Editor’s note: If you read the CATALYST, chances are better than average that you’ve got a dog. So here’s a new monthly column on how to raise a trustworthy, calm and happy canine. (And yes, Johanna says, you can teach an old dog new tricks.)Okay, so you have gone to the store and seen clickers on the shelves. You may be asking yourself, “What are these?” A clicker can be a great tool to train animals with fun and rewards. When you train with a clicker, you teach your dog without force. (Clicker training has also been used with cats, fish and birds.) It is a positive technique. When your dog hears the clicking sound, he knows that he has performed the correct behavior. Therefore, he is more likely to perform the behavior again. Clicker training is a great way to teach your dog tricks and obedience commands. It will enable you to train sequences of behaviors such as “pick up and put away your toys!” You can also use clicker training to solve behavioral problems such as aggression, excessive barking or jumping, but in those cases it is best to consult a professional dog trainer. It is easy to inadvertently reward the bad behavior with inappropriate clicker timing. A professional can also suggest the best alternative behaviors to instill to lessen these behavioral problems.Starting clicker training is simple. First, you teach your dog that “click” means “treat.” You want your dog to anticipate the “click,” because he will know a treat is coming. Give your dog a treat immediately after clicking one time. It does not matter what the dog is doing when you click. Every time you click, the dog gets a treat.

Make sure that you click at random times and unpredictable intervals. Practice clicking in a variety of rooms inside your house and also outside.

In this beginning stage of training, do not ask your dog to perform any commands when you click.

To reinforce the association between click and food, practice clicking and treating for three – seven days. When your dog’s ears go up (similar to a “food begging” expression), he probably understands that “click” means a yummy treat is following.

Next, train your dog a new behavior and click when your dog performs the correct response. (For aid on how to train obedience behaviors, read “Clicking with Your Dog,” by Peggy Tillman.) As before, every time you click you should give your dog a treat. Once your dog has learned the new command, you will no longer have to click. However, you will still occasionally reward your dog for performing the behavior.

It’s important to carry the clicker because it makes the reward immediate. You can click immediately when the behavior is performed. You will then have about two seconds to reward your dog.
A clicker helps with distance behaviors. When you ask your dog to sit when he is ten feet away from you, you need to be able to reward him before he begins to play with other dogs. The clicker allows you to mark the sitting behavior as soon as your dog sits. Your dog will know a treat is coming and will most likely run toward you or wait for you to come to him to receive his treat.

People talk constantly, and eventually, dogs ignore some of the chatter. A clicker is easily identifiable, and the dog knows at once that he has done something right when he hears it.

Clicking is fast. Speaking a word takes more than a second. A click is less than a second, making it much easier to mark a behavior that lasts for a split second.

Common clicker training problems

Many people click after the behavior instead of simultaneously with it. Practice your timing, and only train when you can focus 100% on your dog and your reaction time.

Coordinating the clicker, the treats and the leash can be difficult. Buy a treat bag, and only have a treat in your hand when rewarding your dog. You can wrap the leash around your waist or step on the leash, being careful it does not slip from under your foot. You can attach the clicker to your wrist with a wrist band.

Leaving the clicker at home when walking your dog is a mistake. When distractions are high, it is easier to train commands with a clicker. If you keep your clicker in your treat bag, it will be easy to remember.

Large treats will satiate your dog quickly. Pea to dime sized treats are perfect. Then your dog will crave more.

Resources

APDT.com: an excellent list of positive trainers all over the country who may use clicker training.

Clickertraining.com: books, DVDs and videos.

Bake Your Own Dog Treats!

Making your own treats for clicker training is a great way to give your dog proper nutrition and save money. Here is one simple recipe:

PUMPKIN DOGGIE COOKIES

12 cups oatmeal or quick oats
3 cups whole wheat flour
8 eggs
3/4 cup sunflower, fish, or olive oil
2/3 cup honey
1/2 cup molasses
2 cups milk
1 large can solid packed pumpkin
4 ripe mashed bananas

Place all ingredients into a large bowl. Mix together with your hands. Pat onto two large baking sheets with 3/4 inch sides. Bake at 325° for 50-60 minutes. Cut into dime-sized pieces.

Johanna Teresi is a professional dog trainer and owner of Four Legged Scholars LLC. fourleggedscholars.com.

Good Dog: Beat boredom, save a couch

Just like people, dogs need mental stimulation. Training prevents boredom. Puppies trained at a young age are better behaved as adults. You should start training your puppy at eight weeks of age. As the puppy gets older, habits form and their learning rate becomes slower. Wouldn’t it be great to teach your puppy to sit instead of jump before she’s big enough to knock you down, and to walk nicely on the leash before he is strong enough to pull you over?

