Effective Premack Principle Dog Training for Any Situation

The Premack Principle is a powerful tool in dog training that helps you teach new behaviors in a fun and engaging way. This principle is based on the idea that dogs are more likely to perform a low-value behavior if it's followed by a high-value behavior.

By applying the Premack Principle, you can create a chain of behaviors that your dog will be excited to follow. For example, if your dog loves to play fetch, you can use this as a high-value reward to motivate them to perform a low-value behavior like sitting.

One of the key benefits of the Premack Principle is that it helps you phase out treats and other rewards over time. This is because your dog learns to associate the low-value behavior with the high-value behavior, rather than just the reward itself.

For another approach, see: Reward Based Dog Training

Positive reinforcement is a process that strengthens a behavior by adding something the dog likes or wants immediately after the behavior.

Reinforcement means to make something stronger, and in positive reinforcement, we add a desirable stimulus, like a treat or a belly rub, to encourage the behavior.

The term "positive" in positive reinforcement doesn't mean "good", it means "added."

There are two categories of reinforcement: positive and negative, but we're focusing on positive reinforcement, which builds trusting relationships between pet parents and their animal companions.

Positive reinforcement strengthens behavior, but it's not a guarantee – it only occurs if the behavior happens consistently over a period of time.

To achieve positive reinforcement, you need to deliver a physical or verbal prompt for a behavior, wait for the dog to complete the behavior, and then deliver the reinforcer.

A marker, like a clicker, can be a helpful tool to communicate to the dog exactly what they did to earn the reinforcer.

Here are some key things to keep in mind when using positive reinforcement:

The Premack Principle is a simple yet effective way to train your dog. It's based on the idea that you can use a high-value activity or reward to motivate your dog to learn a new behavior.

To apply the Premack Principle, you need to observe what your dog values most, such as playtime with a canine companion or going to the dog park. These are the things that get your dog excited and eager to participate.

Make a list of your dog's favorite activities and you'll see where you can implement the Premack Principle in their training. This will help you choose the right reward to motivate them.

Decide which behavior you want to instill and choose a reward that's high-value enough to motivate your dog to learn it. This could be something as simple as a game of fetch or a trip to the dog park.

To apply the Premack principle to dog training, start by observing what your dog values, whether it's playtime, going to the dog park, swimming, or playing with a toy. Make a list of these fun activities to see where you can implement the Premack principle.

Bobbie Bhambree, a certified dog behavior consultant, suggests deciding which behavior you want to instill and which reward you'll choose. She uses the Premack principle to train her dog, Topper, not to bark when she opens his crate door in the morning.

Topper gets excited and barks, but Bhambree teaches him that if he remains quiet, he can exit the crate and join the other dogs in the bedroom. This is a low-probability behavior that results in a high-probability reward, illustrating the Premack principle in action.

To teach your dog to drop a ball toy at your feet, use the Premack principle by making a relationship between bringing the ball and throwing it for them. Your dog learns that dropping the ball results in getting to chase the ball, a high-reward behavior.

Sitting and staying can also be taught by incorporating the Premack principle, as it's a low-reward behavior that results in a high-reward behavior, such as getting to play or receive a treat.