Clear Communication is key to effective dog training.  If your communication is not clear, your dog will not understand what behavior you are trying to achieve.  The “clicker” is a mechanical device that provides a clear indicator at the precise moment that your dog  performs the desired behavior.  When combined with Positive Reinforcement clicker training creates a safe and humane method for training.

The sound of the “clicker” is a universal language.  It is understood to mean the same thing each time the sound is made.  When your dog is trained with the “clicker”, it is a simple and clear form of nonverbal communication between you and your dog.  The “clicker” reduces the confusion which in turn makes for more effective training.

When more than one person in a family is engaged in training, the use of the clicker reduces confusion.   Everyone has a different way of speaking in the use of specific words and the intonation in their voice. .  Clicker training makes it very clear so that no matter who is working with your dog will, your dog will understand when they have performed the correct behavior.
 
If you have a puppy, adolescent dog or a dog that is easily distracted, the clicker creates a distinct sound that can be distinguished from other environmental cues.  This method will keep your dogs’ focus on you rather than the outside world.
 
You will be amazed at how quickly your dog will learn a behavior.  The clicker allows you to be more consistent as you are providing a marker that is non-emotional.  It allows you to achieve this result in shorter training sessions because of its’ clarity.
 
Positive Reinforcement involves the use of reinforcement through reward.  When your dog hears the sound of the click, it  immediately signals   to your dog that their reward is coming.  This is their pay for displaying the desired behavior.  The reward is typically food but for dogs that are not food motivated, play can be used as an alternative reward.

There are three different techniques for training a new behavior.  They can be capturing or catching a behavior; shaping a behavior; or luring into the desired behavior.   Once taught, a cue is added.   You might be thinking; will I be carrying the clicker with me for the rest of my dog’s life????  That is not the case.  Once the behavior is learned, you will slowly phase out the clicker.   Now you have a solid behavior on cue!

You will continue to reinforce the cue slowly reducing the rate of reinforcement.   Now you have achieved a long term response that will allow you to use the verbal command and/or hand signal to achieve the desired response.
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Whether your dog is young or old;  has had some training or none, the addition of the clicker into your training regiment, will bring your training to the next level.  If you want to work on some simple obedience or introduce tricks, the clicker will speed up the process.
It is easy and fun and definitely worth a try!

Hi Abby!

I wanted to thank you so much for helping me these last 3 months overcome my fears and anxiety and making me a "good boy".  My mom and dad are really happy that we all met and worked together.  I was a really scared little 12 lb. terrier dog.  I had a busy 2015 being adopted last February from a shelter, then I got really sick and had to have back surgery.  The shelter people told my parents I needed dog training but I ended up in a crate trying to get well and couldn't run around for almost 2 months.  Then Mom and Dad surprised me and we moved from Illinois to Pinehurst. 

It was a confusing time for me.  I started to get really scared of things around me...cars, people, big dogs, everything made me bark and I wasn't happy at all.  Mom and Dad tried their hardest to help me but Mom was even scared to take me for a walk not knowing how I would act.  Mom and Dad knew I needed help but didn't know where to turn. 

Then a lady told Mom about you.  You would come to my house almost every week and show Mom and Dad how to train me. At first I was scared of you and acted out but you had lots of treats and always praised me and made me feel happy when I did things the right way.   We did fun things like "Touch" and "Watch Me" and you showed Mom how to decrease my barking and walk nice on a leash.  You also taught us how to help with my fear of cars and other people. I sensed Mom was really scared and it made me feel scared too.  When Mom felt better that she could handle me I started to feel better too!  Now we take nice long walks together.

We just finished our lessons with you this week.  I'm not the perfect dog but I'm a much better dog and I'm happy now!  Mom and Dad still need to work on "counter conditioning" me.  They understand this may time some time so my lessons continue every day and they're fun!

I wanted to write you this letter to say thank you for everything you've done for me.  But most importantly I wanted to write this letter for you to share with other people who might decide to start training their dog and then just give up after a lesson or two saying it doesn't work or they're too busy to continue. 

These Moms and Dads just don't understand how much they're hurting us by not giving us a chance to be better.  We're not happy dogs.  We just need the proper training and a chance to be good.  It can happen....it will happen if they follow the training like we did.  Please tell them not to give up on us. 

I'm a better and happy dog because we've all met and worked together.

Love Always!

Spencer G.
Parents: Cindy and Ken G.

If you have a puppy, socialization should be among your primary goals in the weeks and months to come.  After all, socialization is a crucial part of your dog’s development. 

Sadly, behavioral issues are cited as the number one reason for the surrender of dogs to local shelters and have become a major concern for dog owners.  The good news is, you can take proactive steps now to ensure your dog’s long-term success. 

Recent research conducted by behaviorists have determined that the first three months of a dog’s life is the critical socialization period.  The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior “believes that it should be the standard of care for puppies to receive such socialization before they are fully vaccinated.” 

During this period,  your puppy should be exposed to various people, animals, and experiences.  This exposure will help to reduce fearful behavior which is often linked to aggression.   Being proactive in the socialization process will help avoid unwanted behaviors like barking and lunging on walks; dog fights; human aggression; and overall reactivity and impulsivity.

Unfortunately, upon the advice of veterinarians and trainers, many  dog owners have elected to delay socialization until four months of age when their puppies have been fully vaccinated.   It is important to note that puppies are provided with immunity from their mother as well as the primary vaccinations.   Along with proper care, deworming, and good nutrition, the risks are reduced significantly.  The AVSAB Position Statement on Puppy Socialization warns that “behavioral issues, not infectious diseases, are the number one cause of death for dogs under three years of age.”

