Frequently Asked Questions:
- What is "positive reinforcement" training?
- What is "clicker training"?
- What is the "clicker"?
- Can all dogs benefits from the use of clicker training?
- What is the best reward (reinforcer) to give a dog?
- I don't want to make my dog fat. Can I train with just pets and/or toys?
- I'm afraid that giving my dog all these treats will spoil them.
- If I give people food, won't they start begging at the table?
- I don't want to have to use the clicker forever.
Question not answered here?
Check out the Forum!
Check out Tammy's discussion board to post questions or comments! Your feedback is welcome; she would love to hear from you. Set up puppy play dates, meet fellow class members, ask questions and get answers!
What is "positive reinforcement" training?
We all like to be praised rather than punished. The same is true for your dog, and that's the theory behind positive reinforcement. Positive reinforcement means giving your pet something pleasant or rewarding immediately after she does something you want her to do. Because your praise or reward makes her more likely to repeat that behavior in the future, it is one of your most powerful tools for shaping or changing your dog's behavior.
Correct timing is essential when using positive reinforcement. The reward must occur immediately—within seconds—or your pet may not associate it with the proper action. For example, if you have your dog "sit" but reward her after she's already stood back up, she'll think she's being rewarded for standing up.
Consistency is also essential. Everyone in the family should use the same commands. It might help to post these where everyone can become familiar with them.
What is "clicker training"?
Clicker training is scientifically called operant conditioning. Operant conditioning is the way any animal (including the human kind) interacts with and learns from its environment. Simply put, an animal tends to repeat an action that has a positive consequence and tends not to repeat one that has a negative consequence. Trainers can take advantage of that natural tendency by providing positive reinforcement following an action that they want the animal to repeat. In order for the animal to connect the positive reinforcement to the behavior that he is doing, the reinforcement must happen AS the behavior is occurring, not afterwards.
The Clicker is a noisemaker that makes a sharp, clicking sound when pushed and released. Its value is that the unique sound doesn't get lost in the babble of words we are constantly throwing at our dogs. It is faster than saying "Good dog!"and allows the trainer to mark with great precision the behavior for which the dog is being reinforced. Paired with something the animal finds very reinforcing (food, toys, petting, play), the clicker becomes a powerful tool for shaping behavior.
Can all dogs benefits from the use of clicker training?
Yes! Cats, dogs, horses, wild animals, people, even fish have benefited from being trained with a clicker! Dolphins are trained with the same techniques, they just train with a whistle, instead of a clicker. There are successes with autistic children and the benefits of the clicker (for people, it is generally called TAGteach™: Teaching with Acoustical Guidance which is a new way of teaching using positive reinforcement with a click sound marker to identify successful performance.)
What is the best reward (reinforcer) to give a dog?
There is no "perfect" reward. Each dog is different. The reward HAS to be rewarding for the dog. Some dogs that is food, sometimes different types of food. At home, a dog treat is enough when I am working with my dogs. If I'm at a park training, I switch up to boiled chicken.
I don't want to make my dog fat. Can I train with just pets and/or toys?
That depends on the dog. Most dogs work great for food and I recommend to change how much you feed based on how much you treat. If you have a cup of treats, and you use them all, take away a cup of their food. If your dog LOVES toys and petting, yes, you may train with them. Word of caution: it is limiting to the amount of training if your dog loves food and you refuse to give it with training, especially if your dog will not work for petting or toys. My shepherd, Lady, will NOT work for pets, she actually slides out from under my hand. She DOES work for toys. I believe mixing rewards is the best of all. Mixing play, food (different types), activities and toys is the best choice. It makes YOU more interesting to your dog as it never knows what cool things you will be delivering next. In classes, I generally use treats as squeaky toys send the dogs in classes into frenzies!
I'm afraid that giving my dog all these treats will spoil them.
You can only spoil a dog if you give treats for free. My dogs always have to sit, down, do a trick, whatever to get a treat, a chew or a toy. I don't like freebies.
If I give people food, won't they start begging at the table?
Nope. Unless you start feeding from the table.
I don't want to have to use the clicker forever.
You shouldn't have to. The clicker is only a training device and when the dog learns the item, the process begins to get rid of the clicker.
Our Class Picture Gallery...
Classes...