully disobeying the owner and owner needs to guard the dog's safety in a serious situation. Punishment is effectively paired with teaching the dog desired behaviors, but is not a single solution, as it will make the dog fearful or unwilling to cooperate if it is not taught desired behaviors.

Use punishments only as appropriate for the dog's personality, age, experience and physical and emotional condition. Some dogs may show signs of fear or anxiety with harsh verbal corrections. Other dogs may ignore a verbal reprimand. Some dogs develop an aversion or fear of water, when water is sprayed at them as an aversive.