One popular and effective way to increase socialization and introduce and expose your puppy to new things is through puppy classes. This allows you to begin training; strengthen your bond; and provide socialization with other dogs and people in a new environment.   It provides a support group for you to share with others and discuss puppy challenges such as housebreaking, crate training, nipping, and much more.  You should gain insight into what is realistic for your puppy and how to gauge expectations for your puppy’s behavior. These classes should also provide training techniques to utilize in order to shape a well-balanced and behaved dog. And while you’re learning, the puppies are learning too.. Puppies are learning from each other about proper play etiquette and building confidence.  

Dr. Ian Dunbar,  veterinarian, animal behaviorist, and dog trainer, shares that classes such as these provide an opportunity for puppies to learn “1)bite inhibition through puppy play and 2)proper interaction with people during off –leash play and while being handled by strangers.  And owners learn to train their puppies in a controlled setting in which training is integrated with play.  In this setting, a puppy’s reward for training is play with other dogs.”

Set your puppy up for success. Positive reinforcement training along with the protocol of early socialization will prevent problem behaviors from occurring.  You will create a stronger bond built on leadership and trust.  

Have you had a positive socialization experience with your puppy? What do you think you and your puppy might gain by joining a class? I’d like to hear your thoughts.

    “Acquire the skills to build a better relationship with your dog.”

Ah – we have such good intentions.  The plan is to start after the weekend or it could be another item in the list of New Years resolution.  We know what we have to do.  We are going to attend a group or possibly go on the internet for guidance. The plan will be put into action and we are going to have great results. We start out like “gang busters”.  We are strict with lots of willpower. We are following all of the guidelines and instructions to the tee.  Sadly this determination slowly falls apart. We become lax and cheat here and there.  We don’t’ follow the program on line or fail to attend the classes.

You are now asking yourself – Is this dieting; exercise; dog training???  You can apply this to anything in life that creates a challenge which can become frustrating and exhausting!!! Do you see the correlation between dog training and a diet/exercise plan.  They both start with a promise and a prayer.  We know that it is the right way to approach life and a new dog but it is just so hard!!!

Ok – so you are one of the rare people who reaches their goal. What exactly does that mean?  If you don’t work on what you have accomplished each and every day, then it can “crash and burn”.  Maintenance is key in continuing with the success.

For the general population, quitting is the more frequent option.  It is so hard to stay on track when things are not going well.  It is so much easier to quit and promise yourself that you will try at a later date.  After the first of the year; when the weather changes to more comfortable temperatures; etc., etc., I will fulfill all the promises that I have made to myself.

Now you are asking yourself – “How can I stay motivated”? For diet and exercise it can be frustrating as the result of all your hard labor can take many weeks or even months before seeing the result but in dog training there can be immediate gratification. Work on the sit command and your dog will sit instead of jumping.  Train your dog with the quiet command and reduce the amount of barking.  Each time you train your dog to learn something new, you eliminate the unwanted behavior within a very short time and sometimes immediately!

Start to reward yourself and your dog each time you and your dog accomplish the smallest task, command, or goal. Change it up by not just rewarding with treats.  Try rewarding with play. Take a ride to the park or a walk where you know there are no distractions and you and your dog can enjoy each others company. 

Instead of only working on basic obedience which can become boring at times, sign up for a trick class.  Try a sport like agility. You will be having fun and at the same time training your dog and strengthening your bond.

Lucky for you and your dog, training is a life long process.You can teach an old dog new tricks and a young dog to have good manners.  The bond that you develop; the benefit of the well-behaved dog; and the gratification of your accomplishments, make this New Years Resolution the greatest one you can promise yourself for 2014!!!!!

THE GOOD
For obvious reasons the electric fence is the best invention for dogs since “sliced bread”. It is a great way to have our dogs exercised off leash. We can allow them to run on their own and we can play with them without the worry of them taking off. It allows for potty breaks in the harshest weather without the use of coat, umbrella, or boots.  

THE BAD
We all tend to depend on it for our dogs exercise and forego many of the needed walks to socialize and stimulate our dogs’ minds. You have now made your yard into a giant kennel. So many dog owners believe that if their dogs are outside they have fulfilled their dogs exercise needs. One cannot argue the value but to rely on it is a huge mistake. 
Dogs become bored and so often when left to their own devices will virtually “hang out”. On the flip side, destruction ensues as a result of boredom.  Landscaping is destroyed; holes in the ground creating the look of land mines; grass destroyed, etc., etc.  The yard now becomes the same as being in a crate.  The sights, smells and even sounds remain the same all the time.

THE UGLY
Electric fences can make dogs aggressive or make aggressive dogs worse. It heightens their territorial behavior and their dislike for people and other dogs. When stimulated enough, many dogs break the fence. In order to get at someone in their excitement to say hello or in the worst case in order to bite them, they are able to ignore the shock.
There is also the possibility of running away and getting run over.  Very often people and other dogs innocently cross the line of the electric fence.  What a surprise for the child who just wants to pet the nice doggie.  The dog who has territorial instincts, will protect his home with no warning and bite the person or dog who enters his territory.

With busy schedules and complicated lives, dog and owners are lucky for this technology. Chose it and use it wisely to give both you and your dog the best advantage. Never forget that your dog needs a lot more than this virtual large box day in and day out. Combine with walks and outings, and this can be a wonderful tool.