Posts Tagged ‘Clicker training’
Puppy Development Stages
Posted on: November 19, 2012
Want to learn more about how your puppy develops from birth to maturity? Read on!
Birth – Newborns
Newborns are toothless, deaf and blind. They are unable to urinate, defecate, relying on momma dog’s licking to stimulate them to eliminate. Their first understanding of being touched is when licked and washed by momma dog’s tongue. They are unable to regulate their body temperature and need their mom and litter mates to keep them warm. If separated from the pile of warm bodies, a newborn can die from hypothermia.
Birth to 21 Days
Neonatal and Transition Stages
The new puppy is with mother and litter mates. The puppy is totally dependent upon his mother to meet all of his physical needs. Eyes and ears open and the pups slowly begin responding to light, movement,
and sound. Puppies start to move around more as they gain awareness of their environment, often trying to get out of the whelping box. Breeders can start early neurological stimulation program.
21 to 28 Days
Awareness Stage
Very important period with rapid sensory development. Puppies are fully alert to their environment and will startle easily at sudden sounds
and movements. During this time they are able to recognize significant humans by smell, sight and sound. However, negative events can easily imprint during this period. This stage is a time of rapid physical development and the pups are more active and moving well on their feet. Pups are now able to learn from experiences and to retain what they
have learned.
Clicker training can be started at this age.
21 to 49 Days
Socialization Stage
During this period, the puppy learns about social interaction, play, and inhibiting aggression from mother and litter mates. Puppies learn about
consequence from mom and litter mates. Play-fighting behavior becomes increasingly intense. Problem-solving abilities develop, physical coordination increases, and they learn about bite inhibition from litter mates. The puppy now has the brain waves of an adult dog, but his attention span is short. This period is when the most rapid learning occurs. Learning at this age is permanent so this is a perfect time to start training. Also, this is the ideal time to introduce the puppy to things that will play an important part in his life. Introduce the puppy to different people, places, animals, and sounds in a positive, non-threatening way.
7 to 12 Weeks
Human Socialization Stage
Mental abilities are fully formed but pups lack experience. The puppy now has the brain waves of an adult dog, although the attention span is still short. However, this is the optimum time to start training because it is the period of the most rapid learning. Research has shown that behaviors can be shaped and modified most easily during times when learning occurs most quickly. Training during this time will actually amplify the capacity to learn by increasing brain cells in the appropriate regions of the brain. Begin teaching response to simple commands such as sit, down, drop it, leave it, stay, come, and walking nicely on leash. During this period the puppies can also learn complex behavior chains
and how to make associations. Also, this is the ideal time to introduce LOTS of socialization and have the puppy interact with different people, places, animals, and sounds in a positive, non-threatening way. The goal is 100 different people by 12 weeks of age!
8 to 11 Weeks
Fear Imprint First Stage
Avoid frightening the puppy during this period. Any traumatic, frightening or painful experience will have a more lasting effect on the puppy than if it occurred at any other time in its life.
12 to 16 Weeks
Social Position Stage
Puppy begins testing social hierarchy and their own social position. They become more confident, bordering on emboldened. Pup is attempting to
clarify and resolve the question of leadership. This is a vital time to establish an effective leadership program and position.
4 to 8 Months
Flight Instinct Stage
Puppy thinks he doesn’t need you any longer and begins testing the limits. May attempt to assert dominance over humans, especially children. May have a lapse in puppy potty training. This period is
characterized by independence and tenacity, as well as the time they will start to wander away. It is very important that you keep the puppy on a leash during this stage! Additionally, the way that you handle and interact with the puppy at this time determines his willingness to come to you when called. Practice, practice, practice the recalls and use only positive motivation techniques. The puppy also loses his milk teeth and gets his adult teeth. That’s when puppy begins serious chewing! A dog’s
teeth don’t set in his jaw until between 6 and 10 months. During this time, the puppy has a physical need to exercise his mouth by chewing.
6 to 14 Months
Fear Imprint Second Stage
Hormonal changes and sexual maturity stage. Male dogs begin marking. Neuter or spay the pup at this stage. Dog again shows fear of new situations and even familiar circumstances. Dog may be reluctant
to approach someone or something new. Reinforce the behaviors you want but do not reinforce fearfulness by coddling or protective behavior. Do not punish or force a dog through a fearful situation. Training, using positive motivation techniques, will improve the pup’s confidence.
Training classes at this age need to be enjoyable and not stressful for the dog.
Clicker training is great for pups this age!
