Category: Getting Started ¤
  Author: Carol Dunster ¤
   Title: Clicker Training, What Is It? ¤

>Just got my first dog, 13 week old GSD.
>Never trained before and have no idea where to begin.
>what is clicker training and how does it work
>where can i get additional information

Clicker training is the use of clickers to make a noise that becomes a
Conditioned Reinforcer (CR) by pairing the click with a treat (or
other Reinforcer - something that the dog really likes). Then you use
the click to tell the dog that they are doing the right thing and
follow the click with a treat to keep the click reinforcing.

A reinforcer is something that causes the dog to repeat the behavior
that brought it the reinforcer. A punisher is a consequence that
causes the dog NOT to repeat a behavior. 

By using a click to reinforce the dog when it does a desired behavior,
you can get the dog to do that behavior more and more and better and
better. When the dog is doing the behavior well and often, you give
the behavior a name by saying the cue right before the dog is going to
do the behavior any way. After 20 to 50 repetitions, the dog is
conditioned to do the behavior when you give the cue. 

This method of training relies primarily on positive reinforcement,
which makes it very fun for the dog and the owner. Done well, it gives
you a reliably trained dog and it is quite forgiving of handler error,
unlike more traditional training methods of forcing the dog to do the
exercise, then praising it, or punishing it when it doesn't do the
exercise (jerking on the leash when it doesn't heel, whether or not it
understands what "heel" is...).

For more information into clicker training I would refer you to the
following websites:

http://www.dontshootthedog.com
http://www.shirleychong.com/keepers
www.clickandtreat.com
http://www.phys.unm.edu/~helix/clicker.html
http://www.rosettes.w1.com
http://www.dog-play.com/obedience.html#clicker
http://www.jagunet.com/~spectrum/topdog/
http://www.wazoo.com/~marge/Clicker_Trainers/Clicker_Trainers.html
http://www.dogpatch.org/obed.html
http://www.dogpatch.org/agpub.html
http://www.dogpatch.org/FAQs/faqhome.html
http://www.primenet.com/~rogkat/Click.html
http://www.bev.net/education/SeaWorld/animal_training/atcontents.html

Some of these will have books, clickers and videos available to help
you learn. Feel free to ask questions and to experiment with your dog,
once you have any idea what this is all about! You can experiment with
your family, too! It is a lot of fun and helps you learn the timing...

Carol Dunster
Carwyn Silky Terriers