Click & Easy

Miriam Fields-Babineau

Description

Your reward is a well-behaved dog!

Young and old, large and small, pedigreed and mixed-breed, dogs respond to clicker training. Preferred by many professionals, clicker training is a positive, precise, and effective method of reinforcing good behavior. Noted dog trainer Miriam Fields-Babineau explains clicker training techniques step by step so that all dog owners can use the approach. Whether you want to train your dog to obey basic commands, perform tricks, compete in performance sports, or do service work, clicker training gets results and enhances your relationship with your dog. Focusing on actual techniques rather than theory and science, this book explains how to:
* Use the three-step pattern: lure, click, reward
* Use an appropriate tone of voice and the right verbal cues
* Incorporate visual cues, with suggestions for signals for specific actions
* Distraction-proof your dog, teaching him to focus on you (and the clicker) even when there's lots of commotion


With real-life examples from the author's experiences plus photos that illustrate proper form, this book will get you and your dog enthusiastic about training.It's truly rewarding!
Introduction.

1 Get Clicked.

What Is a Clicker?

Why Use a Clicker?

How Is a Clicker Used in Dog Training?

Using Verbal and Visual Cues with a Clicker.

Voice Cues.

Visual Cues.

Performing Arts.

Obedience, Agility, and Rally-O.

Assistance Work.

Media Dogs.

2 The Basics in Basic Language.

Click & Treat.

Charge It!

Targeting.

Target an Object.

Behavior Shaping.

Using Training Tools.

Flat Collar.

Body Harness.

Choke Collar.

Martingale Collar.

Sense-sation and Easy Walk Harnesses.

Head Halter.

Positive Control.

3 Let’s Begin.

Stationary Behaviors.

Sit.

Down.

Stand.

Moving Behaviors.

Heel.

Come.

Stay.

Time.

Adding Movement.

Distance.

4 Just Do It!

Using a Training Device.

Distraction Proofing with a Sense-sation Harness.

Distraction Proofing with a Head Halter.

Phasing Out Training Tools.

Phasing Out the Leash.

Phasing Out the Sense-sation or Easy Walk Harness.

Phasing Out the Head Halter.

5 Click to Behave.

Housetraining.

Learning a Signal.

Jumping Up.

Barking.

Territorial/Protective Barking.

Attention-Seeking Barking.

Play Barking.

Chewing and Mouthing.

Digging.

Dig on Command.

Stealing.

6 Off and Running.

Increase the Distance.

Drop the Leash.

Greater Distance, Dropped Leash.

Phase 3 Heeling.

Stay.

Come.

Distraction Proofing.

We’re Off!

Outdoor Activities Off Leash.

Play in the Park.

Camping.

Hiking and Backpacking.

Running with the Horses.

7 Click & Trick.

Basic Tricks.

Shake.

Sit Up.

Wave.

Roll Over.

Speak.

Fun with Toys.

Target a Named Toy.

Retrieve a Toy.

Find It.

Doors Aren’t Barriers.

Open the Door.

Close the Door.

8 Smile, Don’t Growl!

Calming Signals.

Types of Aggression.

Territorial Aggression.

Fear Aggression.

Possessive Aggression.

Maternal Aggression.

Redirected Aggression.

Aggression with a Physical Cause.

Overt Aggression.

Demanding/Dominant Aggression.

Temperament Testing for Aggression.

Pain Threshold.

Social Dominance.

New Objects and Situations.

9 Clicker Duet.

Working with More than One Dog.

Tandem Training in the Basics.

Come.

Sit-Stay.

Down-Stay.

On-Leash Duo.

Tandem Trick Work.

Shake and Wave.

Twirl.

Sit Up.

Speak.

Jump Over or Through.

Roll Over.

Tandem Training in the Distraction Zone.

More Than Two.

10 Clicking Unlimited.

Conformation.

Gaiting.

Stacking.

Stand for Examination.

Obedience.

Novice Classes.

Open Classes.

Utility Classes.

Rally-O.

Canine Freestyle.

Agility.

Other Fun Activities.

Appendix: Internet Resources.

Index.

Sujets

• Pets
• Dogs

Informations

• Publié par: Turner Publishing Company
• Date de parution: 27 mai 2010
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9780470893845
• Langue: English

Extrait

Table of Contents
 
Dedication
Title Page
Copyright Page
Acknowledgements
Introduction
 
Chapter 1 - Get Clicked
 
WHAT IS A CLICKER?
WHY USE A CLICKER?
HOW IS A CLICKER USED IN DOG TRAINING?
USING VERBAL AND VISUAL CUES WITH A CLICKER
PERFORMING ARTS
 
Chapter 2 - The Basics in Basic Language
 
CLICK & TREAT
TARGETING
BEHAVIOR SHAPING
USING TRAINING TOOLS
POSITIVE CONTROL
 
Chapter 3 - Let’s Begin
 
STATIONARY BEHAVIORS
MOVING BEHAVIORS
STAY
 
Chapter 4 - Just Do It!
 
USING A TRAINING DEVICE
DISTRACTION PROOFING WITH A HEAD HALTER
PHASING OUT TRAINING TOOLS
 
Chapter 5 - Click to Behave
 
HOUSETRAINING
JUMPING UP
BARKING
CHEWING AND MOUTHING
DIGGING
STEALING
 
Chapter 6 - Off and Running
 
INCREASE THE DISTANCE
DROP THE LEASH
GREATER DISTANCE, DROPPED LEASH
WE’RE OFF!
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES OFF LEASH
 
Chapter 7 - Click & Trick
 
BASIC TRICKS
FUN WITH TOYS
DOORS AREN’T BARRIERS
 
Chapter 8 - Smile, Don’t Growl!
 
