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A Step-by-Step Guide to
Using the Pro-Training Clicker
Dog Training Made Easy- A Step-by-Step Guide to Using the Pro-Training Clicker
Acknowledgements
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Jessy Gabriel
Rob Dunn
Keith Benson
Dog Training Made Easy- A Step-by-Step Guide to Using the Pro-Training Clicker
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction
Why Train with the Pro-Training Clicker
How Dogs Learn
Dog Training Secrets
Dog Training Myths
Getting Started
Clicker Conditioning
Teaching a Release Word
Teaching Sit
Teaching Come Back When Called
Teaching Place
Teaching Walking on a Loose Leash
Teaching Sit-Stay
Teaching Sit-Stay and Walk Away
Teaching Down
Teaching Place-Stay
Teaching Place-Stay and Walk Away
Teaching Down-Stay
Teaching Down-Stay and Walk Away
Teaching Come Back When Called from a Distance
Teaching Stand for Basic Grooming
Teaching Sit at Doors
Teaching Wait to Load
Teaching Sit for Greetings
Teaching Place When the Doorbell Rings
Teaching Spin
Teaching Shake
Teaching Play Dead
Teaching Sit Up
Problem Solving
Common Questions
Words to Know
About Starmark Pet Products, Inc.
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Clicker Conditioning
Fun Tricks
Introduction
INTRODUCTION
Congratulations on choosing the Pro-Training Clicker Training
System! Developed by Starmark, the Pro-Training Clicker is a fun,
easy way to train your dog.
The ProTraining
Clicker is not
just another
clicker; it is
a full training
support system.
Dog Training Made Easy- A Step-by-Step Guide to Using the Pro-Training Clicker
Once a dog is
conditioned to
a clicker, the
sound sends a
consistent and
instant message
of Good Dog
and promises
a reward to
come.
It did not take long for dog trainers to see the potential of operant
conditioning. The sound of a clicker is distinct, clear and
consistent-and it can be heard from a distance. It is also a neutral
sound. Once a dog is conditioned to a clicker, the sound sends
a consistent and instant message of good dog and promises a
reward to come. It is this precise timing that allows your dog to
learn quickly.
Dog Training Made Easy- A Step-by-Step Guide to Using the Pro-Training Clicker
To give an example of how operant conditioning works, imagine
that your dog has learned to associate the sound of the opening
of a cookie jar with getting a treat. This time, however, instead of
giving your dog the treat as soon as you open the jar, you wait. Your
dog then might begin to offer certain behaviors to get the treat, for
example, barking. If you give him the treat the moment he barks,
he will be more likely to bark each time you open the cookie jar
because he has learned that barking causes the cookie jar to open.
You have put both positive reinforcement and operant conditioning
to work for you.
You will find more about how dogs learn in the Learn More
boxes found throughout the step-by-step sections of this guide.
The clicker
sound is called
a conditioned
reinforcer
because the
dog learns that
the click means
something
pleasurable is in
store.
ABCs:
Antecedent,
Behavior, &
Consequence
Timing &
Consistency
Timing- Studies show that dogs have a period of about 1.5 seconds
in order to accurately associate a cause with an effect. This means
that all types of reinforcement, or lack of, should be given in that
time frame to maximize learning potential and minimize confusion.
Since dogs live in the present, they believe they are being praised or
corrected for what they are doing at that exact moment. Miss that
moment in time and your dog can get confused or learn something
entirely different than what you wanted. Proper timing is critical for
an animal to learn by making an association between a cause (his
behavior) with an effect (the consequence of his behavior).
Dog Training Made Easy- A Step-by-Step Guide to Using the Pro-Training Clicker
thrive on rules and routines, and the familiarity of patterns puts
them at ease. Allowing a particular behavior sometimes and
not others will be confusing to your dog, as he will be unable to
determine when this behavior is appropriate and when it is not.
If a behavior is not always appropriate, it is best not to allow it at
all.
Reinforcement:
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Reinforcement
is anything
your dog finds
enjoyable-food, toys, play,
petting, etc.
Myth
Myth
Myth
You cant begin obedience training puppies until they are at least
6 months old. False: Puppies learn good or bad behaviors from
the very beginning and especially when they arrive at their new
home. Puppyhood is the perfect time to imprint good behaviors and
teach your dog how to learn. Dont give your puppy the opportunity
to practice bad behaviors. Instead, teach him what the correct
behaviors are right from the start- this will often prevent problem
behaviors from ever appearing. Look for the Perfect for Puppies
icon throughout this guide for exercises that are suitable for
puppies. Begin training your puppy the day you bring him home.
Start out by clicker conditioning your puppy and move on from
there.
Old dogs cant learn new tricks. False: Old dogs can learn new
tricks. If you have an older dog and want to try clicker training, it
is not too late to start! The clicker is a perfect tool to use whenever
you want to teach your dog something new. Older dogs sometimes
take longer to retrain because they have had a longer period of time
to practice the bad behavior.
If you train with food, you can never wean away from it. False:
Once your dog has learned the exercise, the Pro-Training Clicker
and treats can be weaned away using a variable reinforcement
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Dog Training Made Easy- A Step-by-Step Guide to Using the Pro-Training Clicker
schedule. Then, pull them out again when you want to teach your
dog something new!
