Thursday, December 29, 2011

The History of Clicker Coaching?

By Jean Cote


What's Clicker Training? In simple terms clicker training is a straightforward and effective animal training method that has grown in popularity over the past ten years due to its gentle approach. Clicker coaching is also frequently referred to by its systematic name: operant conditioning.

At its most simple level, clicker training uses the way that a dog interacts with its environment. It inspires a dog to copy behaviours that have positive consequences and refrain from behaviours with negative implications.

But for a dog to attach positive re-strengthening with an action, it must be rewarded as good behavior occurs and not a minute afterwards. Therefore, a clicker becomes beneficial in coaching because it makes a distinct clicking sound that stands proud to the ear of a dog. The clicking is quicker and more effective than praising a dog for good behaviour. When a clicker is utilized with positive re-strengthening, it becomes a forceful tool to train and improve the behaviour of a dog.

The proper way to Use Clicker Training

Clicker training is first taught by associating a clicking sound from a clicker with one treat. Your dog will swiftly learn that one click equals one treat as a reward for good behaviour. A dog will associate that whatever behavior they just did earned them one treat, braced by the clicking sound.

This proven coaching method can be used to coach complete tricks and behaviors. Remember, for clicker coaching to be successful, you need to click at the precise moment that a behavior occurs. When your dog sits, the clicker clicks.

Think of it this way: clicking is like taking an image of the behaviour you want your dog to copy again and again. After you click to "take the picture", you'll give your dog a treat to coach a behavior with positive re-strengthening.




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