CALMING SIGNALS
TYPES OF AGGRESSION
DEMANDING/DOMINANT AGGRESSION
TEMPERAMENT TESTING FOR AGGRESSION
 
Chapter 9 - Clicker Duet
 
WORKING WITH MORE THAN ONE DOG
TANDEM TRAINING IN THE BASICS
TANDEM TRICK WORK
TANDEM TRAINING IN THE DISTRACTION ZONE
 
Chapter 10 - Clicking Unlimited
 
CONFORMATION
OBEDIENCE
RALLY-O
CANINE FREESTYLE
AGILITY
OTHER FUN ACTIVITIES
Appendix - Internet Resources
Index
For Teddy, the Australian Shepherd for whom the “every dog” in this book is named.

Copyright © 2006 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey. All rights reserved.
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:
Fields-Babineau, Miriam.
Click & easy : clicker training for dogs / Miriam Fields-Babineau ; photos by Evan Cohen. p. cm.
ISBN-13: 978-0-7645-9643-8 (pbk.) ISBN-10: 0-7645-9643-8
1. Dogs—Training. 2. Clicker training (Animal training) I. Title.
SF431.F53 2006
636.7’0887—dc22 2005023684
CIP

Book production by Wiley Publishing, Inc. Composition Services
Acknowledgments
I want to thank all those who have helped in bringing this book to press, including my first line editor, Joan Macaluso, a longtime friend who was a client and is Teddy’s companion; my wonderful editor at Howell Book House, Beth Adelman, who has given me encouragement and, from time to time, put the fire under my rear end to keep me going; my acquisitions editor, Pam Mourouzis, for taking a chance on me; my photographer, Evan Cohen, who keeps getting better and better at putting my thoughts and writing into a spectacular visual format; and my great dogs and companions, Peaches and Princess, who are constantly teaching me how to be a better trainer.
Introduction
I once trained dogs using coercion and force. This is the method I first learned when I became a trainer. Barbara Woodhouse was the big thing in the early 1980s. Her Walkies method, with her special jingling choke chain, was very popular with both dog trainers and owners. I used the choke chain for the correcting sound it made, and my voice to guide and communicate.
As I gained experience and new tools became available, I gradually changed my dog training approach. In the early ’90s head halters gained popularity. A wonderful trainer introduced me to the tool and its appropriate use. I loved the concept of teaching the dog in a way he understands; however, this method was still a means of coercion because I used it to make the dog do what I wished. Yes, I still used my voice and visual cues to communicate in much the same way as when I used a choke chain. Because dogs need time to get used to a head halter, I used food to lure and teach before using the head halter as a tool to reinforce lessons.
Dogs are social animals and wish only to remain within their social environment. Dogs will do what they must to conform to that environment—their social pack. Hence, when they are forced to work through pain or fear, or even when they are lured with food, they respond. The response may not be, “Hey, I’m happy to work for you. Any time!” Yet they still perform, more out of fear of the consequences than the pure desire to work.
The theory behind clicker training has been around since the early part of the nineteenth century. It was introduced by several behavioral researchers who sought to understand the learning process. They asked, Do we learn best through imitation or association? Do we remember better with reinforcement or with punishment?
Overall, the outcome of all the research was the development of operant conditioning (any procedure in which a behavior is made stronger or weaker by its consequences) as a tool to train any animal of any temperament, wild or domestic. Clicker training is one method that implements the principles of operant conditioning, using positive rewards to reinforce desired behaviors.
Most dog trainers want to learn the science behind a training approach in order to fully understand it. This is a very necessary education, as we must transfer our knowledge to others. There are many books currently on the market that fulfill this need.
This is a book for dog owners who wish to use a positive approach to dog training but do not wish to learn the science behind the method. It’s written for people who simply want to see quick results. There will be little scientific terminology, and no history of clicker use or other psychological discussions that can get confusing. Instead, I will explain how to train a dog using a clicker, step by step, so that anyone—dog owner, new dog trainer, or experienced dog trainer—can easily understand and implement these methods.
Clicker training zeroes in on changing behavior, not changing the animal. It provides a clear and immediate consequence. Once understood, the method is fast, easy and, best of all, positive.
As I crossed over from traditional training to clicker training, I became enlightened. Not only did I learn how to reward the dog for doing something right instead of punishing him for doing something wrong, but I realized that this approach transfers to everyday living. It teaches us to look for the positive things in life: Reward the good things you see in both your pet and your family, because whatever is rewarded will be strengthened. Ignore the wrong behavior, because it is merely a means of garnering attention. What you ignore will fade away.
As you learn how to clicker train your dog, I hope you will also become enlightened to how much your dog can learn in a short period of time. There are no boundaries as far as abilities, age, or breed. Any dog can learn anything you wish to take the time to teach.
So, with a little imagination and a lot of patience . . .
Here we go!
Chapter 1
Get Clicked
Before you begin clicker training, you need to understand the underlying principles that make the clicker so effective. This knowledge will help you understand how to use the clicker and your dog learn how to react to it.
Basically, you will need to know three things:
1. What a clicker is and how it works
2. The effect this tool has on your dog and how it is us