The Background and Use of Clicker Training For Dogs
Presently, and throughout the 1990s a phenomena swept through the dog-lover's community. It was called "Clicker Training," and was implemented to teach dogs (along with horses and cats) that certain behaviors would be awarded, while others were not. Ms. Karen Pryor, a former dolphin trainer and author, along with a team of "Operant Trainers" started giving presentations at dog shows. They displayed how the small plastic device (about half the size of a bottle-opener) could be used to train dogs to do a number of "tricks," in just a few days; tricks that would've taken months or even years to learn before. The idea of using an acoustic sound or "click" to stimulate desired behaviors is called "operant conditioning" and was first used with dolphins and whales as early as the 1930s. This idea evolved and was formulated for other types of animals. These animals, like their dolphin predecessors, were "conditioned" to perform desired behaviors or actions. Clicker Training is entirely based on a system of positive reinforcement with no punishment for undesired behavior. The clicker is clicked to let the dog know that he did something (i.e. sat, didn't chew or jumped over a box, etc.) right. The system is designed to shape behavior by allowing the animal to do something for which he will then be rewarded with a click and a treat. It is NOT designed (as old training methods were) for the dog owner to physically manipulate the animal to sit, for example. Modern animal behaviorists find that animals learn more by themselves than when someone "shows" them how they should react in a situation. If this idea is still hard to grasp, think about dolphins; or better yet, killer whales. There is no way that a trainer is going to physically manipulate a whale to jump out of the water. However, whales jump out of the water (at least partially) without conditioning. When these same whales jump out of the water, hear the "click" (or some associated sound), and then receive a treat, they quickly associate jumping out of the water as a positive behavior. Once that connection is made, trainers gradually increase what it takes (a higher jump) for the whale to get a click and a treat. It's the same idea for a dog. The trainer waits for the dog to sit, quickly clicks, and gives the dog a treat. Puppies have been shown to learn as fast as within one click. It's important when using Clicker Training that the clicker is used immediately following the desired behavior. If the trainer or owner waits even a second, then the training could take a lot longer. Or worse yet, the dog may not associate the click and treat with something he did right. The clicker allows you to use something besides your voice to control your pet's behaviors. It provides an external stimulus outside your body and provides a sound that is always the same, hence, always precise. It might be considered to be like a small remote control. Today, Clicker Training is spreading like wildfire across many states and countries. Ms. Karen Pryor notes that in the early 1990s there were no Clicker Trainers. Just the idea existed. But now that people are seeing the amazing results, there are people budding up everywhere buying the manuals and using the device to train their dogs. Success statistics vary, but they lay somewhere between 90% and 100% percent effective. The higher statistics are a result of the dog having only one trainer who follows the guidelines exactly. When used precisely, it's seemingly a flawless method of pet training. To get more free information about dog training or the use of clickers, visit us at www.dog-gifts-and-toys-for-dog-lovers.com. About the Author:
Tina Spriggs is an expert dog lover whose lifelong interest in canines provides the motivation for her site. To learn more about dogs or to find gifts and toys for them visit her site at Dog Gifts and Toys for Dog Lovers.
Copyright 2004. All rights reserved.
Related News
Social Release: PetSmart(R) Offers Top Costumes, Toys and ... - MarketWatch
Longer Living, Healthier Pets Boost the $5 Billion Market for Pet ... - MarketWatch
Hard times trigger more pet abandonments - MLive.com
Hard times trigger more pet abandonmentsMLive.com, MI -10 hours agoSuch drop offs are evidence that the economic woes in Michigan are hurting not only its residents, but also their pets. The number of pets abandoned or ... |
Bonfire night advice for owners of pets - Okehampton Times
Bonfire night advice for owners of petsOkehampton Times, UK -6 hours agoPET owners throughout Okehampton are being urged by local vets to prepare early for fireworks night. Although it is only October, Kirstin Phippard from ... |
Exotic pets pose health risks - Globe and Mail
Economic uncertainty doesn't damper people's dedication to their ... - Beaufort Gazette
Church celebrates blessing of the pets - Marco Island Sun Times
Obesity puts pets at risk - Post-Bulletin
Obesity puts pets at riskPost-Bulletin, MN -5 hours agoOur pets our getting heavier too. "Obesity is the number one issue that we see in our patients, both dogs and cats," says Dr. Mark Wenner, a veterinarian at ... |
Blessings for pets - Macomb Daily Journal
Blessings for petsMacomb Daily Journal, IL -1 hour agoBy Lainie Steelman Msgr. Richard Pricco blesses the animals during the St. Paul Catholic Church's St. Francis of Assisi Pet Mass. ... |
Hyper Dogs Make Bad Pets, Great Life-Savers - CBS 5
|
|
 |
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
A Dog Day Care Business Can Be A Lot of Fun!
If you love dogs and you enjoy making money then a dog day care business may be a very good fit for you!
Training Your Dog For A Happy Healthy Life
Adopting a dog is a lot of fun, but it can also add a lot of responsibilities to your life. When you become a dog owner, you take on the responsibility to make sure your pet has everything he needs, a safe environment to live in, proper care, and everything he needs for a happy and healthy life! It's a big step to care for a dog, but you'll be rewarded with a loving companion.
