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Years have taught us that there can be merit to nearly every method and tool. Because of this, we strive to have as many
tools in our "training bag" as possible. Appropriateness is a key element
to selecting the best method for a dog/person team; it has to fit not only the dog, but the capabilities & sensitivities
of the handler as well. The best training method enhances communication between species, and teaches without causing pain,
fear or confusion. We all want to enjoy life with our dogs, and clicker training is a powerful tool to help us achieve that.
All new behaviors are taught exclusively with positive reinforcement, specifically marker training (clicker
training). The incredible power of this technique has allowed researchers to train wild-caught dolphins to perform tasks up
to 50 miles in open ocean settings. If it can do that, it ought to be able to help you get better behavior from your dog!
What is Clicker Training? In
short, the sound of a mechanical clicker is paired with a desired thing or event (usually a treat, but other reinforcers can
be used as well). Once a strong association is made between the Click and the treat, this Click is used as a behavior "marker",
essentially telling the animal that what it has just done is going to be rewarded. Now, behaviors that are positively reinforced
are more likely to be repeated. Soon, the animal offers these behaviors freely, in order to earn the Click and reward. It
is a simple thing to transfer these new skills into daily life, inserting them at times when your dog used to engage in undesirable
behavior. Soon new habits are formed. I will help you create a simple plan to achieve this. Why a Clicker? Many
people ask this, wondering why they can't simply say "good dog" and give a treat. The brain must first process
the spoken word before a reaction (good/bad) takes place. When a mechanical sound (such as a clicker or whistle) is used,
the reaction is virtually instantaneous, activating one of the most powerful learning centers in the brain, the amygdala.
This makes learning occur much faster. Timing is another reason; we can click much
faster than we speak, so the message is very clear to the dog. Dogs are not verbal, so using language to teach is slow &
often frustrating for dog and person. Unlike our voices, which reflect our moods, the Click always sounds the same, and always
means the same thing: reinforcement is coming. It also allows more than one person to work with an animal with less confusion.
It is unfair to correct (or use corrective/punishing "training" techniques) on a dog
that has not yet learned the desired response. The simple fact of the matter is, behavior is driven by laws, just like laws
of physics. These are in play whether you know about them or not, just as the apple will fall to the ground even if you've
never heard of gravity.
Choosing
a Trainer A trainer should be able to talk about these laws and how they relate to
what they are doing with you and your dog. They should be able to make it understandable, not just spout a bunch of jargon
to sound impressive. Experience is important, certification can mean something. But the fact is, dog training is no different
than any other profession: there are trainers with years of experience and trainers with initials after their name that don't
know what they're doing, ineffectual at best and causing fear and confusion at worst. Ask for referrals, and check them
out. Attend a class or lesson as an observer and see if you like the methods being used and
the results they are getting. If a trainer won't allow you to observe, keep looking. Look at their students, people and
dogs alike. Even if they are having difficulty with a new skill, does the trainer take their time, break the exercise down
more to build on success, or ignore their learners' growing frustrations?
A stressed dog is not learning,
but learning itself can be stressful. There lies the challenge! Breaking down exercises into small enough steps to be constantly
building on success is the goal (or should be) of all trainers. However, sometimes a dogs' understanding wanes, or perhaps
was not to the level we thought. Being able to "read" a dog is essential to good training; knowing when to
stop, back up, and make things easier can, in the long run, produce faster results than trying to "push" them. Many
people correct when they should be helping the dog, others feel uncomfortable simply telling a dog "no". In my opinion,
balance & appropriateness are the two keys to effective training.
A trainer should be able to tell you why
they are doing something. Training every dog by the same methods can work, but it can also be frustrating. The approach taken
by an obedience competitor working with a soft tempered herding dog may look very different from those used by field or police
dog trainers working with high drive sporting or working breeds. Certainly part of this difference lies in the work required
from the dogs; however, the largest variance is in the dogs themselves. Good training is good training, bad training is bad
training. The talented trainer meets each dog and handler team where they are, and builds within the team the needed skills.
So, it's not that the method will vary as much as the needed skills. The shy, fearful dog will need a different skill
set than the hard-charging dog. Learning never stops, and neither should your trainer stop learning.
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