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Positive Reinforcement vs. Punishment

Dog Training Elite Milwaukee

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Positive Dog Training Techniques

Positive Reinforcement Dog Training in Milwaukee, WI

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 Milwaukee, WI 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 Milwaukee 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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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 Milwaukee positive reinforcement dog trainers.

Milwaukee Positive Reinforcement Dog Trainers

Dog Training Elite Milwaukee

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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 Milwaukee Difference


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Dog Training Elite Milwaukee uses modern training methods focused on positive dog training using reinforcement and bonding you and your dog. Our trainers in Milwaukee, WI 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 Milwaukee’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 Milwaukee, WI 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 Milwaukee, when you say “sit,” your dog will automatically sit without thinking about it.

Dog Training Elite Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee, WI 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 Milwaukee, WI 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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  • McKenna Knych
    Feb. 9, 2025
    Easy to schedule and set up training. Paul was great to work with!
  • Jurrone Petry
    Feb. 7, 2025
    Wow! Dog Training Elite has truly been a lifesaver for me. When I began the journey of training my service dog, Zeppelin, I never imagined he would learn how to stay calm or master commands like "place". Anina was incredibly patient, kind, and dedicated, with a remarkable "go-getter" attitude that made all the difference. I can’t thank her enough for everything she’s done. I wholeheartedly recommend Dog Training Elite to anyone in need!
  • Catherine Minz
    Feb. 7, 2025
    The in home training was great! Anina was super helpful with answering all my questions and Winnie loved her. It was great we were able to get outside for one of our training sessions. I would highly recommend!
  • Current
    Jan. 31, 2025
    I am a first time pet owner at age 54. Not only that, I decided to purchase the dog of my dreams which is a Great Dane. I was clueless on how to command any of her behaviors including pooping, peeing, and paying attention. Paul, our trainer has given us so much confidence that not only do we recommend him and Dog Training Elite, we are thinking of getting another pooch.
  • Lauren Lemenager
    Jan. 30, 2025
    Anina at Dog Training Elite was wonderful to work with! She showed me what my dog could be with the right training tools. She took the time to educate me in why my dog was behaving in certain ways and showed me how to correct the behavior. I cannot recommend her or Dog Training Elite enough!
  • Mary Jordan
    Jan. 23, 2025
    We worked with Paul from Dog Training Elite Milwaukee over the last few months and he was wonderful! He taught us so much each session about how to approach dog training and worked really well with our dog, Belle. She loves him and was always excited to see him. We saw really great improvement in Belle's manners. He was really great at developing a tailored approach for our specific needs. Would highly recommend!!
  • Tiffany Kohlbeck
    Dec. 13, 2024
    Mary is amazing! My dog struggles with anxiety and Mary’s training honestly changed our lives. We can enjoy things with our dog that we just couldn’t before like super long walks, company coming over without being nervous about our dogs reaction. Mary is so patient and amazing to work with. I typically do not write many reviews but she is so worth it. Highly recommend!
  • Martayla Scott
    Dec. 7, 2024
    I couldn’t be happier with my dog training experience with Paul. From start to finish, he was incredibly nice, friendly, and professional, creating a welcoming environment for both me and my dog. Paul was tailored to our specific goals, and we reached them successfully. The methods used were effective, and I could see clear improvements in my dog’s behavior after each session. Most importantly, It’s such a relief to have a well-behaved dog and the tools to continue reinforcing the skills we learned. I highly recommend Paul to anyone looking for real results and a positive experience!
  • Tracy Mayfield
    Dec. 4, 2024
    I could not have been happier with my experience with Anina from the start to the finish. She is such a professional and has a real gift with handling dogs. Both Charlie and I are going to miss her! Highly recommend Dog Training Elite Milwaukee.
  • Nycole Torres
    Nov. 26, 2024
