Pet training is more than just teaching your dog house manners and simple commands like “sit,” “stand,” or “paw.” It involves taking a holistic approach to understanding a pet’s needs and taking that into account when training and doing a behavior analysis. There are many pet training centers offering courses on the same and it is important to understand what kind of pet training program and jobs you would like to consider and explore.

Types of pet training methods
There are several types of pet training methods, but here are two popular ones that you can focus on.

Positive reinforcement
This is a popular type of training method in which you reward the dog for a behavior that is considered good. When your pet exhibits a desired behavior, you use positive reinforcement as a way of encouragement for them to know that this behavior is accepted and encouraged.

Here’s how you can work to put positive reinforcement in your pet training.

Identify a kind of behavior that you want the dog to know is acceptable or encouraged-for example- giving paw. Choose a reward that you’re sure your dog will enjoy or engage with. A lot of trainers sometimes use food/treats or even other types of rewards like play, praise, and toys. Every dog may respond to different things differently, so it is important to know your pet’s preference. Once you have chosen a reward, you must work with your dog carefully to allow them to exhibit the desired behavior.

Timing is key in the training period, so as soon as you see your dog imitate a paw, the reward should be given immediately. This helps your pet make a connection between the behavior and the reward.

Be consistent in this type of training. Often, pet parents overlook that while the pet needs discipline, it can only come when the pet parent is disciplined too. You have to put in the time and effort in being consistent with training and understanding your dog’s needs. Positive reinforcement is a gentle training method that helps you build a trusting relationship with your dog.

Negative reinforcement
This type of training method involves focusing on removing something which your dog likes, enjoys, or wants in response to an unwanted behavior. When this reinforcement is repeated, it is likely to decrease the unwanted behavior that the dog showcases. Some examples of this include not giving them rewards or attention if they are jumping on you or kids. If this is something you don’t want your dog to learn, then withdraw from that situation and withhold any affection to the dog. Using time-outs or ignoring your dog are other examples of negative punishment training.

It is always suggested that this type of training method should be used along with positive reinforcement to help promote good behavior in your pet. Never use physical punishment to harm the dog for any unwanted behavior. It is advised to speak to a professional who knows how to incorporate boundaries with your pet. It is also important to ensure that the punishment is immediate, consistent, and appropriate for the specific behavior being addressed.

Pet training approach is based on various schools of thoughts and philosophies. There are some more approaches like alpha/dominance training, e-collar training, model-rival dog training, relationship-based training, and science-based training. As a pet parent, it is important to understand your dog and their needs before sticking to a training method and see how they respond to cues and commands.

Pet training centers
Pet training is beneficial for pet parents and is also a popular choice of career among animal lovers. There are some great institutes from where you can learn this type of training. Before you enroll in any of the pet training courses, it is important to go through the details of the kind of training you will be receiving. There are many dog training schools with different philosophies and approaches, and finding an approach that works best with you is important. This ensures you are working with dogs in a capacity where you completely understand their behavior and are convinced with the kind of training approach you take. You will be able to help them with not just manners but also any behavioral problems they may exhibit in puppy age or years later.

Some of the popular training schools in the country include:

• Academy for Dog Trainers
• Tom Rose School
• Top Tier K9
• Starmark Academy
• School for Dog Trainers at Highland Canine Training LLC
• Karen Pryor Academy
• The Dog Trainer College
• Animal Behavior Institute
• National K9 Learning Center
• Rocky Mountain Regional Dog Training Academy
• Victoria Stilwell Academy for Dog Training and Behavior
• Animal Behavior Institute

You can take pet training courses at any of these centers/academies. Once you are certified, you can apply for jobs to train pets.You can also open up your own pet training service in your locality to help dogs and pet parents overcome training challenges.