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In order to be effective and to gain the best results, all training should be based around positive rewards.
Positive reward training works because if you reward your dog with something he wants as soon as he does what you ask, he is far more likely to do it again. Rewards can be anything that your dog or puppy really wants and could include; food treats, a favourite toy, playing a certain game or petting. If you are using food treats, you may need to reduce the size of your dog's normal meals or use his whole meal divided up into smaller portions, to prevent your dog putting on weight. Always combine the giving of a reward with verbal praise such as "Good dog".
When teaching a new command, you will need to reward your dog every time that he does what you ask correctly. Once he has the hang of the command, however, it is a good idea to change the way you reward by only giving the reward every now and then, because this will make your dog try harder for his reward. Always verbally praise your dog each time, even if he is not being rewarded with a treat.
Because treats are so nice and important to your dog, he can become quite frustrated when a training session ends and the treats stop. To avoid this frustration (which is very punishing for a dog), make sure you train him after he has had his dinner – so not on an empty stomach – and give him a long lasting chew treat to enjoy at the end of a session.