Not yet registered? Create a OverBlog!

Create my blog

A guide to clicker training for dogs

Dogs learn well throughout their entire lives, and most are eager, enthusiastic and want to please their owners. There are different ways of training your dog, and clicker training is one such method. Find out more about this training method in this article.

What it is

Put simply, clicker training centres around a small device with a push button, which gives off a double click when pressed. This click is backed up with a reward of some kind, and becomes a signal to the dog that its behaviour is good. The click always means the same thing: it is consistent and unemotional. Most importantly, it is not affected by the dog owner's mood. Even if you try to sound enthusiastic when you are having a bad day, the dog can still sense that something isn't quite right.

Discovery

Clicker training was used in the 1950s when training marine mammals, and wasn't used for dogs until much later. The principles of clicker training actually work with all animals, and were eventually recognised as an accessible way of pet training in the home. Karen Pryor was the first person to make this possible, by developing the small hand-held clicker used nowadays.

Rewards

The most effective reward to use for a dog is food. Even though a pet dog is used to being fed regularly, it does not stop its acting instinctively around food. Choose something tasty and fairly strong-smelling (so that the dog knows that you have it) which can be cut into small pieces and eaten quickly. Save your dog's favourite food for occasions when the best results are needed, for example at a competition. The dog must not snatch the food, it must wait to be given the food, and it is important to adjust the dog's diet accordingly in order to accommodate the extra food that it is receiving.

Getting started

Clicker training is something that works throughout the day, and not just in short periods of time devoted solely to training. Good behaviour is marked by a click, and followed rapidly by a reward of food. This must happen in quick succession so that the dog associates the good behaviour with the click and reward. A piece of advice
Be careful not to click near the dog's ears as it is quite a loud noise, and unpleasant for the dog if it is too close. Clicker training is something which works very well when built up gradually, and many trainers offer classes in order to help dog owners to train their pets in this way.

Same category articles Pets

A guide to importing rare animals

A guide to importing rare animals

There are strict laws and regulations surrounding the import and export of rare or exotic animals. so, it is extremely important to carefully consider and research the animal that you wish to keep. this article will cover some of the basic considerations that must be taken before even thinking of importing any type of rare pet.
A guide to puppy rescue

A guide to puppy rescue

If you are an animal lover, it might seem like the ideal way to help out is to get an abandoned or abused puppy from the rspca. pet rescue or pet adoption schemes are certainly a good way of helping the fight for animal rights, but it is not something to be taken lightly. so, what are the pitfalls,what do you need to think about and how do you go about getting a puppy from an animal home?
All about: The white Siberian Husky

All about: the white siberian husky

The white siberian husky is an ancient breed of dog originating in siberia and exported to america. it was used by gold miners and became a popular sledge dog. later on, it became a popular racing dog and it was used by the u.s. military. however, it has also become a show dog and a much desired family pet.
Where to buy a dog first aid kit

Where to buy a dog first aid kit

While most family homes will have a well-stocked first aid kit ready in case of various accidents, not many of us have yet considered purchasing a pet first aid kit for prividing essential first aid for dogs. if you have recently bought a puppy or rescue dog, it is well worth learning about where to purchase a dog first aid kit, to be prepared.