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Positive Reinforcement vs. Punishment

Dog Training Elite Fort Worth

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Positive Dog Training Techniques

Positive Reinforcement Dog Training in Fort Worth, TX

Research shows that focusing on positive reinforcement when a desired behavior occurs and not worrying about correcting bad behavior in dogs is more effective and has longer-lasting results than training that incorporates punishment for bad behavior.

Positive reinforcement dog training in Fort Worth, TX works because dogs are inherently eager to please. Rewarding your dog for good behavior helps create a deep, loving relationship with your dog built on trust, as opposed to one built on fear of punishment. The difference between a dog who has been trained to obey out of fear of being punished vs. a dog who learns to obey through a positive, loving bond with their owner is huge.

Dog Training Elite Fort Worth trainers use treats as an initial reward for puppies and dogs learning commands. When the trainer is absent, or you’re in between obedience classes, you can continue to use treats as a reward for your dog when they exhibit a desired behavior. Dogs tend to be highly food-motivated, so this is an extremely useful tool. You can also reward your dog with a play session, take them to the dog park or anything else you know your dog enjoys. After all, you know your dog best!

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Dog Training Elite Fort Worth

Your Questions Answered

Positive reinforcement training is a widely used and highly effective method for teaching dogs new behaviors while strengthening the bond between you and your pet. Below, we've answered some common questions about how this training approach works and why it's beneficial for all dog breeds.

Positive reinforcement training rewards dogs for good behavior with treats, praise, or play, encouraging them to repeat those behaviors. It focuses on creating a positive association with desired actions, making training enjoyable and effective for your dog.
Positive reinforcement builds trust and strengthens the bond between you and your dog. By rewarding desired behavior, your dog is more motivated to learn and respond willingly, whereas punishment can create fear and anxiety, hindering learning and damaging the relationship.
Yes, positive reinforcement training is effective for all dog breeds. Since it relies on rewarding good behavior, dogs of all breeds, sizes, and temperaments can respond well, making it a flexible and universally beneficial training method.
A white poodle smiling at one of our Fort Worth positive reinforcement dog trainers.

Fort Worth Positive Reinforcement Dog Trainers

Dog Training Elite Fort Worth

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As for not worrying about bad behavior – it may feel strange to act like everything is fine when your dog chews on your shoes, or goes to the bathroom inside your home. But focusing on rewarding good behavior and forgoing punishment for bad behavior is more successful in the long run.

Relying on punishment for errors and “low value” rewards, such as praise or petting are long held “traditional” methods for dog training. Punishments like flicking a dog’s nose, shocking them with a shock collar, or anything else that may cause a dog pain are unfortunately still in use today by many dog trainers.

Not only is it inhumane, but using punishment as a tool can actually backfire. For example: punishing a dog for going to the bathroom inside a house won’t teach them to go outside instead. Often, the dog only understands that the mess makes their owner mad. Instead of going outside, the dog is likely to continue to make messes indoors — where the owner can’t find them.

Punishment training also damages the relationship between dog and owner. Dogs do not understand right and wrong. Instead of associating punishment with a specific behavior they learn to avoid, as with the bathroom example, they instead learn to live in constant fear of punishment. This prevents owners from bonding with their dogs in a meaningful way.

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The Dog Training Elite Fort Worth Difference


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Dog Training Elite Fort Worth uses modern training methods focused on positive dog training using reinforcement and bonding you and your dog. Our trainers in Fort Worth, TX never resort to punishment to help dogs unlearn behaviors. Through a combination of commands and an electronic collar, dogs learn to follow commands at once. The electronic collar is not a shock collar and never used to punish bad behavior. Instead, it produces a sensation like the gentle tug of a leash, and is used to help recapture the attention of a dog who gets distracted.

Dog Training Elite Fort Worth’s method of focusing on positive behavior reinforcement nurtures a dog's loving and naturally obedient nature. The method is the same regardless of the situation, whether training a puppy, an older dog or a service dog. The positive reinforcement dog training in Fort Worth, TX ensures training is a success no matter what your dog’s behavior. If you have a brand new puppy who is stubborn and smart, or an older dog who has slipped into bad habits – or perhaps never learned – after proper conditioning and working with Dog Training Elite Fort Worth, when you say “sit,” your dog will automatically sit without thinking about it.

Dog Training Elite Fort Worth offers specialized in-home training services so your dog gets the attention and training he or she needs, and you learn alongside them so training continues when the trainer leaves. Dog Training Elite in Fort Worth, TX also offers group classes for dogs who are ready to take obedience training to the next level, and service training programs for a variety of needs.

If you’re looking to train a service dog, or just looking for a loyal four-legged companion, Dog Training Elite in Fort Worth, TX will help you get there with our positive dog training. You can get started today. Find a trainer near you and schedule a free in-home consultation!

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Learn Why Dog owners choose Dog Training Elite

  • Issue P on the Move
    Oct. 31, 2024
    Very informative and helpful when we wanted to introduce training to our new pup. Punctual and professional, our trainer Felicity was very knowledgeable and excited, to help ensure that we established a good foundation for our newest family member. Tips were very helpful and appreciated and would recommend them.
  • caren wilson
    Oct. 30, 2024
    Our 16 month old German Shepherd, Cowboy, is a very energetic, crazy dog. He is our 3rd GSD, and completely different. We had tried two different dog training companies with little change in behavior. We found DTE and Tra came out for an evaluation and gave us hope. We liked that 3 different trainers came to work with us and Cowboy. Tori, Felcity, and Megan were all very knowledgeable, professional, loving, and so very good with Cowboy. Our last private lesson was a field trip to Lowe’s. We never thought we would be able to take our boy out in public. He was a perfect boy. We are so proud of him. Thank you to all the people at DTE for giving us the tools to have the dog we hoped for.
  • Loren Mauerhan
    Oct. 29, 2024
    Very much recommend Dog training elite we worked with Felicity. She did a great job with our new puppy June and just as important did a great job with us June's humans Highly recommend them and Felicity
  • Caitlin Goodman
    Sep. 20, 2024
    Felicity and Kyler were great! Our fiesty Doberman Bonnie has a whole lot of attitude and is too smart for her own good. We got the platinum training and started when she was about 4 months old. She is almost 1 and still doing wonderful! We had Felicity for most sessions, which was nice to have that consistency! Bonnie learned so much, and does so well in public. Teaching Bonnie all of her tricks at home alongside a trainer allowed us to be involved and learn how to reestablish behaviors/tricks as needed. Our golden retriever has also been able to pick up many of the skills and that has been a lifesaver. I love being able to walk them both around Scheels and other busy places while they’re in a focused heel. Everyone around us is always so impressed! We are excited to try the group training sessions with Bonnie soon!
  • Massage Green SPA Mckinney
    Jul. 23, 2024
    Felicity did a great job with Bella!
  • Elinor Albin
    Jul. 23, 2024
    The trainers here are so knowledgeable and can read a dogs body language so fast. They taught my dog commands in 5 minutes or less and showed me how to instill those. Highly recommend this place worth every penny. Felicity really knew my dog and went the extra mile with information to help Winnie the Pooh.
  • Jeff Domen
    Jul. 19, 2024
    We love our dog, but he has always been a constant source of stress in our family because of his aggression, his inability to go on walks without creating havoc, and his propensity to run out of the house whenever the door opened up. We finally decided we had to get rid of the dog or get him trained. So we decided to give Dog Training Elite a call. Looking back, it was such a wonderful choice. After six individual training sessions, our dog is extremely well-behaved. He sits on command, he will “place” wherever we tell him to, he’s enjoyable to walk on a leash, he doesn’t attack other dogs or people, and he doesn’t run out of the house. We couldn’t be more pleased with the training staff of Tra, Felicity, and Yuni. The highlight of our experience was when we decided to take our dog with us to a hotel, and then out to dinner. Our son - who was back home from college and wasn’t a part of the training experience -thought we were crazy to even try to take our dog to a hotel and restaurant. But our dog did wonderfully and our son was very impressed with how well behaved the dog was. If you are at your ropes end and want to get your dog under control, give Elite a try… you will start to see immediate and dramatic results!
  • phoebe james
    Jul. 18, 2024
    The company is great with communication and customer service! Felicity has been an incredible teacher and has helped me and my dog learn so much!
  • grant wiseman
