Dog Obedience Clicker Training
- Clicker training fosters trust between owners and dogsThe dog image by Beausoir from Fotolia.com
Clicker training focuses on timing, positive reinforcement and shaping behavior of a dog without the use of aversive methods. Adding punishment to training does not teach a dog to stop unwanted behavior. Instead, it teaches a dog to fear the person punishing him. When the trainer gives attention to the desired behaviors by the dog by marking them with the clicker sound, it sends the message: "Yes, that's what I want you to do." - Owners and trainers can teach dogs nearly any behavior with the "click and reward" system.german shepherd dog image by Lisa Batty from Fotolia.com
Clicker trainer, Pat Miller, explains there are positive reinforcement techniques trainers use to get a dog to "offer" a behavior that they can click and reward in her book, "The Power of Positive Dog Training." Some of these behaviors come naturally to a dog. For example, dogs sit throughout the day without being asked. A trainer, therefore, can "capture" an emitted behavior like sitting, and click and reward it. After several sits with clicks, trainers can add the word "Sit," wait for the dog to sit, then click and reward. This is an emitted behavior. - Another technique, called "shaping," helps dog trainers teach more complex behaviors in clicker training. "To help a dog learn a complex behavior, the trainer breaks it down into small steps," Miller explains. "Let's say you want to teach a dog to spin in a circle to the left. You could start by capturing a slight turn of the head to the left and click and treat." When a dog consistently turns it head to the left and turns just a little more, you would click and reward that, too. As the turn becomes more complete, the trainer would delay the click until the dog makes a full circle.
- Luring a desired behavior differs from shaping, in that it is elicited: trainers use food as bait to get a dog into a position such as "Down." Trainers hold a treat in front of the dog's nose then move it slowly toward the ground, Miller explains. The dog's head tracks the treat downward and the body follows. When the dog lies down, trainers click and feed the treat. Since the dog was lured into the "Down" position, this technique is considered elicited. Many people make the mistake of pushing on the dog's rear end to put it into a "Down." However, the dog will learn to expect a push from its trainer before lying down (conditioning), rather than moving into this position with just a little luring.
- One of the biggest misconceptions about clicker training is that it teaches a dog to work for food, and that owners will forever need to have a clicker and treats handy in order to maintain good behavior. This is not true. Once a dog reliably sits, lies down or performs any behavior well, trainers don't need to use the clicker, since the dog understands the command. However, trainers recommend that dog owners continue to reward good behavior to sustain a good relationship with their dog.
