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.
What exactly is a clicker? It's usually a small piece of plastic that makes a consistent and predictable click when pressed. There are specific dog clickers, or you can make use of something else you have lying around that makes a consistent and predictable sound as needed, like a cap that pops, or a retractable pen.
The reason why clickers work is that they give a consistent signal to your puppy that they did a good job. When your dog does the behavior you just asked of him, you can let him know immediately with a click and really tie his performance with your praise. Verbal praise may be delayed for a few seconds, and your dog might not get the message that what they did was correct.
Yet another issue associated with using verbal praise is that your tone can change every time, as can the actual words that you are using. Clickers, however, give a reliable and consistent signal that your dog will respond to quicker.
Start by doing what trainers call "initializing the clicker". This is done by giving your dog praise or a treat, and accompany that with a click. Very quickly your dog will learn that when he hears the clicker, good things happen.
Now you're ready to make the clicker a part of your training. After giving your dog a command and watching him do the requested behavior, press your clicker immediately and follow it with praise or a treat.
Some people get concerned about giving their dog too many treats when using a clicker. It's true that overeating can lead to obesity, and this is something you want to avoid. The best way to do this is to keep the treats the size of a small button.
Use the clicker until the desired behavior is learned. Once the skill has been acquired, you don't need to use the clicker for that particular command any longer.
So, to really get the most out of your puppy training classes, start using a clicker, and watch your dog learn faster than you thought would be possible.
What exactly is a clicker? It's usually a small piece of plastic that makes a consistent and predictable click when pressed. There are specific dog clickers, or you can make use of something else you have lying around that makes a consistent and predictable sound as needed, like a cap that pops, or a retractable pen.
The reason why clickers work is that they give a consistent signal to your puppy that they did a good job. When your dog does the behavior you just asked of him, you can let him know immediately with a click and really tie his performance with your praise. Verbal praise may be delayed for a few seconds, and your dog might not get the message that what they did was correct.
Yet another issue associated with using verbal praise is that your tone can change every time, as can the actual words that you are using. Clickers, however, give a reliable and consistent signal that your dog will respond to quicker.
Start by doing what trainers call "initializing the clicker". This is done by giving your dog praise or a treat, and accompany that with a click. Very quickly your dog will learn that when he hears the clicker, good things happen.
Now you're ready to make the clicker a part of your training. After giving your dog a command and watching him do the requested behavior, press your clicker immediately and follow it with praise or a treat.
Some people get concerned about giving their dog too many treats when using a clicker. It's true that overeating can lead to obesity, and this is something you want to avoid. The best way to do this is to keep the treats the size of a small button.
Use the clicker until the desired behavior is learned. Once the skill has been acquired, you don't need to use the clicker for that particular command any longer.
So, to really get the most out of your puppy training classes, start using a clicker, and watch your dog learn faster than you thought would be possible.
About the Author:
Find out more about the best puppy obedience training out there. Before you give up on having a well-trained and obedient dog, visit Michael's blog for articles on dog commands and other helpful information.
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