An Introduction to Housetraining a Puppy

From Karen Pryor's Puppy Love (available at http://www.clickertraining.com/store), Carolyn Clark gives you an overview and some tips on potty training your puppy. To learn how to teach your puppy to ring a bell when it needs to go potty, check out How to Teach 'Ring the Bell' for Potty Time by Virginia Broitman and Sherri Lippman. From the ClickFlicks Learning Center. http://www.clickertraining.tv

"Clicker training" is the popular term for the training or teaching method based on what we know about how living organisms learn.

Research has shown that any creature—whether a dog, cat, dolphin, parrot, fish, horse, llama, or person—is more likely to learn and repeat actions that result in consequences it desires and enjoys. So clicker trainers provide consequences desired by their animal in exchange for actions or behaviors desired by their trainers.

We call these consequences "rewards" and the process is called "reinforcement." Clicker training, therefore, is a positive-reinforcement-based system of training.

First widely used by dolphin trainers who needed a way to teach behavior without using physical force, operant conditioning (the scientific term for clicker training) can be and has been successfully employed with animals of all sizes and species, both domesticated and wild, young and old; all breeds of dogs and puppies, cats, birds, leopards, rats, rabbits, chinchillas, fish, and more.

Clicker trainers who learn the underlying principles have at their disposal a powerful set of tools that enable them to analyze behaviors, modify existing methods for individual animals, and create new methods where none previously existed. This flexibility allows the tools of clicker training to be re-invented in new forms that work in a range of situations, and for an infinite variety of animals.

The same principles have also been applied to training for athletes, dancers, skaters, and other people. Called "TAGteach," this form of training uses a click as a marker signal to teach precise physical motions quickly, accurately, and positively.

More information can be found at http://www.clickertraining.com

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• clicker
• training
• dog
• puppy
• housetraining

[michaelckyang]

I hate to pick up dog poop from the training pads until i found flushable dog poop bags :) life saver....

[liv4dmb]

no its not, if it was bigger the dog could pee on one side and sleep on the other. A dog will not pee in the crate if they have to sleep there too. A common mistake made by new owners are that they buy the pup a crate that is too big. :)

[GotChrisv2]

lol

[pornchai72]

this is a common problem in puppies that are bought at pet stores or from non-reputable breeders or that have been separated from their mothers too early. The puppies are kept in crates all the time and they learn to go potty in it. You have a hard job ahead of you cracking this habit, but if you are positive(never scold the dog), consistent and patient you will get results. Good luck

[KillerxKat]

First, you need to get help on how to correctly spell the name of your dog's breed.

[DragonpoWer999]

does the clicker work? if so where can i find 1?

[lovesamc]

we got my dog to dance at the door when she has to go and now I'm getting a pug and I'm a bit nervous and don't really know how to potty train her

[gagothesith]

Why the need to toss the treat on the floor--thereby ending up teaching the puppy that it is OK to pick things up from the floor and eat them

What specifically is lost by giving the puppy the reward-treat straight from the trainer's/family member's hand?

[xoxmyfantastyxox]

Your crate may be too big. If it is, he can find a corner to 'go' in it. :)

[iNhanV]

i cant crate train my puppy - he used the bathroom in it already.....i need help!!

[carlaird]

She is very good!!

Think she from Canada???!!