Border Collie (Detailed Introduction)

Dogs, like people, enjoy receiving praise and have a bit of vanity. Therefore, giving them appropriate rewards and encouragement can make them very happy. Dogs often perform better after receiving rewards, so whether during daily care or training, if they behave well, we should promptly give them some rewards. So, what are the ways to reward dogs?

1. Food Rewards: Food is the most straightforward way to reward and is commonly used during dog training. However, the food should not be large pieces or something the dog normally dislikes. The food should be small and very tempting to the dog, so the dog will be interested in performing well to get it.

2. Toy Rewards: When the dog behaves well, toys can also serve as a reward. You can let the dog play with the toy for a while or play games with it, making the dog very happy. However, the most important point in this reward method is not to mix the reward toys with the dog’s regular toys. Dogs tend to like new things and quickly get bored of old ones. So keep the reward toys put away and only use them during training to fully attract the dog's attention.

3. Petting Rewards: Although this doesn’t provide the dog with anything to eat or play with, your additional care and attention will give the dog a great sense of satisfaction. When the dog behaves well, squat down, pet its head, scratch its neck, or rub under its ears; these actions will make it understand it behaved very well this time and to continue performing well. It’s important to know that dogs care a lot about their status in their owner’s heart. The more you make it feel valued, the better it will perform. This is the same as with children.

Giving dogs rewards is your way of affirming them. When they receive such affirmation, they will act more positively and do even better at the rewarded behavior. Therefore, in raising dogs, encouragement and rewards should be the main approach, with criticism and education secondary. Only in this way can a dog be properly trained.