| After many years of training dogs and puppies using | | | | start yanking him around. That's dangerous. |
| aggressive and sometimes inhumane techniques, | | | | The Sooner You Start the Better |
| clicker training puppies is a positive way to teach new | | | | But when it comes to clicker training puppies, the |
| skills and behaviors. In fact, teaching a puppy how to | | | | sooner you start you better. After all, the most rapid |
| behave appropriately may be the most important | | | | learning response in dogs occurs between 7 and 16 |
| responsibility you ever have as a pet parent. | | | | weeks old. What better time to train your puppy |
| As a licensed veterinary technician I've seen firsthand | | | | than when his brain is like a sponge? |
| the deadly effects of canine infectious diseases such | | | | Many puppy owners think it's cute when their puppy |
| as parvo and distemper. However, I think there's a | | | | jumps up on them. So, they encourage the behavior |
| bigger epidemic killing our dogs. | | | | by giving him lots of pets, laughter and praise when |
| Every year millions of dogs are euthanized by | | | | he does it. Then the puppy gets bigger and it's not |
| shelters and veterinary hospitals. Are all these dogs | | | | so cute anymore. Now the owner will have a much |
| sick? Not quite. Many dogs are euthanized simply | | | | harder time teaching the dog not to jump on people |
| because of a behavior problem the owner was | | | | because he's already learned that it results in him |
| incapable or unwilling to deal with. | | | | getting attention (even if the attention is "negative"). |
| Don't Forget About Training | | | | Unfortunately, too many dog parents concentrate on |
| When owners first adopt a puppy they want to | | | | "fixing" unwanted behaviors using bad advice they |
| make sure they do everything right. They take the | | | | see on popular TV shows or read about in books or |
| puppy to the vet to make sure he's healthy and | | | | websites. When the bad behavior can't be "fixed" |
| start him on his vaccines. They research the best pet | | | | using these "magical" techniques the dog owner gives |
| food to buy. They buy the puppy all kinds of treats | | | | up. |
| and toys. | | | | Clicker training is for teaching a new behavior. Not |
| In the meantime, these puppy parents are | | | | stopping one. The fundamental mistake that almost |
| unknowingly setting their puppy up for a lifetime of | | | | every dog and puppy parent makes is concentrating |
| failure. | | | | on "stopping" a problem behavior. You'll have greater |
| Many dog owners don't bother to start training their | | | | success teaching the dog what it is you want him to |
| puppy until the "problems" begin. By this time the | | | | do in place of that "bad" behavior. |
| puppy has already learned bad behaviors. What they | | | | But It's Never Too Late to Start |
| don't realize is that if they'd started clicker training | | | | Your dog won't stop barking? Well, have you ever |
| the puppy the day it came home, they would have | | | | thought about teaching your dog how to bark and |
| less problems to deal with in the first place. | | | | then putting it on cue? Shouldn't be too hard since |
| A lot of people assume that you can't start training | | | | you can't get him to shut up right? |
| your puppy until he reaches a certain age. This was | | | | Now that your dog knows the signal for BARK, you |
| true when traditional training methods were popular. | | | | can teach him the signal for QUIET. It's really not |
| You don't want to put a choke collar on a puppy and | | | | that difficult! |