DOGGIE DOG BLOG

Text by: David Harris
Video and Training by: Cindy Jacobs
Featured puppy: Gus von Prufenpuden
www.vonjacobs.com

Click here to view day two.

In day two of the puppy training vlog, Cindy is showing and going into a little bit more detail about introducing the puppy to the clicker. Some puppies can actually show fear of the clicker in the beginning. If that happens just put the clicker behind you and muffle the sound a bit until they become used to it. The purpose of developing the clicker is to improve communication. The click is associated with the arrival of a primary reinforcer. So, the click becomes a learned or conditioned reinforcer. A sound (initially meaningless), that becomes a way to communicate to the puppy what behavior is gaining them the food reward. Once the sound is established, it does not replace Good Dog, but rather enhances it. The click sound is unique and the puppies learn it very quickly. It means YES, you have done a good behavior and you are going to be rewarded.

Enhanced, accurate communicate is one of the most important keys to successful training.

So, the pattern to remember. Observe a good behavior, click, trace of time, reward with food. Do not click after you have given the food, the puppy is to busy eating to even hear that click, not to mention the late timing. But, do allow a small trace to time between you click and the food so the puppy can process the information and anticipate the reward.

Once the clicker is firmly established it allows you to very, very quickly MARK the behavior you want to reward. This simple step will greatly speed up your training process.

Please feel free to ask questions. This method of training is very new to some people. It is simple, but needs to be done accurately if it is to be effective.

David Harris

http://www.animalresortstc.com

http://www.doggiedogblog.com