Smart Paws Pet Training
The smarter way to live, train and play!
info@smartpawsonline.com (808) 351-6268
Your Subtitle text
Training FAQ
I want to be strict with my dog and not feed him a bunch of treats. Isn't your method permissive?
Absolutely not! If you are permissive with an animal, it will walk all over you. True leadership with animals means creating some consistent groundrules and enforcing them. When your dog follows your rules, he DESERVES your rewards! If he doesn't, he may not know the rule or he may be too distracted or he may be unmotivated to follow it.
Won't reward based training teach my dog to beg?
No, the method will not do that. Only you can do that! A Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA) has the skill to prevent increases in begging and to teach you how to be the master of your dog's rewards. A CPDT-KA can help you set appropriate rules that your dog can successfully follow without teaching him to beg. When used properly rewards will motivate your dog to behave, not beg.
What kind of rewards are we talking about?
Food is a big motivator for all animals, because they need it to survive. We will discuss all the food your dog receives, not just treats. The daily kibble you feed your dog will become more valuable than ever before, as well as fun treats. Other rewards to consider are the privileges that you allow your dog to have; toys, bedding, access to parts of the house, social time with you, sniffing things on a walk...anything that your dog LOVES can be used as a reward and should be controlled as a privilege. If you control the privileges, you will control the dog. No force required!
Absolutely not! If you are permissive with an animal, it will walk all over you. True leadership with animals means creating some consistent groundrules and enforcing them. When your dog follows your rules, he DESERVES your rewards! If he doesn't, he may not know the rule or he may be too distracted or he may be unmotivated to follow it.
Won't reward based training teach my dog to beg?
No, the method will not do that. Only you can do that! A Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA) has the skill to prevent increases in begging and to teach you how to be the master of your dog's rewards. A CPDT-KA can help you set appropriate rules that your dog can successfully follow without teaching him to beg. When used properly rewards will motivate your dog to behave, not beg.
What kind of rewards are we talking about?
Food is a big motivator for all animals, because they need it to survive. We will discuss all the food your dog receives, not just treats. The daily kibble you feed your dog will become more valuable than ever before, as well as fun treats. Other rewards to consider are the privileges that you allow your dog to have; toys, bedding, access to parts of the house, social time with you, sniffing things on a walk...anything that your dog LOVES can be used as a reward and should be controlled as a privilege. If you control the privileges, you will control the dog. No force required!
What is this clicker thing?
The clicker is a behavior marker. For example, if a dog jumps up on strangers and I wish for him to stop, I would mark and reward the moments when his feet are on the ground. I will not click when he jumps up and ensure that he receives no attention for jumping. The dog quickly realizes that standing still earns clicks and rewards and jumping up earns him...nothing. This is so much easier than popping his neck with a leash each time he jumps. Punishing him does not tell him what to do, only what not to do.
Will I have to use the clicker forever?
No way! A clicker is just a training tool. Once your dog learns a behavior, you can fade the clicker away or use it to train other behaviors. You can also recover behaviors that get a little rusty by using a clicker again. Rewards are similar; you can ask your dog to do more behaviors for fewer rewards over time. A CPDT-KA can show you how to do this easily. I like to use "life rewards"; if my dog wishes to sniff a tree off our chosen path, she is not allowed to pull me over to the tree. She must offer a sit first. Then I will click (to mark her good behavior) and release her to go and sniff, no food required!
Why use a clicker at all?
The clicker is much more accurate (faster) at teaching your dog what you want her to do. The clicker is also more consistent; unlike your voice, the clicker never changes in pitch or volume. It means the same thing every single time: YES! I always prefer telling a dog YES! instead of NO! Don't you? Who needs to use punishment when I can simply click everything I want my dog to do? Instead of scolding your dog, help her find the right behavior to use. Imagine clicking a dog for being silent instead of barking...it can be that simple.
