Monday, November 1, 2010

Why Using A Clicker Will Speed Up Training And Make You The Star In Your Puppy Training Classes

By Michael Ford

How would you like to reduce the amount of time it takes to train your dog and be the idol of your peers in puppy training classes? Let me introduce you to the dog clicker: a effective and surprisingly simple device that can make a huge difference in the speed with which your puppy learns. Making use of clickers has been shown to drop training time by about 33 percent.

A clicker is an inexpensive device usually made of plastic that makes a distinct clicking sound. You may use a clicker intended specifically for dog training, or another device that can make a predictable, reproducible sound when needed, such as a retractable pen or a juice cap.

Clickers work by associating the sound with approval immediately after your puppy does what is asked of him. By getting this feedback in a timely and consistent fashion, he will come to know very quickly when he does what is asked, and training behaviors will get much easier. Verbal praise has the problem of being inconsistent, and sometimes delayed by several seconds, which is long enough to potentially confuse your dog.

The other problem with using your voice is that your intonation can vary from day to day, as could the specific words you use. Clickers provide consistency and reliability.

To begin with, you want to let your dog see that the clicker represents positive feedback. The way you do this is by associating it with what he already sees as positive, namely verbal praise, petting, and treats. Provide some attention and a treat to your dog and make a click. Wait a few moments, then repeat. Pretty soon he will associate the clicker with your approval.

At this point, use the clicker with treats or praise during training to tell your dog that he has done exactly what you are looking for.

Too many treats during training can lead to your dog becoming overweight. In order to prevent this very real problem, keep the size of your treats very small. A good rule of thumb is to keep your treats to about half the size of your thumbnail.

Once your dog learns the behavior you are trying to teach, you do not have to continue using the clicker for that command anymore.

Using a clicker for puppy training classes will help you get the most out of your sessions, and will quickly transform your dog into an obedient, well-behaved companion.

About the Author:

>
AddThis Social Bookmark Button

0 comments: