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Using A Clicker Vs.
Adopting
The Flawed "Clicker Training
Methodology!"
By Adam G. Katz
There are two points you must
recognize:
1.) You CAN train a dog using a traditional approach AND
use the clicker. It depends on your style, but yes... I've had very good
results using the clicker as an event marker, and for getting the dog to
understand a new behavior... especially a more complex behavior. However,
THIS IS ONLY USED DURING THE FIRST PHASE OF TRAINING ... the "learning
phase." Once you move into the reinforcement and proofing phase, the
clicker loses it's benefits.
2.) The idea that "some methods work
better for some dogs," is a falsehood. It stems from people who are not
completely competent in working with dogs.
Here's where the
misperception comes in:
TRUTH: Some dogs are very soft. These dogs
you will emphasize more praise and build them up. Use of corrections are
minimal, and depending upon the dog's temperament, may just be just a
verbal correction to be motivational.
MYTH: These dogs never need
to be told when they do something wrong, therefore a "different method"
(i.e. clicker training) should be used. This is complete
bunk.
Recognize that using a clicker as an event marker is not the
"clicker training approach."
The clicker training approach requires
that you keep your dog confined at all times that you are not following
him around this house with a clicker to reward the right behavior. This is
why it works so well with dolphins: Because they're confined in a small
pool when they're not being trained.
In any event... I'm off on a
tangent.
Using the clicker as ONE tool in your arsenal is fine. But
using it to the exclusion of all the other tools at your disposal and
you're being blind.
To read more of my dog
training ramblings, read about my book:
Secrets of a
Professional Dog Trainer!
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