Clicker Training

There are different methods and ways to train your dog. In this post, I am going to explain clicker training.

Clicker training is not difficult. You first start out by letting your dog know that that certain click is positive. You want them to thinks it is a reward for doing something good. That way, you will not have to use treats every time they do a trick.

How do you do that though? Well, all you have to do is press the clicker then give them a treat. Over and over until they associate that noise with a treat. Make sure to limit how many treats you give them though, DO NOT Overfeed!

It can take days for some dogs, and sometimes weeks for others. Just keep doing it until they understand.

Once a dog is clicker trained, all you have to do is get them to do a trick, then reward them with the clicker sound. Of course, it's always nice to also praise them with scratch behind the ears!

The Patience Test

My dog is a Portuguese Water Dog, named Gilligan, he is VERY high energy! High energy dogs are easy to train if you have patience for them. If you do not have very much patience, I would not recommend you a dog with tons of energy. Want to know why?

Yelling or scolding your dog does not help him unless he is trained and knows the word "no!". Gilligan seems to know the command, "no!" but if Gilligan is scolded he will usually backfire and make you crazy. I call this, the patience test.

 For example, Gilligan may be digging into trash or chewing on something that are not his toys. I can simply say no, and hope that he will stop. Some dogs may stop, but Gilligan would run away and want to play chase. Now he's testing my patience, isn't he?

Now stop and think really hard... What would prevent your dog from getting into things he shouldn't be getting into? Obviously, don't let him near those things in the first place. If you get a dog you must expect the worst at first and not let him get into trouble. It is your dog and your responsibility, your dog will make you crazy if you don't prevent these things.

So be careful with your dogs, you are the owner and you are able to prevent things from happening. Dogs are dogs and every once in awhile they will get into trouble. You must be patient, don't let your dog give you the patience test!

About

So sorry, I have not posted in a long time! I have been busy with Christmas and Winter Break! I think I might post tomorrow (maybe.. it depends!) but if I don't, I'm going to be posting next week anyways!

I hope everyone had a great and Merry Christmas, and I hope that your pets did too.

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Thanks- Miranda