Positive = something is added +

Negative=something is removed -

  Something is added to increase the occurrence of a  behavior. For example, you give the dog a treat to reinforce the sit.

  Something is removed to decrease the occurrence of a behavior. For example, turning away (removing attention) from a dog who is jumping up on you.

  Often confused as punishment , negative reinforcement means a negative stimulus is removed. For example in choke chain training when a dog lags behind of lunge forward the handler give a jerk correction on the collar. To avoid this unpleasent experience a dog will quickly get into the heel position to avoide the correction and this is known as negative reinforcement.

 Positive punishment occurs when something unpleasent is presented eg. strong verbal reprimands , ear pinch , shock collar etc..

What is clicker training? (Positive reinforcement)

Clicker training is a form of operand conditioning .The system was first widely used by dolphin trainers who needed a way to teach behavior without using physical intervention on the dolphin. Today many positive dog trainers have implement clicker training to their training program.

A marker signal is used to reinforce a behavior that is required. A clicker (a toy like device that makes a clicking sound when pressed) is used to communicate to the dog when it is doing the behavior or action that will earn it a reward.

Clicker training basically consist of two main tools. "The Reward Marker" and "The Reward".

The Reward Marker

"A Clicker"

A Click on the tongue or a "YES" can also be used as a Reward Marker.

The Reward- Anything the dog loves.

Cheese, Liver, Chicken , etc

or Belly Rub

or Your dog's favorite toy.