Clicker Training Your Dog – What Is It?
Clicker Training is training using positive reinforcement – teaching your dog to learn – using no physical compulsion or corrections whatsoever. Instead of yanking dogs around, shoving them into place, giving some praise, and hoping the dog will make the connection, dogs are taught using the scientific methods of classical and operant conditioning.
This is the same method used to train the whales and dolphins and other creatures at Sea World. Anyone who’s been there knows that these wondrous creatures perform flawlessly for audience after audience and, at the same time, enjoy doing it.
The enjoyment feature is the key. You love you dogs and you want them to be responsive, but you dislike hurting them! With clicker training you don’t have to. This training works for every dog, from bold to timid, from tiny to giant. It is the same training method used to train animals for movie and TV work.
The clicker itself is a simple toy-like device that is used in the initial stages of training any behavior. It provides clear and precise communication between owner and dog and allows you both to concentrate on and enjoy the task at hand. You click at the exact moment the dog is performing whatever it is you want, and since you always follow that click with a tasty treat, the dog will learn to love the sound and the work to make that sound happen! As part of the training, you teach the dog hand and/or verbal signals for each behavior. As the dog learns these, you phase out the clicker. It has completed its function, which was to communicate to your dog which behavior you desired.
With positive reinforcement training there is no more forcing a dog to learn. Instead, the dog becomes eager to learn! Tasty food treats are the primary reinforcers at first because they are easy to use. However, other reinforcements are used as well from squeaky toys to playing games. A dog properly trained this way will not be dependent upon food in order to respond.
Clicker training can be used to teach your dog regular pet obedience type behaviors (such as loose-leash walking) as well as more advanced competition, trick or service behaviors. You will love it… and so will your dog!
You can learn more about dog training and Clicker Training at my Best Puppy Kits dog training site.
You can get the tasty treats used with Clicker Training from Wholesome Pet Supply.
