Canine Clicker Training Isn't Just About Teaching Cute Little Tricks

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Can Effective Canine Clicker Training Save Your Dog's Life?

A lot of people think that the only thing canine clicker training is good for is teaching cute little tricks. Things like "high five", jumping through hoops, or grabbing a cola from the refrigerator.

Canine clicker training certainly is effective for shaping these kinds of behaviors. However, an even more effective application for canine clicker training is teaching your dog basic commands. Things like, come, stay, sit, wait, stand, heel and most important, STOP!

Go to ClickerTrainingSecrets.com for more information and solutions to your dog's basic behavior problems.

My Frustration With Canine Clicker Training 

A short story about how I almost gave up on clicker training . . .

Our first dog Maggie was so easy to train! A cocker spaniel and golden retriever mix, Maggie seemed to be totally focused on the clicker and picked up everything I taught her quite easily.

Canine Clicker TrainingAs a licensed veterinary technician I was eager to share my positive clicker training with co-workers and clients. I didn't like what I was seeing in my community. Everyone seemed convinced that the only way to train a dog properly was with a choke collar.

Then I rescued Penny, a Jack Russell Terrier. I figured since clicker training worked so well on Maggie, I was an expert and would be able to teach Penny easily. WRONG!

Training Penny was nothing like training Maggie. It was like night and day. I didn't understand what I was doing wrong. I had read all the popular clicker books and was following their advice exactly.

Canine Clicker TrainingMy husband and I could not teach Penny a reliable COME. People drive very fast down our road and letting Penny off her leash in our yard was a recipe for disaster. I didn't want to do it but I was ready to call the electronic fence company. I hated the idea of a shock collar but I didn't know what else to do. I felt like a total failure.

Then I discovered ClickerTrainingSecrets. Why hadn't I heard of this book before now? It didn't take long before I quickly realized the essential mistake I was making.

Thank god I did--because it saved Penny from the shock collar (which probably wouldn't have worked anyway--given her terrier drive) and saved us a lot of money!

Click here to visit ClickerTrainingSecrets.com and discover what I learned.

Canine Clicker Training Video 

A good example of how to be a bad dog trainer.

Unfortunately, I know a lot of people who think this a good way to train dogs. Ugh! Don't worry if your dog has already been exposed to a "bad" trainer. There's still hope. These are called "crossover" dogs and Clicker Training Secrets explains how to make a smooth transition over to clicker training.

And yes, the dog in the video was trained using a clicker. :-)

WARNING:

9 out of 10 clicker trainers use the technology poorly! Clicker training is like a race car. Great speed potential but you must know how to drive it!

The Basics of Canine Clicker Training 

Canine clicker training uses a scientifically tested learning theory known as operant conditioning. These principles were first discovered and tested by two psychologists, John Watson and B.F. Skinner.

Once considered "radical", the science of operant conditioning suggests that learning is predictable and governed by laws. It also implies that all creatures--human, dogs, cats, pigs, apes, insects, fish--learn basically the same way.

The most important central principle of operant conditioning is this:


Behavior is governed by its consequences.


Instead of using signal or commands to prompt certain behaviors, operant conditioning shows that what comes AFTER a behavior has a stronger influence.

No--clicker training isn't rocket science. It's behavior science. Visit Clicker Training Secrets for more information on how you can use this training method to train your dog without even speaking to him!

For More Information on Canine Clicker Training 

The Canine Clicker Training Blog 

To learn even more about canine clicker training . . .

Be sure to visit my blog on Clicker Training Dogs

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Canine Clicker Training Articles 

Here's some more articles I've written about clicker training dogs and puppies . . .

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Dog Parents Unite 

What experiences have you had with canine clicker training?

Michelle_Claire wrote...

I haven't tried it. But I intend to do so now. Thanks

ReplyPosted November 25, 2008