We have four different trainers that work for adobestock_76148145Double G Kennels. One of the benefits of purchasing a pup from us is an introduction to training that starts with the clicker. Remember to ask for a free clicker with the purchase of your new pup.
Operant conditioning is a scientific term that describes the way animals learn from the consequences of certain behaviors. Positive reinforcement is a type of operant conditioning often used in dog training.
A Click Equals a Treat
When you click your clicker to mark a behavior, you must give your dog a treat. You need to teach your dog that the sound of the click is an extremely reliable predictor that he is about to get a treat. If you don’t always give a treat after you click, the clicker begins to lose some of its effectiveness. You don’t always have to use a clicker when you train your dog, but if you click, you must give a treat.
Give the Treat as Quickly as Possible After You Click
If you click your clicker and then take more than a second or two to give your dog a treat, your dog may not understand that there is any connection between the sound of the click and getting a treat.
Clicker training, a common form of positive reinforcement, is a simple and effective training method. The clicker is a metal strip inside a small plastic box that makes a distinct clicking sound when pressed. The click is much faster and more distinct than saying “good dog” and much more effective than using treats alone. To teach a dog the meaning of the click, a treat is given immediately after clicking. Once the dog learns the positive effects of the clicking sound, the clicker itself acts as a conditioned reinforcer.
According to Alyssa Walker of Walker Dog Training, clicker training is not meant to completely replace the use of treats. The sound of the click instantly tells the dog that what he has done will earn him a reward. To emphasize this, clicks should frequently be followed by treats.
Use Your Clicker to Shape Behaviors
You can also train your dog step-by-step by shaping behaviors with the clicker. This technique allows you to break down more complicated actions into smaller steps so they become easier for your dog to learn.
Timing is Everything
It’s important that you click the clicker at the exact moment your dog performs a behavior. If you aren’t precise with your clicker, you might end up reinforcing the wrong behavior. For instance, if you ask your dog to sit, and he does it, you should click the minute his rear end hits the floor. If you wait even a few seconds too long, your dog might start getting up, and the behavior you mark is him raising his bottom a few inches from the floor. You are not reinforcing the behavior you want. Be sure that you are clicking to mark the exact behavior you want.
Keep Your Clicker Handy to Capture Behaviors
Capturing behaviors is a great way to teach your dog new behaviors with very little effort on your part. Keep your clicker and a handful of treats handy, and whenever you catch your dog doing something you like, simply click and treat. You will be amazed at how quickly your dog can learn new behaviors this way.
Use Your Clicker to Shape Behaviors
You can also train your dog step-by-step by shaping behaviors with the clicker. This technique allows you to break down more complicated actions into smaller steps so they become easier for your dog to learn.
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