Frequently Asked Questions
WHAT IS CLICKER TRAINING?
Desirable behavior is marked using a clicker, a mechanical device that makes a short, distinct "click" sound (or flash of a light or colour, depending on the species and abilities of the animal) which tells the animal exactly when they're doing the right thing. This clear form of communication, combined with positive reinforcement is an effective, safe, and humane way to teach any animal any behavior that it is physically and mentally of it.
WHY USE A CLICK, NOT A WORD?
A click is more powerful for training than a spoken word because it is not a sound heard by the animal in other circumstances. It means one thing only: a reward is coming because of what you did when you heard the click. It can be produced instantly and at the exact moment a behavior occurs. The meaning of the click is always clear.
DOES A CLICK & TREAT NEED TO BE USED FOREVER?
No. Once a behavior is learned and on cue, there's usually no need to click, as the animal understands the behavior. A trainer can maintain the behavior by replacing specially good treats with occasional and less intensive rewards including a pat or praise.
WHY DO YOU DO 8+ WEEKS OF CLASSES?
Four or six weeks is simply not long enough for both you and your dog to get into a groove and learn how to effectively communicate. When doing private classes for obedience, I always suggest starting with committing minimum two months (8 weeks) of training. Often, clients will continue classes for 4-6 months to gain the greatest success and consistency with their dog - AND they enjoy it! Training can be fun. If you quit early or don't put in the work, you will not have a well-trained dog. It is worth taking the few months to really work at training because your dog and you will benefit from it for the rest of your dog's life.
TRAINING USING REINFORCEMENT DID NOT WORK FOR MY DOG.
You are not using reinforcement right then!! A dog will not do all the work to do a behaviour if it isn't somehow reinforcing. You must be consistent and use reinforcement correctly to get the behaviours you want your dog to do. Going to class and training your dog consistently using the techniques taught in class will do this for you!
Desirable behavior is marked using a clicker, a mechanical device that makes a short, distinct "click" sound (or flash of a light or colour, depending on the species and abilities of the animal) which tells the animal exactly when they're doing the right thing. This clear form of communication, combined with positive reinforcement is an effective, safe, and humane way to teach any animal any behavior that it is physically and mentally of it.
WHY USE A CLICK, NOT A WORD?
A click is more powerful for training than a spoken word because it is not a sound heard by the animal in other circumstances. It means one thing only: a reward is coming because of what you did when you heard the click. It can be produced instantly and at the exact moment a behavior occurs. The meaning of the click is always clear.
DOES A CLICK & TREAT NEED TO BE USED FOREVER?
No. Once a behavior is learned and on cue, there's usually no need to click, as the animal understands the behavior. A trainer can maintain the behavior by replacing specially good treats with occasional and less intensive rewards including a pat or praise.
WHY DO YOU DO 8+ WEEKS OF CLASSES?
Four or six weeks is simply not long enough for both you and your dog to get into a groove and learn how to effectively communicate. When doing private classes for obedience, I always suggest starting with committing minimum two months (8 weeks) of training. Often, clients will continue classes for 4-6 months to gain the greatest success and consistency with their dog - AND they enjoy it! Training can be fun. If you quit early or don't put in the work, you will not have a well-trained dog. It is worth taking the few months to really work at training because your dog and you will benefit from it for the rest of your dog's life.
TRAINING USING REINFORCEMENT DID NOT WORK FOR MY DOG.
You are not using reinforcement right then!! A dog will not do all the work to do a behaviour if it isn't somehow reinforcing. You must be consistent and use reinforcement correctly to get the behaviours you want your dog to do. Going to class and training your dog consistently using the techniques taught in class will do this for you!