Man’s best friend dog training is the best way to assure that your dog is well behaved and obedient.
If you are tired of being embarrassed by your dog every time you go out in public or have friends over, some dog training is in order for your version of man’s best friend.
Can you Train an Old Dog to do Something New?
Any age dog can be trained given time and patience. For proof simply refer to stories of rescue dogs and shelter dogs that successfully re-home at ages from newborn to geriatric. While it is true that older dogs are more set in their ways, they can be trained to unlearn unwanted behaviors and learn new desirable behaviors.
You have a Problem with Thunderbolt the Goldendoodle
Dogs do have a mind of their own and they can drive you up the proverbial wall; make no mistake about that. Say you have a rambunctious Goldendoodle juvenile terror named Thunderbolt that is 8 months old; he refuses to sit on command. Even though Thunderbolt pretends to let you be the leader, you know you need to first assert yourself as the Alpha leader of your 2 member pack. Once you assume the leadership role, Thunderbolt will be more amenable to training since he will view you as the figure of authority instead of his follower. Dog training can now begin in earnest to teach him to sit on command.
Why Clicker Training?
Clicker training is a method of training that strictly utilizes positive behavior. When Thunderbolt performs a requested, desired behavior such as sitting on command, he is rewarded using the clicker training method. Other training methods may opt for negative reinforcement or punishment for wrongdoing rather than positive reinforcement. Clicker training provides a positive experience for the dog. Thunderbolt will most likely perceive his clicker training sessions as good experiences whereas he would view many other forms of training as pure punishment.
What’s a Clicker?
A clicker is an inexpensive handheld device that allows the person to press a button to set off a “click” noise. They are quite reasonably priced at anywhere from $5-$15 or even less on eBay.
What makes Clicker Training Work?
When Thunderbolt performs a desired behavior, in his case if he sits when you tell him to, you press the clicker to obtain a distinctive “click” which is immediately followed up by a treat or some other form of positive reinforcement. Positive reinforcement can be anything Thunderbolt enjoys whether it is a food treat or a few minutes playing his favorite game of fetch. Clicker training works because Thunderbolt soon associates his behavior to the sound of the click followed by a treat. Soon Thunderbolt will be happily sitting on command to earn his reward; the click followed by his treat.
What are the Advantages of Clicker Training?
Clicker training for man’s best friend is advantageous because the dog is receiving very clear signals as positive reinforcement; there is no ambiguity as may occur with voice commands. Everything in clicker training revolves around the positive, not the negative. There is no punishment in clicker training to alienate Thunderbolt from your affections. The mini-pack (you and Thunderbolt) will find clicker training both rewarding and fun.
Small Doses Work Best
Man’s best friend has a short attention span and it is recommended to limit clicker training sessions to around 5 minutes. Of course you can have more than one training session per day, just don’t throw so much at Thunderbolt that he becomes overwhelmed and inattentive.
For Example
You won’t have to carry the clicker the rest of Thunderbolt’s years, eventually you will be able to tell him “sit” and he will do so without clicker reinforcement. To train Thunderbolt to sit using the clicker: start your training session by waiting until he is about to sit himself down. Once his rear hits the floor or ground press the clicker and as soon as the “click” noise is made immediately give him a favorite treat. It will not take Thunderbolt long to put together the sitting position, the click noise and his reward. Soon you will notice him purposefully sitting and waiting for his reward. At that point you can begin to use the word “sit” so he will learn to associate the word to the behavior. Thunderbolt will likely learn quickly since his signals will be very clear and consistent, the click never has emotion or inflection so Thunderbolt always gets a crystal clear signal rather than a mixed, confusing signal such as one word can be when spoken with different intonation.
