| Positive dog training, clicker training, positive | | | | them something good, like their reward, your puppy |
| reinforcement dog training..etc..they are all really | | | | training will become fun for both of you and they will |
| talking about the same thing. Words like command | | | | learn faster. |
| aren't used so much as cue and marker. The idea | | | | Dogs can be motivated by other things also besides |
| behind this method of puppy training is to reward | | | | food. Some like to chase a ball, or go for a ride in a |
| when your puppy does the correct behavior and | | | | car. The reason food is used often by dog trainers is |
| correct or ignore them when they do an unwanted | | | | that they can be given their reward and it's gone in a |
| behavior. | | | | second or two. Now they can focus on the next |
| Lets take an example of training your puppy to sit. | | | | thing in your puppy training schedule. A toy or |
| Sit is one of the first commands/behaviors most | | | | something like that as a reward takes time and it will |
| people teach in puppy obedience training. First the | | | | be harder to get the dog back on task. |
| reward, food is a great motivator for dogs so we'll | | | | Whatever you use as a marker, it can be a clicker, a |
| use food for a reward. Instead of giving them the | | | | clap, a word, etc.. get your puppy used to hearing it |
| cue/command to sit, we lure them into a sit by | | | | and immediately getting a reward. In the beginning |
| holding the food close to their nose and raising it up | | | | they don't have to do any particular behavior, what |
| and back until they sit. When they sit you use your | | | | you want them to learn is that the marker means |
| marker, be it a clicker or a word like "good" or "yes", | | | | good stuff is coming. It won't take long before their |
| and give them the reward. You have not given the | | | | eyes light up at the sound of your marker. |
| cue/command yet. Now repeat repeat repeat. It | | | | The timing of the marker is critical. Whatever |
| won't be long before your puppy is sitting on their | | | | behavior they do that you are working towards, you |
| own in anticipation of the reward. What has just | | | | have to mark and reward immediately so that they |
| happened is secret to positive dog training. | | | | associate whatever they did with the reward. Once |
| The secret is to train your puppy to offer good | | | | they have learned the behavior, every time they do |
| behaviors to you rather than you commanding them | | | | it start using a word, the cue, in our example it would |
| to do a behavior, like in our example of sitting. Your | | | | be "sit" and soon they will learn to associate the cue |
| puppy will start looking for chances to be rewarded. | | | | with the behavior. |
| When they are eager to try a behavior that gets | | | | |