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Positive Reinforcement vs. Punishment

Positive Reinforcement Dog Training in Katy, TX

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Positive Dog Training Techniques

Katy Positive Reinforcement Dog Trainers

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 Katy, 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 Katy 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 Katy positive reinforcement dog trainers.

Positive Dog Training in Katy, TX

Dog Training Elite

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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 Katy Difference


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

Dog Training Elite Katy 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 Katy, 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 Katy, 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

  • Alfonso Avelar
    Sep. 10, 2025
    I am pleased to recommend Jan as a professional dog trainer. Jan possesses an exceptional ability to guide dog owners in becoming effective handlers. His approach includes thorough explanations of canine behaviors and practical strategies for correction, fostering a strong bond between owners and their dogs while effectively addressing challenges. Throughout our training term, Jan was consistently available for phone consultations to discuss any issues that arose, and he provided insightful solutions during our subsequent classes. His commitment to his clients and their dogs is truly commendable. I strongly endorse Jan as an outstanding choice for your dog’s training needs. The success of dog training is contingent not only on the dogs themselves but significantly on the expertise of the trainer, and Jan exemplifies this standard.
  • Kelsey Broussard
    Aug. 15, 2025
    Jackson was fantastic with my dog, Leo! He was patient, understanding, and explained things in a way that made it all feel easy and stress-free. Leo has learned so much, and our bond has strengthened in the process. I couldn’t be happier with the results!
  • chris mondelli
    Aug. 12, 2025
    This is the second and by far the best trainers we used. Ash and Mikayla are awesome!! They are patient and very good at explaining what needs to be done while answering all questions. We will be returning our Yogi to get certified as a service dog
  • j watson
    Aug. 2, 2025
    Jan did a fantastic job helping train Luna. She is officially a service dog now. The whole team at Dog Elite were great. Thanks Alex, Jan, Ashley and front office! Just 7 months and Luna went from unruly, disobedient, hard headed to a FANTASTIC SERVICE DOG for my daughter. We can't thank you enough.
  • Taylor Grimes
    Jul. 28, 2025
    Jackson helped train our office dog that works with clients. He was incredibly patient as the staff learned the proper ways to work with the proper commands.
  • Lauren Lentini
    Jul. 23, 2025
    Exceptional experience with Dog Training Elite - Jan is Amazing! We recently had the pleasure of working with Jan from Dog Training Elite for our Cane Corso, Murray. From our first meeting, it was clear that Jan is not only a highly skilled trainer but also deeply passionate about dogs and their owners. Jan tailored our training sessions specifically to meet the needs of our Cane Corso, taking the time to understand his unique personality and behavior. His approach is both compassionate and effective, helping to build a strong bond of trust between us. Jan's expertise in addressing specific behavioral issues has made a world of difference in our dog's responsiveness and overall demeanor. One of the standout aspects of Jan's training is his ability to communicate complex concepts in easily understandable terms. He provided us with practical tools and techniques that we could implement at home, making it easy to reinforce the training in our daily routine. What impressed us most was Jan's patience and dedication. He genuinely cares about the success of his clients. With his guidance, we have become more confident in ourselves and Murray’s potential to become a well mannered balanced dog we can take anywhere. We wholeheartedly recommend Jan and Dog Training Elite to anyone in need of dog training services. Whether you have a puppy or a more challenging breed, Jan has the skills and knowledge to make a positive impact. Thank you, Jan, for your incredible work and for helping us create a harmonious relationship with our Cane Corso!
  • Mariel Martin
    Jul. 23, 2025
    If you are considering a training place for your dog, this is definitely the place I’d recommend for you. The trainers are very professional, the process is very easy, and the prices are very competitive. I was able to get my two dogs started in training in less than two weeks. Mikaela is super nice and helpful, and the trainers Jan and Ash are the best! So patient, so dedicated, and knowledgeable. My dogs are now at week 2 of in facility training and they are doing great!
