Clicker training a heel with a 10 week old American Bulldog

[gingawolf56]

There's nothing wrong with corrections, and to this day I've never seen a properly trained dog without them. You never teach a behavior using them--all it does it demotivate the dog, and doesn't make any sense. Correction doesn't mean prong collar. Someone should read Gary Wilkes article on punishment--he is one of the founders of clicker training, and says anyone who claims they're 100% doesn't understand the definition of punishment.

[abirdslife]

Excellent training... love the Positive !!

[MultiAnimalcrackers]

excellent work and lovely to watch. that is exactly how i taught mine...i try to do everything off lead to start with so it is their choice to make..they learn better when given choices and realise for themselves that the most rewarding place is being with YOU:))

[andysepul1]

I wish i would of known about leerburg when i got my dogs 4 years ago. i was using the compulsive training method. Im a dumbass for that.

[andysepul1]

it sounds like AMYNORCALSAB knows her shit. I totaly agree with everything she has to say. Michael Ellis one of the best trainers out there. check him out on his website or leerburg.com.

[sdpt897]

How sad that you do that. Funny, I've not met a dog yet who needs "more of a correction than withholding a reward." Rather than rely on a pinch collar, go back to training.

[amynorcalsab]

What happens when what the dog wants is greater than the reward you provide? What about self rewarding behaviors? Protection sports are a great example of a true training challenge. Correction isn't a bad thing and if you have a good relationship with your dog than it wont affect the dog in a negative way. Its about fair appropriately timed corrections. And corrections don't always have to be a physical correction, it is very dependent on the dog.

[sdpt897]

If you're not motivating the dog enough, that's on you, not the dog. Change the reward or step back in training to help the dog work through it. Don't stick to 1 reward, but use various ones (incl. life rewards). Instead of relying on corrections, think why the dog is not motivated, work on that. I've never not been able to figure out how to motivate a dog. And I wouldn't resort to corrections for my inability to do so.

[amynorcalsab]

Have you trained a dog in protection sports? At some point what the dog wants is going to be greater than what you can provide. Nobody said anything about relying on corrections but I do utilize them when appropriate.

[amynorcalsab]

Yes, rewards are varied often but that wont matter if there is something greater the dog wants than what you can provide (i.e. decoy on the other side of the field). The dogs are very motivated but again, at some point you are going to need to communicate more than just the withholding of a reward. I am not talking pet dog obedience or agility, I am talking in terms of protection sports. Again, all of my foundation work is positive and motivational but later on I do add corrections.

[amynorcalsab]

This doesn't mean I only use corrections or even that I mainly use correction; 98% of all my training is positive.

[sdpt897]

@amynorcalsab Then you should be able to make it 100%.

[oneacd]

No reinforcement is a "correction". There is no need to do anything more. Then you just have to build the dog's drive and confidence up again.

[Nettaiya87]

Wtf? What does she mean no correction? You have to correct a problem if they don't do what you train them to...

[ferretshoes]

@Nettaiya87

"correction" = coloquialism for positive punishment and/or negative reinforecement. Do a search online for "operant conditioning quaderants" to find out the meaning of those.

Dogs are more engaged in learning when they are trained without a reliance on "corrections". Read "don't shoot the dog" by karen pryor for a good overview of this topic.

[Nettaiya87]

Yea, you apply that to humans too that's why we have children having children and no parenting. Too soft. I'm all for stict training but training needs sanction.

[ferretshoes]

@Nettaiya87

Not relying on corrections does not mean not giving direction or setting expectations (please excuse my double negatives!). It's not about being permissive, its about having the subject "take responsibility" for their own learning (to speak of humans, or to anthropomorphize the dog somewhat)

[amynorcalsab]

Later on in the training fair corrections will be added. If you look at some of the newer videos you can see this. Training is about balance. All positive is great for teaching puppies and young dogs but for the majority of dogs some form of correction will need to be added later in the training process.

[amynorcalsab]

I should also add that the type of "correction" really depends on each individual dog.

[RplusTrainer]

Beautiful training!

[2totangoanimalrescue]

I love clicker training! The dogs love it, they love to work and they aren't afraid of making a mistake. Wonderful job!!! You've helped to show that you don't need a prong collar or choke chain to get behaviors like this!! Well Done!

[the0wisp]

Amazing, mi AB is now 6 week old and i would like to train her like yours. How do you keept your dog with the attention on you all iver the time? Thanks, will be helpfully for my!

Best regards from Spain and i will upload my AB soon! Thanks all!

[totallyaussiemaddog]

captain obvious?

[Juzij]

Fantanstic :)

[arch0520]

Great job! I'd definitely have an aching back after a training session like that.

[attitudeunlimitedrog]

nice work amy.