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Why doesn't Pawsitive use cookies or clickers for obedience training? Truth be told,
I can barely find my keys much less a clicker. I use the sound of my tongue making a clicking sound if I need to
assimilate a clicker. However, I choose to mark appropriate behaviors in different ways.
How do you teach the dogs to comply? Pawsitive
tries to speak the dogs' language and teach them ours. If I go to France, I need to learn the language. Dogs associate
the definition of a word with the behavior they are currently engaged in. (See Turid Rugaas and Dr. John
Wright books for further information). In other words, if a puppy is standing at a distance looking at you, and you
call him to "come"... you have just effectively taught him that come is standing at a distance looking at you. If, however,
everytime the dog is within reach and coming towards you, you say "good come" with your hands on his collar, he will then
associate come with you having your hands on his collar.
An untrained dog standing at a distance could be taught that specific behavior means "sit" if you were so inclined.
If however, when the dog is actually in a sit position and you "mark" that behavior with a specific "good sit" along with
a hand signal then the dog quickly learns that the behavior they were engaged in means exactly that. Gradually
phase out the verbal when your dog understands it and use your hand signals.
You can effect any of those behaviors with or without treats and clickers. At Pawsitive, I choose to communicate
with body language and hand signals. We teach them verbal commands for the purpose of the general public being
able to also elicit responses when necessary and because understanding of verbal commands is a life skill the dog should
be familiar with.
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6440
Schultz Rd, Hamburg Township, NY 14085
(716) 627-9234 msgs Fax 627-1330
select
mapquest logo for directions
All material and reference to any and all of this
web site whether in part or entirety, including the name or any part thereof of A Pawsitive Experience (TM), is the property
of owner herein and cannot be used in part or whole without express written consent. A Pawsitive Experience (TM) is the original dog daycare by this name. Our goal is to
create "A Pawsitive Experience" and provide
support for all services offered.
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