    I cannot say enough great things about Anina! From day one, she has been incredibly knowledgeable, patient, and understanding in working with my shepherd mix to train her as a service dog. The progress we've seen in her been amazing – Belle has gone from being a rambunctious and stubborn puppy to a calm, more obedient companion. Our training sessions has helped my bond with Belle grow significantly. At first, her energy was overwhelming and frustrating. Anina tailors each session to my needs and has provided me with the tools and skills to continue reinforcing the training at home. It's clear she truly cares about our success since Belle is training to be a service dog. I’m so grateful for all the support and guidance, and I’m confident that with Anina's help, my dog will be ready to serve and assist me in every way I need. I highly recommend her and this company!
  • Lily Rivera
    Nov. 15, 2024
    Very impressed with the results we have seen!! This is the Second dog that has been trained by Dog Training Elite and I recommend it to everyone who asks where we took our dogs for training! Anina was amazing with our stubborn little guy! We learned so much and our dog is in a place that we never thought was possible!!
  • michelle lodge
    Nov. 14, 2024
    Dog Training Elite has been helping train our sheepadoodle Billie and me. Anina has been great! She has been very knowledgeable and patient with me and Billie. I am a paraplegic and training Billie to be a service dog. We are seeing improvements with Billie and know the more we put into her and her training the better service dog Billie will be. Looking forward to group classes. I highly recommend Dog Training Elite
  • Casey O'Donnell
    Nov. 1, 2024
    Working with Anina has been fantastic! She is an excellent dog trainer, who is very knowledgeable and patient. Lemmy was always SO excited for his training sessions!
  • Karen Stardy
    Oct. 1, 2024
    Paul and Aninia are the best trainers in the world. You may think this is to expensive but it has been worth every penny. The first dog we took was by referral as she is a service dog. The other two we are taking are for obedience and have asked for Paul and Aninia specifically because Paul can get through to my husband and make him understand dog must obey. The last half of their training will be very hard as it will mean driving back and forth between Stevens Point and Glendale. We're moving. Happy to do considering fantastic results of first dog. I have Parkisons and so don't sleep well at night and she is my mobility service dog. So worked well to train then. I know we will get the same results on the German Shepherds. I have confidence in Mary and her crew.
  • Nicole Wolf
    Sep. 25, 2024
    Mary was great to work with. When I reached out to Dog Training Elite, I was at my wits end with my reactive dog. I no longer was enjoying our walks, and they had become a point of stress in my life. Mary provided me with the tools to refocus my dog and reduce her reactivity, and I can say we are both enjoying our walks more. This training is not just for your dog, it's also for you. What I've learned has made me a better dog owner.
  • MELISSA PALACIOS
    Sep. 1, 2024
    My dog and I had a pleasant experience with Dog Training Elite. It made a huge difference training my dog, Bianco! I highly recommend it. Both Mary and Anina were amazing! We mostly worked with Anina, she was very friendly, knowledgeable, and patient. She did great with not only teaching my dog Bianco, but also focusing on teaching my sister and I how to train him. Before starting training, my dog would bark excessively, pull on walks, and react to other dogs/people/cars. Now my dog is more calm and a much better listener, which has strengthened our bond. Many thanks to you both!
  • Janet Gauger
    Aug. 30, 2024
    Anina was just great! Even stopped over on her own time when we had difficulty adjusting the prong collar. Maggie just loved her! Would highly recommend Anina.
  • Tamarra
    Aug. 19, 2024
    Paul and Mary did an amazing job in working with Journey (my Goldendoodle) and I. As a new puppy parent, learning the different facets of this particular breed and bonding with my new pup, had its challenges. However, with Paul and Mary's help, we were able to get though the trainings, successfully. Their skills and experience in training dogs to be service animals is incredible. Paul was my direct trainer, and he is knowledgeable, consistent and patient as a trainer. Something we really needed. I am grateful for the support that Paul and Mary provided on my journey, with Journey. Many thanks to you both!
  • Cindy Sancinati
    Jul. 25, 2024
    The? People that sent me paul yang. Was a very good gentleman.Help me a lot with training. I would recommend if you guys need help with training Your dog for support. They are very good people and they work very well.
  • Marina Steger
    Jul. 12, 2024
    My dog is my whole world, but he has developed some behavioral issues, such as being weary of strangers, excessive barking, and reactiveness to other dogs. Mary worked closely with me and him for a few months to help resolve these issues, and within the first few sessions I noticed a drastic improvement. She was patient with him and very informative. We still have work to do, but Mary and this company has given me the tools and resources to help me give my dog the best life I can. I 100% recommend this service.