  • Dax DeCristofaro
    Jul. 21, 2025
    We are extremely pleased with our experience with DTE Katy and their team. Our trainer Ashley ( Ash ) is extremely knowledgeable, patient and understanding. Thank you Ash, Alex, Michaela and Jan for your continued guidance in this process.
  • Hoss H.
    Jul. 16, 2025
    Dog Training Elite knows their stuff! They can get the job done! They have plans to fit any situation! My trainer is awesome and has done a great job so far! I'm excited to see the total outcome when all is completed! And all the follow-up group sessions that are available will make my puppy stay on top of everything!
  • Lauren LeCompte
    Jun. 30, 2025
    I am so pleased and so very impressed with our experience. Ash is extremely knowledgeable, patient, attentive, and overall a great trainer for our dog and teacher for us humans. She has managed to achieve results that I never thought possible for our dog. Michaela has been great as well. I could truly go on and on about how wonderful our experience has been.
  • Shawn Hogan
    Jun. 19, 2025
    Jan has done a great job with training Hannah as well as showing me all that is needed to help Hannah attain her goals. Would recommend Dog Training Elite to all of my friends.
  • Kate Stouffer
    May. 21, 2025
    Ash was wonderful with our dog Louie - very kind and patient with him while still being firm with the skills he needed to learn!
  • cali brady
    May. 9, 2025
    Ash was such a great dog trainer, and was so friendly to our family. My dog Kava has learned so much and we are so excited for her to learn more through Dog Training Elite.
  • Valeria Perez
    May. 8, 2025
    Jackson is great and patient with us! I appreciate all the work he put us to do and how well he is with Cooper! Little by little he gets better and better
  • Linda M. Frank
    May. 8, 2025
    Dog Training Elite has been one of the best investments my husband & I have made. Our shepherd is night and day in comparison to where we began. We are excited to see where his training will continue to guide both him and us. We really appreciate our trainer, Jackson. He has taken the time to hear our concerns & always leaves us with feedback & ways to combat my dog Rams tendencies to rush & jump on me. We continue to be a work in progress but seeing as though I couldn’t simply walk Ram on a leash before without being dragged down the street, to him letting me to take the lead now, listening to basic obedience and continues to improve with his behavior has been a joy for us. We 100% recommend Dog Training Elite, we felt good about this decision from the beginning when we had our assessment. Again, the trainer then gave us so much insight & that was before we even decided to move forward with the training.
  • Morgan Bingham
    Apr. 25, 2025
    After getting the free assessment from a very helpful and informative trainer, Jan Hernandez, I decided to get the platinum in home training for my aggressive and anxious dog. It’s been 3 weeks and I can already see exciting improvement. Jan is my dogs trainer he is very professional and his confidence and knowledge of dogs puts my mind at ease that he knows what he’s doing. He is able to answer every question I have has a great advice, tricks and tips for training. And anytime I have questions during the week someone responds with help. I’d really recommend dog training elite and Jan if you are looking for dog training and if you have an aggressive anxious/reactive dog like me. Also side note- My dog, at the free assessment, who is 60lbs, who’s hair was sticking up, and was aggressively barking at Jan to the point of standing up (my dog was held back by a leash) Jan immediately calmed him down after meeting him just that moment! My crazy dog was acting like himself after being aggressive a second prior! It was very cool.
  • Stefanie Cruz
    Apr. 9, 2025
    Dog training has been such a worthwhile investment both for my dog and myself. Everything we have been working on has helped so much to increase impulse control and decrease separation anxiety, and has given us tools to deal with his reactivity. This is our foster and I feel hopeful that training has given him the chance and structure he never had and we will get him to an adoptable place. Highly recommend!
  • Edward Rivas
    Mar. 25, 2025
    Ashley and Jan have been awesome, my American bully has transformed and we still have 3 more days to go. Great experience and big improvement with my pup. Everyone at the facility is very polite and informative.
  • Sheila Whitford
    Feb. 1, 2025
    Jan, Alex, and Jackson are exemplars with my dog Twain . However, most important, they know how to coach the dog owner. I could not have found a better company then Elite Dog Training.
  • Leticia Mathews
    Jan. 28, 2025
    John is Excellent outstanding trainer has great understanding of my pet behavior and needs. Awesome detail explanations of any questions to improve/enforce the proper technique training.