Tricky Business
Contrary to the old adage you CAN teach an old dog new tricks.
Even the most simple of activities are not only entertaining, they are
also very stimulating for your dog’s mind no matter what age they
are. However, whether you are training your dog to do advanced
tricks or basic obedience, knowing how to communicate easily with
your dog will make the sessions much more enjoyable for both you
and your dog. We asked Nicole Beasley from the Planet K9 Training
and Agility Centre in Melbourne for her advice on how to open up
the canine communication channels.
Communicating with your dog
If you are already a member of a dog obedience and agility club,
or have had private tuition for your dog, you may be already using
a reward “Bridge” as part of your training sessions.
For those
people new to the sport you will need to decide on how you are
going to communicate with your dog. This communication channel
is called the “Bridge” and is used to pinpoint the exact moment
your dog has performed the desired behaviour. It is a signal to your
dog that it will be rewarded with a small food treat. Many people
find it convenient to use a clicker as the “Bridge”, but the same
training techniques can be applied when using a dog whistle or a
word like “YES” or “WOW”. Whatever “Bridge” you chose you
need to be consist.
Clicker training is one form of positive reinforcement that has
achieved great popularity in dog obedience and agility arenas over
the past few years. The system was first widely used by dolphin
trainers who needed a way to teach behaviours without using
physical force. A clicker is a small plastic or metal device that makes
a distinctive “click” sound when pressed.
Conditioning your dog to the “Bridge”
To teach your dog to associate “Bridge” with a reward begin using
the clicker or whistle (or saying your Bridge word) and immediately
give your dog a reward. Repeat this step 5 – 10 times in a session.
At this stage your dog doesn’t have to do anything. If your dog
jumps at you or tries to snatch the food turn away and wait until
it is settled again. Remember, don’t reward your dog for bad
behaviour. Next, try doing these sessions in different locations
(in the park or going for a walk).
Once your dog has made the association, you can start to delay the
time between the “bridge” and the reward. Your dog will recognise
that good behaviour will mean a reward even if it takes a few
seconds. The reward can also now occasionally be changed from a
food treat to a pat and words like “Gooood dog”. This comes in
handy when you want to capture a behaviour but don’t have a
treat handy.
Now that you are able to communicate with your dog it is
important to use “the Bridge” only for training. If you use a clicker
or a whistle as a toy or say your “Bridge” word all the time they will
quickly lose their effectiveness.
|
REMEMBER THE BRIDGE DOES NOT INSTIGATE THE
BEHAVIOUR. IT PHOTOGRAPHS CORRECT
BEHAVIOUR IN YOUR DOG'S MIND.
|
|