Clicker Puppy Training - Are You Making These Common Mistakes?
Clicker puppy training is a very powerful method of teaching puppies specific behaviors based on the science of operant conditioning.
Clicker training isn't a fad or gimmick.
In fact, the fundamentals of operant conditioning have been used to train animals since the early 1900s.
The majority of animals seen in movies, television, and amusement parks have been trained using this method.
The success of any student depends on the teacher.
The same is true for clicker training puppies.
If you want your puppy to grow into a well-mannered adult dog, you have to know what you're doing.
Unfortunately, some puppy parents think that by attending a couple of training classes and reading a few websites they can learn everything there is to know about clicker training dogs.
Here are some popular mistakes and assumptions that uneducated trainers and pet owners have associated with clicker puppy training.
Mistake #1: You're bribing and luring the puppy with treats.
The puppy is actually working for the clicker, not treats.
Mistake #2: For the rest of the dog's life you'll have to carry the clicker and treats everywhere you go.
The clicker and treats are used only to teach new behaviors.
Once the behavior is learned and put on cue you don't need to constantly give your puppy treats.
Mistake #3: The puppy is never punished or corrected for making a bad decision.
Every puppy needs to understand the meaning of "No!" However, if you're constantly yelling at your puppy the word "no" will just become background noise.
Timing is essential when correcting misbehavior just as it is when reinforcing good behavior.
A punishment is certainly effective for stopping a behavior while it occurs but there are more efficient methods to teach the puppy exactly what it is you want him to do.
For example, teaching your puppy to sit and wait while visitors come through the front door is much more effective than yelling at him everything he jumps on them.
Mistake #4: Clicker training doesn't work because the puppy must learn to fear and respect his trainer in order to build long-term trust.
There are many husbands who have taught their wives to fear and respect them but that doesn't make it a good thing.
Training with positive reinforcement creates a confident dog that is doing things because he wants to do them, not because he's afraid of being punished.
In the long run, the more things you teach your puppy how to do, the more he will come to trust and respect you as his leader.
Clicker training isn't a fad or gimmick.
In fact, the fundamentals of operant conditioning have been used to train animals since the early 1900s.
The majority of animals seen in movies, television, and amusement parks have been trained using this method.
The success of any student depends on the teacher.
The same is true for clicker training puppies.
If you want your puppy to grow into a well-mannered adult dog, you have to know what you're doing.
Unfortunately, some puppy parents think that by attending a couple of training classes and reading a few websites they can learn everything there is to know about clicker training dogs.
Here are some popular mistakes and assumptions that uneducated trainers and pet owners have associated with clicker puppy training.
Mistake #1: You're bribing and luring the puppy with treats.
The puppy is actually working for the clicker, not treats.
Mistake #2: For the rest of the dog's life you'll have to carry the clicker and treats everywhere you go.
The clicker and treats are used only to teach new behaviors.
Once the behavior is learned and put on cue you don't need to constantly give your puppy treats.
Mistake #3: The puppy is never punished or corrected for making a bad decision.
Every puppy needs to understand the meaning of "No!" However, if you're constantly yelling at your puppy the word "no" will just become background noise.
Timing is essential when correcting misbehavior just as it is when reinforcing good behavior.
A punishment is certainly effective for stopping a behavior while it occurs but there are more efficient methods to teach the puppy exactly what it is you want him to do.
For example, teaching your puppy to sit and wait while visitors come through the front door is much more effective than yelling at him everything he jumps on them.
Mistake #4: Clicker training doesn't work because the puppy must learn to fear and respect his trainer in order to build long-term trust.
There are many husbands who have taught their wives to fear and respect them but that doesn't make it a good thing.
Training with positive reinforcement creates a confident dog that is doing things because he wants to do them, not because he's afraid of being punished.
In the long run, the more things you teach your puppy how to do, the more he will come to trust and respect you as his leader.
Source...