Most dog behavioral experts agree – dogs do not respond well to punishment. In fact, many dogs actually develop behavioral problems when subjected to yelling, spanking or hitting as a punishment method. To effectively train a dog, the absolute best (and most humane) method is a new concept called ‘clicker training’. Here is a general guide to clicker training, and an explanation of how it works to train your dog.
Positive Reinforcement
One of the core concepts behind clicker training is positive reinforcement. Positive reinforcement dog training has proven to be the most effective method to use when training dogs. Since clicker training draws on the concepts of positive reinforcement, it gives you the ultimate control over your dog’s training program. Positive reinforcement involve rewarding your dog’s good behavior on a regular basis, either with verbal praise or edible treats (or both). When combined with clicker training, it is cited by most dog behavioral experts as being the single most effective training method.
Operant Conditioning
Operant conditioning is the core concept of clicker training. The definition for operant conditioning in relation to clicker training is the method by which a dog interacts and learns from its surrounding environment. This is what causes dogs to repeat good behavior (which has good consequences) and avoid bad behavior (which has bad consequences). To reinforce any type of behavior, however, the consequence must occur as the behavior is occurring, not after-wards.
Reinforcement Method
Clicker training combines a primary reinforcer and a secondary reinforcer (also called a conditioned reinforcer). The primary reinforcer is usually an edible treat, which automatically represents a positive reward in your dog’s mind. The secondary reinforcer is a small device that emits a clicking noise when a button is depressed. This unique sound isn’t something that your dog associates with anything, so it can be used to “shape” and reinforce good behavior.
Small Steps
Another of the methods used in clicker training is gradual progression of commands. Since a clicker can be used to help “shape” a dog’s behavior, you can help better guide them through different training commands. For example, when teaching your dog to shake, you would first activate the clicker (and provide a treat), when your dog lifts their paw a short distance off of the ground. However, over time, you would require your dog to lift their paw a bit higher, which is what they would need to do in order to get a reward (and the subsequent ‘click’). Eventually, you only reward the completed trick, and continue to reinforce it as good behavior. Breaking commands down into smaller steps is very effective, especially if you are trying to teach your dog more complicated commands (such as opening doors or fetching the newspaper).
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Tue, Jul 13, 2010
Clicker Training