The clicker is a behavior marker. For example, if a dog jumps up on strangers and I wish for him to stop, I would mark and reward the moments when his feet are on the ground. I will not click when he jumps up and ensure that he receives no attention for jumping. The dog quickly realizes that standing still earns clicks and rewards and jumping up earns him...nothing. This is so much easier than popping his neck with a leash each time he jumps. Punishing him does not tell him what to do, only what not to do.
Will I have to use the clicker forever?
No way! A clicker is just a training tool. Once your dog learns a behavior, you can fade the clicker away or use it to train other behaviors. You can also recover behaviors that get a little rusty by using a clicker again. Rewards are similar; you can ask your dog to do more behaviors for fewer rewards over time. A CPDT-KA can show you how to do this easily. I like to use "life rewards"; if my dog wishes to sniff a tree off our chosen path, she is not allowed to pull me over to the tree. She must offer a sit first. Then I will click (to mark her good behavior) and release her to go and sniff, no food required!
Why use a clicker at all?
The clicker is much more accurate (faster) at teaching your dog what you want her to do. The clicker is also more consistent; unlike your voice, the clicker never changes in pitch or volume. It means the same thing every single time: YES! I always prefer telling a dog YES! instead of NO! Don't you? Who needs to use punishment when I can simply click everything I want my dog to do? Instead of scolding your dog, help her find the right behavior to use. Imagine clicking a dog for being silent instead of barking...it can be that simple.
What's wrong with punishment?
The problem with punishment is the application of it and the resulting consequences. To be effective, punishment must be timed exactly right and it must be at an appropriate level. Most dog owners (and a great deal of trainers) are incapable of using punishment effectively. Also, pushiment makes the punisher feel good, especially if it works, making it more likely that the punisher will choose punisment again, rather than train the dog effectively. The dog is likely to become frustrated and offer more undersirable behaviors as a result.
By contrast, clicker training is easier to use, more effective at teaching good behavior and decreasing bad behavior. Best of all, it is fun for both dog and owner. Your dog is motivated to behave, not intimidated to obey. Clicker timing is easy to master and has decades of research to prove its validity.
What are the sources for your method?
Check these links to see more on our method and what the experts in the field are saying.
www.clickertraining.com
www.dogstardaily.com
www.avsabonline.org
www.ccpdt.org
www.apdt.com
I hold two certifcations with the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers, the CBCC-KA and CPDT-KA. This means I have taken two separate exams that are scientifically valid, independently administered and based on the most current and accurate behavior consulting and dog training methods. I am bound to the CCPDT Code of Ethics governing the services that I provide to my clients. I also hold a BA in Psychology from the University of Texas. Finally, my years of experience working with dolphins, sharks, stingrays and turltes are personal proof that animals can learn amazing things using clear communication and without ever being punished.
The problem with punishment is the application of it and the resulting consequences. To be effective, punishment must be timed exactly right and it must be at an appropriate level. Most dog owners (and a great deal of trainers) are incapable of using punishment effectively. Also, pushiment makes the punisher feel good, especially if it works, making it more likely that the punisher will choose punisment again, rather than train the dog effectively. The dog is likely to become frustrated and offer more undersirable behaviors as a result.
By contrast, clicker training is easier to use, more effective at teaching good behavior and decreasing bad behavior. Best of all, it is fun for both dog and owner. Your dog is motivated to behave, not intimidated to obey. Clicker timing is easy to master and has decades of research to prove its validity.
What are the sources for your method?
Check these links to see more on our method and what the experts in the field are saying.
www.clickertraining.com
www.dogstardaily.com
www.avsabonline.org
www.ccpdt.org
www.apdt.com
I hold two certifcations with the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers, the CBCC-KA and CPDT-KA. This means I have taken two separate exams that are scientifically valid, independently administered and based on the most current and accurate behavior consulting and dog training methods. I am bound to the CCPDT Code of Ethics governing the services that I provide to my clients. I also hold a BA in Psychology from the University of Texas. Finally, my years of experience working with dolphins, sharks, stingrays and turltes are personal proof that animals can learn amazing things using clear communication and without ever being punished.
