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At Raising Canine, we only use positive reinforcement methods. The harshest we get is with a “Too bad, you missed it!”, an “Ah! Ah!" or a time out. It has been proven that you can get behaviors with positive reinforcement training that are just as reliable as using aversive or punishment-based methods with much better overall results. Aversive training can inhibit any or all behaviors associated with the aversive, even though that may not be the intention.

At Raising Canine we use a method called clicker training. Although we use a clicker, we feel clicker training is more about attitude than strict conformity to a particular tool. Clicker training is based on learning theory -- classical conditioning and operant conditioning. Without going into too much detail, a little history of learning theory and dog training will help you to understand more about clicker training.

During the late 1800s and early 1900s, Ivan Pavlov was studying the digestive system of dogs in Russia. While doing this work he discovered that the appearance of the human bringing food to the dogs caused the dogs to salivate. He then began ringing a bell immediately prior to presenting the food; the dogs then began salivating when they heard the bell. From this came our knowledge of classical conditioning. Classical conditioning deals with associations -- a neutral stimulus (the bell -- a stimulus that has no actual value) provokes a reflex reaction (salivation). We all make associations -- certain songs evoke a nostalgic memory; a particular perfume reminds you of someone; etc.

A few years later, B.F. Skinner discovered that he could change the way rats behaved by giving the rats a food reward when they pressed a lever. There’s still an association taking place -- the rat understands that by pressing the lever he’ll get food, but rather than the stimulus predicting something happening, the behavior causes something to happen. This is called operant conditioning. An example would be when your dog lays his head on your knee, looks at you with sad eyes, and you pet him. The dog is operating on his environment -- he does something which will make something else happen.

There were many studies going on around the same time by different people: however, these two men made huge contributions to what we now know about how animals learn.

Although animal trainers have been using positive reinforcement methods for a long time, it is fairly new to the dog training arena. Formal dog training -- particularly for pet dogs -- began in earnest after the two World Wars. Men who had trained war dogs for the military realized that they had a marketable skill, and began holding dog training classes. Unfortunately, they brought their harsh methods with them. We must remember that the attributes that make a good war dog are not the same attributes you want in a pet dog. In war dog training they tried to weed out the weaker dogs, but an assertive, domineering dog is not appropriate for a family situation.

It wasn’t until the 1980s that positive reinforcement training for dogs began to be explored in a serious way. We can thank two people for this: Dr. Ian Dunbar and Karen Pryor. Ian Dunbar began holding seminars, making videos and writing books promoting the use of food in dog training. Karen Pryor, who had trained marine mammals, wrote a book called “Don’t Shoot the Dog.” This book brought the principles of operant conditioning to dog trainers. Karen Pryor also introduced trainers of all kinds of animals to clicker training.

Since then, positive reinforcement training has grown by leaps and bounds. Not all positive trainers use clickers, but most of them use the principles of operant conditioning.

There are people clicker training horses to retrieve, and birds to do tricks; clickers are being experimented with as a communications tool for autistic children and they're being used in human athletics. It’s an amazing way of training, and it brings you much closer to your dog -- you can see him actively problem solving, and you realize that he isn't being stubborn or difficult when he doesn't do what you ask -- he simply doesn't understand what you want!

At Raising Canine, we teach clicker training. If you want an obedient dog, want to enjoy your dog, want to compete with your dog, want to hunt with your dog, or just want to have fun with your dog, clicker training is the way to go!

Contact Raising Canine

sue@raisingcanine.com

512-916-4007