Reward-based methods don't just work with "easy" dogsthey work with all different breeds and different types of dog personalities. One great advantage is that you don't have to be physically stronger than your puppy to get her to do what you want. With old-fashioned training, whoever could muscle the dog into doing something got results. But what if your puppy is an exuberant 40-pound (18.1-kg) Golden Retriever mix? You want your puppy to work for all members of your family, not just those who are stronger than she is. What good is it if your puppy stops jumping on the adults but continues to leap on the kids? Reward-based training does not rely on brawn; it relies on brains. You don't out-muscle your puppyyou outsmart her!

Using physical punishment to discipline your puppy can backfire. Some of the old-fashioned ways to punish a puppy include scruff shakes, the "alpha roll," and spanking. These actions easily teach your puppy to be afraid of your hands, which can create aggressive or shy puppies. The best way to discipline your puppy is to train her to do what you want. Instead of getting frustrated at her for doing something wrong, teach her to do something right. If you do have a situation where you need to let your puppy know she did something wrong, use a stern voice only. If you use a pleasant voice to train and ploy with your puppy, and only use
your "discipline voice" when she does something wrong, she will easily recognize when you are displeased. Wouldn't it be much easier to control your puppy with your voice rather than having to get physical?

Another great advantage of using reward-based methods is that it works very well with puppies who are shy or timid. If you try to train a scared puppy by punishing her every time she does something wrong while learning a task, you'll likely create a really scared puppy. This puppy may start lifting her lip or growling or snapping at you because she is afraid. She's trying to make the scary teacher go away. By using reward-based methods with a shy dog, you'll teach the puppy that learning is fun. She'll gain confidence the more she learns, and she'll be more likely to become bolder and less afraid of her environment and the people around her.

A common myth about reward-based training is that it's for permissive puppy parents and that, if you use positive methods, you'll end up with a puppy who walks all over you and thinks she's "the boss." This is not true. Just because you use positive methods doesn't make you a pushover! You can easily use rewards and still be the leader of your pack. You should still set up rules and a structure for your puppy to live by. If you use reward-based training methods, it's actually easier for you to be in charge because you'll control all the good things your puppy wants.