Clicker Training
Teaching the basic commands through clicker
training
Master and Commander
Your puppy will love to please you; he'll relish your
approval and will show off to get it! He'll expect you to be
in charge, so teaching him to behave will be great fun. And
once he's learned some basic commands, communicating with
your puppy will be much easier, which will help you build
your relationship with him. For example, you'll be able to
make sure he always comes when he's called, walks to heel,
and behaves well when out and about.
A good way to do this is by using the "Clicker Training"
method. Clicker Training was developed in the 1940s as a way
to communicate with dolphins and whales, and the principles
translate easily to dogs. It's a kind, modern and scientific
way to make pet training easy.
How it works
The principle of Clicker Training is to associate the
'click' with the right behaviour, reward that behaviour, and
make sure your puppy understands why he got the reward.
By using the click to mark the correct behaviour, your
puppy will know exactly what he did to be rewarded. Clicker
Training relies on positive reinforcement - or reward - which
means that punishment isn't necessary.
Taking a really simple approach to training your puppy is
the best way to get results. With Clicker Training your puppy
associates the click with good behaviour, and will expect
rewards for his success. Start with giving treats and then,
as you progress with each command, move to using praise and a
little fussing as a reward.
Getting Started
You can get your puppy to do almost anything, from simple
commands such as 'sit' and 'stay' to fetching the remote, or
getting your slippers. All it takes is a little patience.
When you start, find a place away from distractions and
have some dry food ready as a reward.
Begin with the basics: say your puppy's name. As soon as
he looks at you, click and give him a kibble as a reward.
(Puppy's ears are very sensitive, so be careful not to hold
the clicker too close.)
He'll soon come to understand that when he hears his name
and gives you his full attention, he'll be rewarded with a
click and a treat. Use this as the basic principle to all the
commands you want him to learn; always click and treat when
he's done well. Once he has the hang of that you can start
with more commands, like 'sit', 'stay' and 'down'.
A little at a time
Your puppy will see everything as a game, so keep him
stimulated by changing what he's learning. It's also much
easier to do it a little at a time, instead of in one mammoth
session. Do each command for about five minutes and come back
to it whenever you can.
Practice the commands in lots of different places: in the
lounge, garden, hall or kitchen, even out on walks, so that
he gets used to responding to you in all sorts of situations.
You can use the click technique to help with other aspects of
your puppy's training, such as encouraging him to stand still
for examination and getting him used to travelling by
car.
Your puppy will learn very quickly and respond to love and
affection as well as rewards. Training will help build a
lasting bond between the two of you and you'll be rewarded
with a happy, obedient, well-trained dog
Clicker Training (605.08Kb)