Dog House Training
Dog House Training can be simple
Tank Requirements For Discus Fish
For Discus fish, there are 2 consideration in tanks - tank depth and volume. Because of their size and swimming habits, a minimum of 18" is needed for tank depth, the deeper the better. Regarding volume, a good rule of thumb is that each adult discus will need 10 gallons of water. Larger tanks will also give more stable water conditions, and taking into account other considerations the minimum size for a discus show tank should be no less than 55 gallons. It is also advisable to use a rectangular tank. Not only are they cheaper, but are more efficient, because they maximize surface area. Surface area is the most important factor in buying a tank. Why? Because it is only at the surface of the tank that gas exchange occurs. (Oxygen in, Carbon dioxide out.) Assuming you have a seventy five gallon show tank, and it's biological filter is working as required, up to twenty young fish 3 inches in size, or 6 or 8 fully adult discus can comfortably inhabit the tank. An outside filter may be added to large tanks to increase basic aeration and biological filtration needs.
Glow Light Tetra - A Lovely and Peaceful Member of Your Community Tank
Brings live to your community tanks
Dog Health Conditions and Terms You Should Know, Part 3...
Continued from part two.
Dog Training Book ? Why Buy One? When Everything is Free Online!
I'm a dog lover who believes that every dog owners should train their dogs if they truly love and care for them. Because I believe that dog training gives dogs a happier and healthier life. Not to mention, it also gives their owner a trouble-free life long companion.
How To Be A Good Pomeranian Dog Owner
Opening your heart to a Pomeranian can be fun, but you must be willing to take on the responsibility of dog ownership. When you become a Pom owner, it's up to to do everything in your power to make your pet's life a happy one, the proper care, environment and companionship. If this sounds like a big commitment ? it is! But rest assured, the rewards of pet ownership far outweigh the work you have to put into it.
Your Guide to Cat Breeds
For the first 8,000 years of their relationship with humans, cats pretty much took care of their own breeding. People kept them for one purpose - hunting rodent - and they are already perfectly designed for that. More than 100 years ago, however, we began systematically breeding cats to appeal to our aesthetic tastes. Hair length, color, coat pattern, as well as head and leg proportions contribute to the "look" of specific breeds.
Look at enough cat bodies and faces, and you'll see two distinctly different types.
Teaching Your Dog to Heel
Teaching your dog to heel is one of the most basic and important dog training commands you can teach. With an active and younger dog or puppy, it can be especially difficult, but with patience and consistency, it doesn't really have to be that hard to train your dog to heel.
Toys are GOOD for your dog
Did you know that dog toys are actually good
for your dog, and not just an indulgence on the
part of the owner?
Dog Vaccinations - What You Need to Know to Protect Your Dog
Almost all communities in the U.S. require at least one shot
for your dog or puppy, and that's rabies. The rabies vaccine
should be given when the puppy is twelve to sixteen weeks
old, and then another one year later. Following, he'll need
just one every three years. At around eight to sixteen weeks
of age, the puppy's natural immunity from its mother's milk
has worn off and it becomes at risk to a number of
environmental hazards. For an older dog (above one year
old), follow the same regimen as for a puppy. Be sure that
you have proof that your dog or puppy has had his required
rabies shot.
Pet Food Label Secrets Revealed! Know What You Are Feeding Your Dog And Cat
Reading a pet food label, how difficult can it be? You just pick up your regular brand and look at the variety on the front, right? Not so fast! Reading a pet food label isn't as easy as you may think. It's not just ingredients and feeding suggestions. There's also a "secret code" you should know about. The code helps you separate the Chicken Formula from the Chicken Dinner and the Beef and Bacon from the Beef with Bacon. You may be thinking "Aren't they all the same?" and the answer is no.
Animal Ethics
Introduction
Why Does My Pet Eat Grass?
Are you concerned when your dog or cat eats grass, then throws up afterwards? You'll probably feel relieved to know that pets eat grass because their bodies need it.
The Gifts We Give Our Dogs
Whoever coined the phrase, "It's a Dog's Life" wasn't familiar with 21st century dogs. Time was when the average canine slept outside, ate whatever scraps of food were tossed his way, and if he was lucky, was thrown the occasional bone. He was even expected to earn his keep!
Living With a Pet Serval
Some sources seem to indicate that living with a serval is no more challenging than feeding your pet goldfish. At the other end of the extreme spectrum, many sanctuaries and animal rights activists paint servals and other exotic cats as unmanageable creatures that no ordinary mortal could hope to deal with successfully. As is usually the case, the truth lies in a rational world between the two extremes.
The Top Ten Reasons You Can - And Should - Hold an Equine Educational Event
Boarding, Breeding, Training & Showing Stables:
Humming Birds Make Wonderful Pets
Humming birds are wonderful birds that are smart, playful, and easy to take care. Many new bird owners are surprised by the intelligence that many birds show. They are also very playful. Make sure you do research on all of the different types of birds. Some types of humming birds are more expensive and require more care than do others.
Pets: The Wild Kind
Just because we moved out to the country a couple years back does NOT mean we want to run a farm. Tending to animals is just not how we want to spend our time. We don't want cows or sheep or chickens. We don't want hogs or ducks. We don't even want a dog or a cat to train.
|
