Click & Easy: Clicker Training for Dogs

222 Pages·2006·5.383 MB·English

by  Miriam Fields-Babineau, Evan Cohen

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Click & Easy
Clicker Training
for Dogs
Miriam Fields-Babineau
Photos by Evan Cohen

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Click & Easy
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For Teddy, the Australian Shepherd
for whom the “every dog” in this book is named.
O
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L
A
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N
A
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Click & Easy
Clicker Training
for Dogs
Miriam Fields-Babineau
Photos by Evan Cohen
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Copyright © 2006 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey. All rights reserved.
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:
Fields-Babineau, Miriam.
Click & easy : clicker training for dogs / Miriam Fields-Babineau ; photos by Evan Cohen.
p. cm.
ISBN-13: 978-0-7645-9643-8 (pbk.)
ISBN-10: 0-7645-9643-8
1. Dogs—Training. 2. Clicker training (Animal training) I. Title.
SF431.F53 2006
636.7'0887—dc22 2005023684
CIP
Printed in the United States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Book design by Marie Kristine Parial-Leonardo, Elizabeth Brooks
Cover design by Jeff Morrow
Book production by Wiley Publishing, Inc. Composition Services
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Contents
Introduction 1
1 Get Clicked 3
What Is a Clicker? 3
Why Use a Clicker? 4
How Is a Clicker Used in Dog Training? 5
Using Verbal and Visual Cues with a Clicker 6
Voice Cues 7
Visual Cues 9
Performing Arts 14
Obedience, Agility, and Rally-O 14
Assistance Work 15
Media Dogs 16
2 The Basics in Basic Language 19
Click & Treat 20
Charge It! 20
Targeting 21
Target an Object 22
Behavior Shaping 24
Using Training Tools 27
Flat Collar 28
Body Harness 28
Choke Collar 29
Martingale Collar 29
Sense-sation and Easy Walk Harnesses 30
Head Halter 31
Positive Control 34
v
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vi Contents
3 Let’s Begin 35
Stationary Behaviors 35
Sit 36
Down 37
Stand 39
Moving Behaviors 40
Heel 40
Come 44
Stay 46
Time 47
Adding Movement 49
Distance 52
4 Just Do It! 55
Using a Training Device 57
Distraction Proofing with a Sense-sation Harness 58
Distraction Proofing with a Head Halter 60
Phasing Out Training Tools 63
Phasing Out the Leash 64
Phasing Out the Sense-sation or Easy Walk Harness 66
Phasing Out the Head Halter 68
5 Click to Behave 73
Housetraining 74
Learning a Signal 77
Jumping Up 79
Barking 82
Territorial/Protective Barking 83
Attention-Seeking Barking 84
Play Barking 84
Chewing and Mouthing 85
Digging 87
Dig on Command 88
Stealing 90
6 Off and Running 93
Increase the Distance 94
Drop the Leash 97
Greater Distance, Dropped Leash 100
Phase 3 Heeling 101
Stay 101
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Contents vii
Come 102
Distraction Proofing 103
We’re Off! 103
Outdoor Activities Off Leash 104
Play in the Park 104
Camping 107
Hiking and Backpacking 108
Running with the Horses 110
7 Click & Trick 117
Basic Tricks 118
Shake 118
Sit Up 121
Wave 123
Roll Over 125
Speak 128
Fun with Toys 131
Target a Named Toy 131
Retrieve a Toy 133
Find It 134
Doors Aren’t Barriers 136
Open the Door 137
Close the Door 139
8 Smile, Don’t Growl! 141
Calming Signals 142
Types of Aggression 144
Territorial Aggression 145
Fear Aggression 146
Possessive Aggression 148
Maternal Aggression 152
Redirected Aggression 153
Aggression with a Physical Cause 154
Overt Aggression 155
Demanding/Dominant Aggression 156
Temperament Testing for Aggression 157
Pain Threshold 158
Social Dominance 158
New Objects and Situations 160
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viii Contents
9 Clicker Duet 163
Working with More than One Dog 163
Tandem Training in the Basics 165
Come 165
Sit-Stay 166
Down-Stay 167
On-Leash Duo 167
Tandem Trick Work 170
Shake and Wave 171
Twirl 172
Sit Up 174
Speak 175
Jump Over or Through 175
Roll Over 179
Tandem Training in the Distraction Zone 180
More Than Two 182
10 Clicking Unlimited 183
Conformation 183
Gaiting 185
Stacking 185
Stand for Examination 187
Obedience 187
Novice Classes 187
Open Classes 191
Utility Classes 192
Rally-O 194
Canine Freestyle 195
Agility 196
Other Fun Activities 198
Appendix: Internet Resources 199
Index 201