I have been training dogs for years and have not always been a “clicker trainer.”  I am what is known in the clicker training world as a “cross-over trainer,” having used more traditional methods before becoming a convert to clicker training.  In the 1980s and 1990s, I was not aware of operant conditioning, clicker training methods; however, I always found myself seeking out the least harsh methods of training that were available  I was never satisfied with the training methods that I was learning about.  Many years ago, when I was working as a violent crimes prosecutor, I became friendly with a K-9 police officer who had trained dogs for the police and the military.  My family had rescued a new six month old Shepherd-Rottweiler cross that was out of control.  The officer offered to help and began training “Murdoch.” I couldn’t stand watching him use, what I later learned, were traditional training methods.  He was constantly correcting the dog in ways that I felt were abusive.  I couldn’t understand why Murdoch was being punished for simply acting like a dog that hadn’t been trained.  It was not his fault that he was acting that way but there he was getting punished.  It stressed out both him and me.  That was it for me and harsh training methods.  But then what?  I still needed to train my dog.

Some time after that, I was up very late one night watching TV and a dog training infomercial came on hosted by David Dikeman.  Dikeman’s  dog training system is called, Command Performance.  At the time, it was the least harmful training method I could find.  While more gentle corrections were used than those I saw with the K-9 trainer, they were still corrections.  The theory was, if the dog did not actually see you correcting him it wouldn’t really be a correction.  Much care is taken with this system to try and avoid the dog seeing the trainer correct him.  (Unfortunately, this is not true and the dog is certainly aware who is correcting him.)   As with many different types of programs from dieting to sports training, if religiously adhered to,  Command Performance worked.  It took quite awhile but eventually Murdoch was walking with me, off leash, across busy streets.  The problem was, I could see that Murdoch was stressed when he knew we were about to start a training session.  He would endure the training but he didn’t like it.  I kept looking for a better training technique.

Some years later, we adopted a new Beaglish dog, Bridget, that definitely needed training and I signed up at the local PetsMart.  I happened to meet a great trainer who introduced me to clicker training.  Marty was a trainer who was properly trained in clicker training.  That is certainly not true of many of the trainers in large pet supply stores.  (Remember, just because someone is walking around with a clicker and a treat bag, that does not make them a clicker trainer.  They are often no more a clicker trainers than someone walking around with a spatula in a fast food restaurant that might call him or herself a chef.)

After experiencing how well this method worked with Bridget I read more about clicker training.  I learned that true clicker training is actually operant conditioning developed by the B.F. Skinner, Ph.D., at Harvard during the first half of the twentieth century.  I also learned from Karen Pryor (the woman who is primarily responsible for introducing clicker training to the dog training world) that is is the same training used to train dolphins and whales at places like Sea World and the Shedd Aquarium.  It is the process of marking the behavior being sought and then immediately rewarding that behavior. I had stumbled on an effective training method that uses absolutely no corrections — no prong collars, no shock collars, no leash popping and no yelling.  After doing some additional research, I also learned that operant conditioning (clicker training) is considered by many scientists to be the most effective training method for any type of animal.  Not only does this training work, but the subjects can’t wait to begin a training session.  Instead of stress in the anticipation of a training session, the subjects can not wait to begin.  It is their opportunity to fool you into giving them treats just for doing something silly like sitting, lying down, rolling over or most ridiculously, just sitting in one spot when the handler says, “stay.”

It is very exciting to be able to encourage a dog to voluntarily exhibit a behavior that you are seeking.  Not only do the dogs voluntarily “throw” these behavior, they are anxious to perform.  More importantly, you become much closer to your dog.  You start watching your dog almost as closely as he or she watches you.  A communication develops that you never imagined and your dog becomes your training partner instead of a servant.

Remember, give clicker training a try, it can’t hurt.

Little kids love hugging and kissing dogs.  Unfortunately, hugging dogs is probably one of the most common causes of dog bites.  You may not have thought about the ways people and dogs greet each other.  People do not greet each other the same as dogs. (Thank goodness.)  We are primates.  We walk directly toward a person that we are greeting, look them straight in the eye and either shake hands or hug.  This is precisely why we assume that dogs want to be greeted the same way.  When dogs greet each other, they sort of sidle up sideways to each other and sniff.  If everything is okay, they will either start playing or begin running around sniffing and searching.  When greeting, dogs do not look each other directly in the eye or throw their “arms” around each other.  As a matter-of-fact, dogs see all of those actions as threatening or aggressive.  How would you feel about someone greeting you by walking up to you sideways, not making eye contact and then start sniffing you.  Call the Police!  Understanding the behavior of a different species that we live with is important.

One of the most concise explanations of the differences between how dogs and people greet each other is found in the excellent book, The Other End Of The Leash, by Patricia B. McConnell, Ph.D.  If you are a dog lover, you will learn much more about your four-legged friends by reading this book.  The Other End Of The Leash, examines many aspects of canine behavior.  Dr. McConnell combines her own personal and professional experiences with the research in canine behavior.  Dr. McConnell and virtually all other researchers of dog behavior recommend that we discourage hugging and kissing dogs.

In my experience the people who most want to hug and pet soft living things are young adolescent girls and children between about three and five years of age.  I’ve worked with dozens of families with sweet young girls who got growled at, snapped at, or bitten in the face (usually not badly, thank heavens) when they threw their arms around their dog.  Like young female primates everywhere, they craved cuddling and touching.  Yet while they were thinking warm, loving thoughts, their dog interpreted their hug as a rude, domineering threat display. 

–The Other End Of The Leash, Why We Do What We Do Around Dogs 17 (Random House Publishing Group 2002)

We certainly do not want to see a dog returned to a breeder or shelter because of an incident that could have been easily avoided.  Become more observant of dogs’ body language.  There are many body signals that dogs exhibit that communicate stress or anxiety.  Be aware that one can not rely on one signal from the dog.  A wagging tail does not necessarily indicate a friendly dog.  You must take a look at the “whole dog. ” While many signs of anxiety in a dog are common behaviors, looking at the dog as a whole lets you know whether he is anxious,fearful or stressed.  A dog with a tucked tail, by itself, doesn’t tell you very much.  However, if the dog’s tail is tucked, its tongue is flicking, the ears are pulled back and he is looking away and yawning, you have a stressed and anxious dog on your hands.  Stay away.  With respect to child safety I would recommend that you take a look at the website, www.doggonesafe.com.

We can also use our understanding of canine behavior to avoid problems with a dog.  Do you or your child know what to do if approached by a strange dog or a dog that is being overly playful?  Don’t look at the dog and stand perfectly still.  Dogs are attracted to movement.  If you aren’t moving and you aren’t staring, the dog will generally lose interest.  They will usually move on to something that is moving and is more interesting to them.