Contrary to popular belief, young puppy training is a great idea. Once your puppy has had his first set of vaccinations, register him in a group puppy class. The danger of developing behavioral problems as he gets older is much higher than of contracting diseases from a group puppy class. Group classes should be held in a clean indoor facility and include play between puppies. The play sessions teach the puppies bite inhibition and appropriate play behavior. The classes should teach basic commands. In addition, the puppies should be introduced to numerous stimuli with a positive associations before they reach 12 weeks of age.

A private trainer for your puppy can work well only if you are able to provide intense socialization with numerous types of friendly people and you are able to provide play sessions with other puppies or well-mannered adult dogs. Playtime should be held in your yard or your friend’s yard.  Avoid dog parks where disease is more prevalent. If you are not able to meet these requirements, then a group class is the better choice.

Dogs six months or older will also benefit from training. Dogs at this age who have not been taught self-control or boundaries are more likely to develop problems such as aggression, excessive barking, house-soiling, jumping, begging, chewing on forbidden objects, excessive whining, separation anxiety and more. Although training at a later stage may help correct some of these problems, early preventive training is much more effective.

How does lack of training cause later behavioral problems? Dogs that have not been trained are more likely to feel insecure. Well-disciplined dogs trust their owners to help them through uncomfortable situations. But undisciplined dogs, lacking this trust, will be more likely to problem solve on their own when put in uncomfortable situations, and are more likely to develop more undesirable behaviors.

To prevent this, you want to incorporate the NILF (“nothing in life is free”) policy. Your dog must perform a command or exhibit good behavior before he receives something that he wants. For example, require your dog to “sit,” “down,” “stay,” or “watch,” before he may enter the car, walk through the door, eat his meal or chase his ball. Through this, the dog learns to ask for permission to receive a want. As a result, your dog will feel more secure and emotionally balanced.
So what are you waiting for? Build a fun and trusting relationship with your dog through some simple training.
Johanna Teresi is a professional dog trainer and owner of Four Legged Scholars LLC. fourleggedscholars.com.

Good Dog: Huh Come?

One of the most difficult commands to teach. “Come” is a life-saving word. Just think how nice it would be to call your dog back home after he darts out the door. What about when you take a nice off-leash hike and your dog chooses to come back to you rather than chasing that dangerous moose? I bet you can only dream of this response. Read on to learn how to make this fantasy a reality! First, let’s discuss the common mistakes committed when training “come.” The “come” word is often over-used and repeated when your dog does not respond. Many times your dog does not come and is rewarded for not coming by continuing to play. When the dog eventually obeys the command,  the owner ends the fun activity and gives the dog a pat on the head. Get the picture? The dog learns that the command is irrelevant and that it is no fun to obey.Follow the directions below to train the emergency come (EC) command. First, choose a new word such as “here,” “pronto,” or “now.” The command will be saved for emergency use only. Also choose a special treat that your dog loves (cheese, chicken, turkey hotdogs). He will only get this treat for responding to this word. Have a helper gently hold your dog’s collar. Put some special treats in your hand. Walk directly to your dog’s muzzle and blatantly show him the treats you have. Then run away from your dog. Immediately when you begin running away, say the EC and your helper will let go of your dog’s collar. Run 10-20 feet. Then turn around and crouch down (rather than bending over) to grab your dog’s collar. While holding your dog’s collar, give him 20-30 seconds of the special treat. Make sure the quantity of the special treat given to your dog is low but the duration of the treat giving is high. Use crumb-sized pieces and give them to your dog one at a time for the duration of the reward.Next, stand stationary approximately ten feet away from your dog and say the EC. Grab the collar and give twenty – thirty seconds of the special treat. Gradually increase the coming distance to at least twenty feet. Complete the above process inside your house when your dog is not distracted. Make sure you practice in a variety of different rooms. Practice this process for at least a week.Now practice calling your dog when you and your dog are in different rooms and cannot see each other. Once again make sure you practice in a variety of different rooms. Practice this process for at least another week. For the following week, practice the above steps in a fenced backyard when your dog is not distracted. Switch to occasional rewards when your dog comes reliably without distractions.Remember, never call your dog unless you are 100% sure that he will come. Do not repeat the EC. If your dog is clicker trained, click when your dog is running toward you or when he reaches you. During this training month do not call your dog when he is distracted. Next month, we will take the next step and show how to train the EC with distractions.

Surprise yourself with a dog that will come to you instantly!

Johanna Teresi is a professional dog trainer and owner of Four Legged Scholars LLC. fourleggedscholars.com.

Good Dog: Come…Again?