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Need suggestions for books and/or DVDs on *positive* dog training. Have been trying to use the "Idiots' Guide to Positive Dog Training". While I believe it has good points, I don't find it very well written or with easy to follow steps. And the clicker business doesn't make sense to me either. Why not just use treats and praise? The obedience training I'm familiar with from classes I took 20-30 years ago always involved "no's" and jerks on a choke chain collar--not what I want to do with Hobbs. We're way out in the country so no obedience classes around. All ideas appreciated!
Building Blocks For Performance by Bobbie Anderson, this is for the competition dog but there is so much in there that is suitable for anyone trying to train in a positive manner...this book lives by my bed and I read every night.
The clicker works because it 'marks' the behavior you want to be repeated. It's a signal to the dog that the behavior he/she's doing at THAT precise second is what you want and what is going to get rewarded.
I got a slew of clickers, and put them on the wrist coils you can find at any key maker or hardware store. They're always with me or in my pocket.
I find clicker training AMAZINGLY fast! My pug learned how to give me his paw and his name on the same day I brought him home when he was 14 weeks old. And that's how he earned his CGC title.
I really like Pat Miller's 'The Power of Positive Dog Training.' I also recommend subscribing to 'The Whole Dog Journal.' A GREAT resource for care and training.
Also, check ClickerSolutions Home. They have a whole collection of training lessons and tips and tricks.
Once you understand Clicker training and how that Click can be used to shape behavior you become a fan of it . Most animals you see in shows, whales and dolphins being great example were clicker trained by shaping what is normal behavior for them.
Our local humane society has a woman that does clicker training classes for them and she herself clicker trained a bunch of bunnies so they can do a bunny agility thing! Pretty cool as who expects a bunny to do agility?
I too like Pat Millers's book and there is another great book for folks with breeds that are considered difficult to train breeds ( terriers, sight hounds. the non biddable dogs who don't live to please their owners like some breeds do.) It is called When Pigs FLY by Jane Killion. She too uses the clicker methods and has gone far with her Bull terriers which are considered very difficult to train . She explains why clickers work better then a " good boy and a treat" and it makes sense.
Alot of these breeds shut down with normal training but when you use the clicker method and shape their behavior they then think training is fun and you find they can be trained and do very well with it.
Another vote for Pat Miller's book...does a really good job explaining positive training and gives you a great week-by-week training program. As far as using a clicker, it's not vital for teaching some of the basics as long as you're there with a big bag of treats to reward each success (or mini-success). But when you go on to other work where it would be impractical to treat every time the dog did something correct it's invaluable for marking the behavior. For example, teaching a dog to stay -- you can't really give the dog a treat when you're 10 or 20 feet away, or in a different room for that matter. The clicker lets you tell him he's doing the right thing even though you're not right by his side.
I just started reading this book about Tamar's training, and am very impressed with the work she's doing. I searched for more info online, and came across her YouTube video intro. I think it's definitely the right way to go....
the other end of the leash, don't shoot the dog and click with it. These were three books that I had to read when I was going through to get my training degree.
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The Loved Dog
