Positive Reinforcement vs. Punishment

Dog Training Elite Rhode Island

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Positive Dog Training Techniques

Positive Reinforcement Dog Training in Providence / New Bedford, RI

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 Providence / New Bedford, RI 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 Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island

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 Providence / New Bedford positive reinforcement dog trainers.

Providence / New Bedford Positive Reinforcement Dog Trainers

Dog Training Elite Rhode Island

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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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One of our trainers will visit your home to meet you and your dog and discuss any issues you're facing. We will then demonstrate one of our model dogs so you can see what you can expect after hiring our trainers. From there, we will discuss the various packages we offer and which we feel best suit your (and your dog's) needs.
We provide full obedience training that covers all basic commands, both on and off-leash. Our in-home visits target specific issues like counter-surfing, digging, and more. Unlike some trainers, we work with all breeds, including those often considered challenging.
Yes. You (and anyone in your family who wants to be involved) are integral to your dog getting trained. We need you to practice 5-6 days a week, about 15-20 minutes a day for optimal results.
Once a week. We come to you (with the silver, gold and platinum packages) once a week to start your dog off, then you come to park sessions which are held once a week in Providence / New Bedford.
We train dogs of all breeds, sizes, and temperaments. Whether your dog is a tiny Chihuahua or a large Mastiff, we have the experience and expertise to work with them.
A recent dog graduate sitting in front of a Dog Training Elite Rhode Island car, contact us today for positive dog training in Providence / New Bedford, RI.

The Dog Training Elite Rhode Island Difference


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

Dog Training Elite Rhode Island 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 Providence / New Bedford, RI 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 Providence / New Bedford, RI 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

