Why do you brush your teeth? To avoid a cavity at the dentist. Why do you go to work? To collect a paycheck so you can keep a full belly and a roof over your head.
Dogs are no different than the rest of us.
Traditional training methods of dogs often include the use of force. This includes handling the dog to position him into certain postures or “correcting” the dog when he makes a mistake.
If you train dogs for any length of time it’s obvious to see that some dogs tolerate this level of force rather well while others don’t. These “yank and thank” training methods often result in dogs that are dazed and confused at best. At worst, some dogs become fearful, defensive, and violent.
No one dismisses the effectiveness of traditional training methods. Of course it works. But, we've also seen what violent husbands can do--both physically and mentally. Do their wives "obey"? Of course. So just because something works, doesn't mean it's good.
Some owners brag and say, “Oh see how much my dog wants to please me. He doesn’t need to work for treats. My happiness is all the reward he needs.”
Sure, dogs like having a happy owner. But is the dog really working to please the owner—or simply to avoid the punishment?
Do you go to work everyday because you like making your boss happy? What if one day you received an email that stated you’d no longer be receiving a paycheck? Would you still go?
There are many people who don’t “believe” in canine clicker training. Clicker training is just a basic term used to describe a training system based on positive reinforcement. Clicker training relies on reinforcers, which can be anything the dog likes. The reinforcer is presented with correct timing in such a way that specific information can be communicated between the trainer and the dog.
With clicker training, you can literally train your dog without touching or speaking to him. Clicker training can result in behaviors that are just as reliable if not more consistent than the results gained from traditional training methods.
Still, it doesn't surprise me that many people, including traditional dog trainers, dismiss the effectiveness of canine clicker training. In fact, 9 out of 10 “professional” clicker trainers are using the techniques incorrectly. Despite their good intentions, these clicker trainers certainly aren’t doing the dog any favors.
Canine clicker training is a lot like driving a racecar. There’s great potential for power, but you have to know how to drive it! In other words, the odds of success all depend on the skill of the driver.
To learn clicker training from the experts, visit http://www.clickertrainingsecrets.com
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