    Jul. 15, 2024
    Incredible trainers! Felicity did a great job helping my dogs
  • Carol L
    Jul. 15, 2024
    They have been very understanding and patien I love the system they do the process They really are doing the best job they can Felicity is one of the trainers that we have met she is so amazing she has taught my dog the basics and she did with such patience and I could understand everything she said I'm very excited to see what more they are going to teach my puppy and us They have been clear on everything which I like Overall I give them an amazing review for these reasons
  • Diana Enty
    Jul. 15, 2024
    We were Very satisfied with Dog Training Elite! Our Labrador puppy had the very best training and is now a trained service animal by Dog Training Elite. Most favorite trainer, Felicity, is a True Puppy Whisperer! A rare and greatly appreciated find for our boy! He worships her too! She is always smart, kind and gentle. And extremely effective!
  • AliDrea Arismendez-Garza
    Jul. 15, 2024
    Felicity, is an amazing trainer. She was able to train me so I could better train my boys.She was able to work with both of my boys personalities to bring them to their highest level of training. Thank you Dog Training Elite Dallas, for having the best dog trainers! Mr. Tre, I appreciate your work and service to us VETs and our Service Dogs. I will be forever grateful.
  • kb B
    Jul. 15, 2024
    The team at Dog Training Elite have absolutely changed our lives. Felicity, Tre, and Kyler are incredibly knowledgeable, patient, and kind. On days when I thought my little rescue, Olive, couldn’t possibly learn a new command, they assured me she absolutely would… and she always did. Olive is a completely different dog from when we first started training. Her confidence has grown exponentially and we’re living a really happy life together. I cant recommend or thank Felicity, Tre, and Kyler enough.
  • brandi Ciufi
    Jul. 2, 2024
    Just completed our in-home sessions with DTE and have been so impressed with the individualized attention and customized approach that helped us meet our goals. All the trainers have been top notch and really helpful in assuring our newest family member (and us) are polished up on our manners so we can enjoy each other and life adventures. I must specifically mention Megan as a trainer whose passion and dedication did not go unnoticed and is deeply appreciated. Mufasa and I are looking forward to our group lessons!
  • Forrest Hart
    May. 15, 2024
    We've been working with Dog Training Elite Frisco for almost a year. Kyler and the team have been fantastic to work with in helping train my mom's service dog. Esper is a GSD, and started training as a puppy. She learned her basic obedience quickly with positive reinforcement and the techniques and tools DTE recommended. Quickly moving into her Service and Task training. Now a year later (actually less time) She passed her task training and public access test and goes with us everywhere. She is welcomed at restaurants, grocery stores, department stores, due to her great behavior and provides an invaluable service to my Mom. I highly recommend Dog Training Elite Frisco, Kyler and the team there. Next up is our new 15 week old puppy who will be evaluated soon and start his puppy training.
  • Darwin araujo
    May. 14, 2024
    Just wanted to say thank you so much for the very kind lady called Kelly. She was really good and patient at teach me and my dog. awesome lady
  • Jalissa Martinez
    May. 14, 2024
    loved it. she was so sweet with my dog. this was really good training i definitely recommend!! kelly was such a good trainer my dog is so much better!!
  • Juanita Ace-Bo
    Jul. 3, 2023
    Jordan is patient and calm while training our dog and teaching us what to do. He is great to work with. Lulu learned respect quickly. I would highly recommend him. His dog Atlas was such a sweet dog and very well trained.
  • Laura Riggs
    May. 6, 2024
    We worked with Jordan yesterday and my puppy responded Really well to him and we got lots of great help! Really looking forward to how Clark progresses and to see how the next sessions go.
  • Tracey McAdam
    Apr. 27, 2024
    We contacted Dog Training Elite to help us with Bean, our not so mini mini dachshund who wasn’t great with new people coming into our home especially men. As we are relocating overseas & only had enough time for 4 sessions, the best we hoped for was great advice that we could take with us & put into practice. 4 sessions later we are delighted not just with the advice but the incredible change in Bean’s behaviour! All we can say is a huge thank you to the team at Dog Training Elite not only for accommodating us with so little time but for setting us up to succeed with Bean. A special thanks to our trainers Kyler & Tra. You guys are amazing! Thank you!!!