It's Quicker With A Clicker

THE PET TEACHER
In-YOUR-Home Dog Training
248-232-3655

IT'S QUICKER
WITH A CLICKER!


	TAGTeach & Clicker Training The Better Way To Learn!

WHAT IS CLICKER TRAINING?
Clicker Training is the cutting edge dog training method of the 21st century!
Behaviorists created and tested this scientific method so you can train your dog with
effective techniques that are so safe and fun even your children can teach your dog!
Dogs as young as 3 weeks old can learn from a clicker ... so why are you waiting to get
started? Start Clicker Training with your dog sooner than later so you can teach the
wanted behaviors the first time and avoid the frustration later. Training is quicker
with a clicker, so give yourself and your dog the opportunity to use dog training
methods designed for today's learning.

WHAT DOES A CLICKER LOOK LIKE?
A clicker is a small noisemaker. You might have gotten one
at a fair or birthday party when you were a child. It
probably looked like a metal or plastic bug, clown, cowboy
or smiley face. Inside the outer casing was a piece of
metal that you pushed with your finger and it made a
clicking noise.

Today we use clickers that are designed specifically for teaching. They are small
hand-held tools, used by the trainer and are not worn by the dog. Some trainers are
now using the term 'e-clicker' to describe their electronic or shock collars Please be
aware that this is not the real Clicker Training.

CLICKER TRAINING IS A SCIENCE
Some people think that clicker training means that you point the clicker at the dog
and that causes the dog to do something. For instance, you click once and that
triggers the dog to sit ... click twice and the dog will lay down ... three times and the
dog will come to you. That is not how the clicker works.

The noise of the clicker is based in the science of acoustical learning. Most simply,
because of the way that animals' brains (all animals, including humans and canines)
process the noise, it teaches a behavior or movement or task more quickly with longer
lasting results and more accurate recall. The clicker actually alerts the dog that
she/he has accomplished the task you were requesting The noise of the click 'marks'
an achievement rather than being a 'cue' to the dog to start performing a behavior.
When you first teach your dog a new behavior you need to let the dog know the
moment he has done what you have requested. You can do that (A) with your voice by
saying 'yes!' ... or (B) with a clicker. When you 'mark' your dog's attempt at
performing a behavior you are giving him the information needed in order to know
what you want repeated.

What's the big deal about using a clicker rather than using your voice to 'mark' a
specific point in learning? There are several reasons that It's Quicker With A
Clicker!

1. The noise of the clicker is not something the dog hears routinely. Your dog hears
your voice all the time, but the unusual noise of the clicker is something that quickly
captures their attention. When you combine the clicker with positive reinforcement
training techniques, you are on the fastest path to teaching your dog!

2. The clicker gives a more precise 'mark' than your voice. That precision is what will
help your dog to better learn what you are expecting her/him to repeat.

3. Research has shown that the noise of the clicker is embedded in and recognized by
the part of the brain that has to do with long-term recall. Which means that your dog
will have a better ability to remember what you are asking of her/him and be able to
perform it even if you haven't used it recently.

4. Everyone in the family can use the clicker and when they do all of you will sound the
same to the dog when you 'mark' the behavior. This is great! It will speed the
learning process for your dog because she/he doesn't have to decipher the different
voices and different ways of saying 'yes'.

5. It makes you a better trainer. It will help you to concentrate and you will become
a more consistent communicator with your dog. Your dog can be only as consistent as
your input. If you're sloppy in communicating what you want, your dog will give you
sloppy behaviors in return. Learning positive reinforcement training techniques
combined with the clicker will help you to become more consistent.

IS A CLICKER REALLY NECESSARY?
Can you train your dog strictly with your voice, using only a verbal 'mark'? Sure you
can in many cases. But you will see faster and better teaching results if you use the
clicker. Scientific testing has proven it. Do you prefer to see quick and accurate
learning results? Then use the clicker!

There is science behind the use of the clicker and other auditory tools for 'marking'
behaviors. Marine mammals have been trained with whistles and underwater noises
combined with positive reinforcement training techniques since the 1940's. That's
how bomb detection Dolphins are trained. It's how Shamu learns his tricks! You can't
put a choke chain or e-collar on a Killer Whale, nor can you force, dominate, or try to
intimidate one of these animals - they will not tolerate that kind of treatment from
humans. Positive reinforcement combined with marker-based techniques are the only
effective methods to use when training these highly intelligent animals. Your highly
intelligent dog deserves the same superior teaching techniques.

The clicker has been used for dog training since the 1960's. Today it is used for an
array of sophisticated animal training such as service and assistance dogs being used
for hearing, sight and wheelchair-assistance ... or those dogs who know how to detect
epilepsy, cancer and diabetes. Police departments are using the clicker to train their
K9 partners. Drug and bomb detection dogs ... search and rescue dogs ... and animal
actors are trained with a clicker. It is used for teaching behaviors to dogs, cats,
horses, donkeys, pigs, rats, hamsters, birds, fish, llamas, mice, and rabbits!
Even deaf dogs are trained with marker-based techniques such as laser lights.

IT STARTED WITH ANIMALS ...
BUT NOW PEOPLE LEARN, TOO!
Today there is also TAGTeach, which is known as 'teaching with acoustical guidance'
and is used with humans! Sports such as golf, volleyball, baseball, soccer, basketball,
hockey and tennis ... gymnastics, including an entire team training for the Olympics ...
dance including ballet, tap and performing arts ... cheerleading ... Pilates, Yoga and Tai
Chi -- all are using acoustical science learning, primarily marking with a clicker.
Speech Therapists are using the clicker. Teaching someone how to tie their shoes and
other physical rehabilitation challenges after an accident or stroke use the clicker
and other marker-based techniques. Teaching children with Autism has been highly
successful with TAGTeach techniques. Gymnastic coaches, athletic and sports
coaches, school teachers, physiotherapists, art teachers, dance teachers, occupational
therapists, sports therapists, music teachers, speech pathologists, day care providers
and behavior analysts (to name but a few) are using TAGTeach techniques.

TAGTeach is a boon to helping someone more accurately learn a new task or behavior!
There is so much science and compassion behind this form of learning and we are
discovering more ways everyday to help all people to speed learning!

With all this success and science behind it just imagine what the clicker can do to help
you and your dog as well as your entire family become a better team! To learn more
about acoustical science teaching, contact a Clicker Trainer instructor or TAGTeach
instructor today.