  • Paul Seippel
    Nov. 3, 2024
    Great instruction done with the utmost patience and professionalism. I highly recommend Danielle and Ellie Dog Training!!
  • cheryl martel
    Nov. 2, 2024
    I love Elite dog training. Danielle is wonderful with all dogs and their parents. I have seen such an improvement in my dog's behavior since we have been going to classes and so much better with other dogs and people. i would highly recommend Elite dog training for a well behaved dog!
  • Julian Trilling
    Oct. 30, 2024
    I HIGHLY recommend DTE! I could not say enough about how amazing this has been. Finn, my standard poodle, just graduated basic obedience training today! He's training to be a service dog, and he's doing so well. I love that the private lessons are at my home. The setup is that you do five one on one classes, then join group classes to reinforce all the skills you and your dog learn in the one on one sessions. Danielle has been INCREDIBLE. I went into this feeling terrified that I wouldn't be able to do this training with Finn, but Danielle has broken it up into easy to digest pieces, with each skill building on the previous one. She is kind, gentle, observant, amazing with dogs (of course), and a fantastic teacher, and her presence immediately puts me at ease, which makes it so much easier for me to work with Finn. The lessons are fun and practical, and even include practicing skills on walks in my own neighborhood. Finn and I are both learning so fast, and I wouldn't have been able to do any of this without Danielle. She's unbelievably supportive, not judgemental in the slightest, and really good at troubleshooting in ways I would never have thought of. As someone who cannot afford to get a pre-trained service dog, I find the price to be quite reasonable for what I'm getting, and it is worth every penny. Remember, you're not paying for a puppy class, you're paying for serious obedience training. It's worth the money. Also, the training package comes with group classes for life, so we can go any time we need to practice, even after he's certified. I've had an amazing experience so far, and I'm so excited for the next step! I'm so glad I found this place! I'd give more than five stars if I could. ✨❤️✨
  • Jack
    Sep. 24, 2024
    I’d like to be president of Danielle’s fan club when theres a job opening. She transformed my 1 yr old Black Mouth Cur into a happily obedient roommate. Danielle is accomplished and elegant with dogs, patient and quietly firm until she gets the desired results. It’s been an amazingly happy and positive experience that we will expand and treasure for many years to come. So worth it!
  • Charles Peckham Jr.
    Sep. 2, 2024
    Danielle is the BEST! She is one of those people who just has a natural "connection" with dogs. She is very patient, kind, understanding, and extremely helpful. I can't say enough good things about her, and I'm so glad we are lucky enough to have found her for our training. 😊
  • Charles
    Sep. 2, 2024
    Danielle is the BEST! She is one of those people who just has a natural "connection" with dogs. She is very patient, kind, understanding, and extremely helpful. I can't say enough good things about her, and I'm so glad we are lucky enough to have found her for our training.
  • Michelle Pacheco
    Aug. 31, 2024
    Danielle is absolutely fantastic! She has a true understanding of each dog's temperament and abilities. She knows just how far to push them each class so that they can reach their full potential.
  • Donna Zannelli
    Aug. 18, 2024
    Danielle is amazing! She has been working with me and our newly adopted Alaskan Malamute, Storm. She has been patient and kind as Storm and I work together to become a pet therapy team. Storm adores Danielle and enjoys every class we attend.
  • Donna Zannelli
    Aug. 18, 2024
    I adopted a two year old Alaskan Malamute. When we got her, she was nervous, suffered from separation anxiety, and constantly used her big paws to get our attention. Danielle has been so patient and kind with both me and our Storm. Working with Danielle, Storm now walks on a lead with confidence, no long uses her paws to get our attention, and can now be left alone at home without her howling or being destructive. Storm actually looks forward to our lessons, and so do I. Danielle has helped us become a team. I highly recommend Danielle and Dog Training Elite to anyone who has a dog, regardless of their age or breed!
  • T Tat
    Jul. 8, 2024
    Danielle is an amazing trainer! I couldn’t recommend her enough. She was patient and kind during all sessions. My dog is an amazing service animal thanks to Danielle and it’s made a huge difference in my life.
  • Andrew Frisch
    Jun. 22, 2024
    Danielle is the best by far of dog trainers I've known. She knows what she's doing and does it exceptionally well.
  • Paul Fickenwirth
    Jun. 6, 2024
    Danielle helped us to train our Great Dane puppy in no time. We have a toddler and a new born in our house and we wanted to be sure Ringo would be gentle and respectful of the kid’s personal as well as listen to all his commands. With Danielle’s help, we were able to get our 7 month old, 70 lbs, Great Dane to place where we feel comfortable with him around not just the toddler, but the new born baby and guests as wel with minimal supervision.
  • paul
    May. 20, 2024
    Outstanding training and outstanding results. Our minigoldendoodle was a wild one until we enrolled him. After 5 lessons he is a pleasure to have. The group lessons are a plus as our pooch does not interact with bigger dogs like he does at group class. The decision to use Danielle proved to be very well worth it!
  • Robin Cook
    May. 11, 2024
    Danielle is amazing!! She has trained our Dutch Shepherd puppy and totally transformed her. She has learned so much from her private lessons and our group lessons. I highly recommend Danielle at Dog Training Elite!
  • Pat Small
    May. 6, 2024
    Danielle is amazing. You can tell her love for dogs as soon as you meet her. She is so patient, and her instruction is very clear. Our dog Odie has made great strides in his training both at home and in group. I highly recommend Danielle at Dog Training Elite.
  • James Lampman
    May. 4, 2024
    Dog Training Elite RI has been a game-changer for Sully, our dog, thanks to the exceptional training provided by Danielle. Her commands for both the dog and the trainer are comprehensive and effortlessly understood. She is undeniably a seasoned expert in her field. I highly recommend her services to anyone, regardless of their dog’s breed or size.
  • Shannon Tacelli
    Apr. 26, 2024
    We reached out to Danielle regarding our 6 year old hound mix who’s part beagle and we are not sure what else. Lexi was your typical dog, behaved generally well and knew commands such as sit, stay, down, etc. She barked at pretty much anything, and would jump on anyone who walked through our door to try to lick their face. Fast forward to late 2022 we noticed Lexi become more skittish and would appear anxious since our son would at times lunge at her unexpectedly. This lasted through the year and she was getting more and more anxious. Fast forward to winter of 2023, our son HATED bath time for a bit as two year olds do, and Lexi started to not quite attack me when clean up his toys but would get aggressive and put herself between me and the toys I was trying to clean. We resorted to locking her in a room at bedtime for my safety since I was pregnant at the time. She also started going after our dog when other dogs would just walk by our home, or if we accidentally so much as stepped on her paw, she would attack our other dog, most times drawing blood. We were at a point of, “do we re-home her”, we have young children and we’re not sure we could trust her to not hurt them or us. This was a dog who completely changed from an easygoing dog to one who became so anxious with children in the home. We are BEYOND grateful to Danielle for coming and working with us, it saved our first baby and showed us that if you put in the love, time, and effort you can also have your beloved pet back. Danielle came out in the end of March for our first one on one session. After the first class we practiced the “come, off, quiet” and within that first week, we noticed a big difference with her barking, jumping on people and coming after me at bedtime. Others who came over that she normally jumped on also noticed a big difference. As the weeks went on, we continued through the program and we got Lexi to the point of being on a leash not pulling, lunging at other dogs and was able to walk along side Danielle’s dog in the final one on one. If you are hesitating, do we try this?, DO IT! We have a completely different dog back and she listens better than she ever has. We are so grateful for this training.
  • Benjamin Phillips
    Apr. 23, 2024
    Danielle was great. We have a 10 month old bully mix who is very energetic we also have a child on the way and knew we needed help before she arrives. She helped us to get him to listen to us and follow directions both around the house and while out on walks. We have seen steady improvement with our dog as his training progresses.
  • Seth Jablonki
    Apr. 23, 2024
    I am a student at Roger Williams University working on a dog scent project. I couldn’t have been happier with picking Dog Training Elite to help me out. Kona was very well trained puppy who showed great work doing her smell training. I would highly recommended this company for all type of training. Danel greatly helped me out answering any and all questions I had. And she did it with a smile on her face the entire time.
  • John Babb
    Mar. 30, 2024
    In Dec 2022 I brought home an 8 week old, highly energetic, husky malamute shepherd mix. It was immediately clear that I needed more training than I knew at the time and I enlisted the help and expertise of Danielle at Dog Training Elite. I started with the puppy training package which provided the fundamentals. I then followed that with Advanced Training, which built on the fundamentals and included e-collar training and group classes. The group classes are where the rubber meets the road and the practice of all the training you’ve done comes together in practical application. Danielle excels at providing patient instruction to the dog and the owner. She offers solutions to problems that aren’t a one size fits all solution. I chose Danille because I highly valued a balanced training approach that came by way of treats and praise, as well as using the modern tools at our disposal including prong collars and e-collars. The e-collar is an invaluable communication tool and I knew it would be the right method for my dog. I highly recommend Danielle, her approach, and her training.