1 to 3 Years
Maturity Period
Until the pup has reached the age of three, it is safest to keep the dog in a crate when unsupervised. Exploration is still strong during these years and, generally, what the pup sniffs the pup licks. What the pup licks, the pup usually chews. Keep your dog and your house safe by confining your dog to a crate or exercise pen when you’re not available to be supervising your pup.
Clicker training should be ongoing. Every encounter is a training opportunity!
Helping You & Your Dog Become A Better Team!
What Is A True Dog Whisperer?
Posted on: November 16, 2012
Dog trainers who are the true embodiment of positive reinforcement techniques ALWAYS use the most gentle methods and techniques to start teaching your dog. We are more than someone who has “had dogs all their life” and simply picked up several techniques along the way. Positive reinforcement trainers and behaviorists have thousands of hours of professional studies in animal psychology and behavior. We’ve studied how humans process their thinking, how dogs process their thinking and why it’s different. We know that the best learning environment is fear-free because the brain embeds information more quickly and accurately when there is no fear of learning. We know that there is a difference between leadership and trying to be an “alpha dog” – because we understand that we aren’t dogs but we are a totally different species, and that we cannot begin to effectively perform the same behavior that a dog uses … and that, at best, we can only superficially impersonate their actions — but never are we able to construct communications that are truly identical. We can’t because we are a different species with biologically different bodies and so our attempts can be artificial at best. We don’t naturally bark, we don’t organically growl, we don’t pick up each other by the back of our necks, nor do we flip each other over in order to communicate power – unless we want to provoke a fight.
We know that tools meant to intimidate result in a facade called ‘learned helplessness’ and that this emotional state isn’t the same as successful behavior modification that then results in skilled conduct. We understand the concept of choice and how to help an animal to intelligently choose our wanted path without the fear of having a bag of chains thrown at them. We don’t use choke chains, shock collars, pinch collars, spray bottles of water, bags of chains, rolled-up newspapers, kneeing, pinching, strangleholds, hanging, stepping on bladders, yanking, spanking, yelling, throwing, spinning, barking, growling, hissing, scruff shakes or rollover corrections. We know not to use these force techniques because we know they have the potential to physically harm the dog as well as hurt our success. We know that to mix punishment or intimidation with praise results in a confused dog, choosing to put on the helpless facade; not in a learned dog who clearly understands the wanted behavior and how to make it their choice. If a trainer tells you they are positive and then uses one of those force techniques or tools, they are definitely not a positive reinforcement trainer.
Real positive reinforcement trainers have been called treat trainers, food trainers, treat-slinging weenies, and soft trainers. However, we are the trainers who know how to teach a Dolphin to willingly detect a bomb … or a Killer Whale to eagerly jump through a ring of fire … or a Rat to find a land mine … or a Poodle to detect cancer … or a Golden Retriever to detect seizures in a human … or a Labrador Retriever to turn on your lights when you can’t reach the switch … or a Papillon to dial 911 when you need assistance … or a Collie to calmly listen while a child with dyslexia reads to the dog … or a Maine Coon Cat to run an agility course
… or a Bee to detect explosives.
Please consider this: a Dolphin or Killer Whale will not tolerate a choke chain nor will they accept force, fear or intimidation training techniques without an aggressive response toward the trainer/handler. If we can train those animals with real positive reinforcement without choke chains, rollover corrections or shock collars – why do we think it is needed or appropriate to use those same techniques on a dog? It isn’t needed because there are superior, advanced, scientifically proven alternatives that are more humane. There is no longer any reason to use a tool or technique of fear, force or intimidation. Work with a trainer learned in dog behavior and they can teach you how to train with your brain and not pain.
Real positive reinforcement trainers are the trainers who teach with methods that are much like your children’s teachers, using motivation and rewards that may include praise or toys or play or food. We are the trainers who use verbal marking and clicker training. Real positive reinforcement trainers teach with the dogs’ natural instincts and don’t have the need to constantly yank a dog on a choke chain or issue a stream of shocks until a dog conforms. We are the trainers who can understand your dog’s temperament and teach you how to train without generating fear of you in an attempt to give you power, but rather to teach a purposeful teaming with you to create a natural desire to conform to your leadership. We are the trainers who can teach your dog the basic skills through the most advanced behaviors for obedience, sports and police work. We are the real thing and can teach you how to become that same real thing for you and your dog! We are the real whisperers!
Helping You & Your Dog Become A Better Team!
Diary Of A Dog Trainer 