You have to catch your dog in the act for it to mean anything.
True: Any type of reinforcement must immediately follow or
coincide with the behavior for your dog to closely associate them
together. If you wait longer than 1.5 seconds, you run the risk
of your dog engaging in another behavior while you are giving the
reinforcement and getting the two confused. A good example of this
is teaching your dog to sit without using a clicker. You manipulate
your dog into the sit and while youre saying good dog and petting
him, he stands up. What just happened? You rewarded him for
standing up because of the timing of your reinforcement. Clickers
work so well in training because they allow you to mark an exact
moment while giving you time to reach in your pocket for a treat.
Only reinforce the behavior you want and not some other.
I know my dog knows she has done something wrong (even if
it is hours later) because she looks guilty. False: Many times this
guilty look is actually a learned or natural fearful or submissive
response to your body language and other stimuli, such as a chewed
sofa. What happens is your dog learns to act fearful or submissive
when both you and the chewed sofa are present and to expect
punishment on your arrival. If there is no chewed sofa, you will
act favorably on your arrival with a happy greeting. Your dog does
not understand that the act of chewing the sofa brought about
your unfavorable response because you did not catch him in the
act. Your dog only learns that a chewed sofa is bad when you are
present.
When your dog is nervous or uneasy you should pet and comfort
him. False: Never coddle or soothe a nervous dog. Doing so will
be perceived by the dog as a reward or praise for being afraid. This
is how well-meaning, caring dog lovers can inadvertently encourage
their dog into being more fearful or shy. If your dog is mildly
nervous, communicate to him through obedience how he needs to
act. Redirect your dog away from the stimulus and have him sit
or lie down. When your dog responds to you in a favorable way for
lying down, reward him with a treat or praise. If your dog has a
strong fearful response to a stimulus, contact a Certified Training
and Behavior Specialist to help you develop a Behavior Modification
program involving counter-conditioning and desensitization.
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True!
Myth
Myth
Getting Started
GETTING STARTED
The Pro-Training Clicker Training System is a great way to train
healthy dogs of any age. If your dog has behavioral problems,
such as dominance or fear-induced aggression, contact a qualified
training and behavior specialist or a veterinarian before beginning
this or any other training program. The following breakdown will
show you how to use the Pro-Training Clicker Training System
based on your dogs age and previous training experience.
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Dog Training Made Easy- A Step-by-Step Guide to Using the Pro-Training Clicker
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Getting Started
starmarkacademy.com
TRAINING GEAR
The following items are recommended in addition to your ProTraining Clicker:
Soft, bite-sized treats (about the size of a navy bean)
Treat pouch
6-foot leash
Long-line leash (20-30 feet)
Collar
Dog bed or an elevated surface on which your dog can rest
comfortably
Tab leash
TRAINING SESSIONS
Unless otherwise noted, train in secure, quiet locations that are
free from distractions, yet familiar to your dog. A fenced-in yard
or a spacious room of your home works well.
Keep the duration of your training sessions to less than 15
minutes. Perform at least 1 session a day, but as many as 3
sessions a day are encouraged.
Ensure that your dog will be rested and ready for his training
sessions by providing him with at least an hour of quiet time
before training.
Keep a leash and collar on your dog when appropriate (never
leave a leash and collar on an unattended dog) and until he
has a complete understanding of the Come Back When Called
command (See Page 22).
Training sessions should not take place immediately following a
meal. You should always train a hungry dog to peak his interest
in the treats.
Training sessions should end before your dog looses interest in
the treats
Try to find a treat that is very appealing to your dog, and
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Dog Training Made Easy- A Step-by-Step Guide to Using the Pro-Training Clicker
motivational enough for the distraction level at which you are
working. Treats should be small and soft so they can be quickly
eaten.
There are
essentially
five ways to
teach your
dog behaviors
that lead to
rewards using
the Pro-Training
Clicker:
Shaping,
Luring,
Capturing,
Modeling, and
Molding.
Your dog can also learn new behaviors by modeling. This is where
the correct behavior is observed in one animal, and then replicated
by your dog. It is not easy for a dog to learn a new behavior by
modeling after a human, but they can learn by watching another dog
perform the behavior. For example, if you have two dogs and only
one knows the Come Back When Called, you would call the dog that
already knows the command to you and reward him when he comes
to you. Then when the dog that doesnt know the command comes
to you, reward him also.
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Getting Started
Molding is when you physically assist your dog into the correct
position. For example when teaching your dog the Down by
molding, you would gently push his withers (shoulders) towards the
ground until he is in the Down position, and then reward him.
TRAINING STEP-BY-STEP
Starmarks experience in training thousands of dogs and their
owners has enabled us to develop simple, step-by-step training
systems for the items in our product line. Follow the steps, and
do not move on until your dog has a basic understanding of the
exercise you have been practicing. Consider your dog to have a
basic understanding of an exercise when he appears to be willing
to perform the behaviors expected for his level of training, and is
able to accurately perform these behaviors about 80% of the time.
(You will find guidelines for this in the Tips boxes following each
exercise.)
When you move on to a new exercise, spend a few moments working
on exercises your dog already understands before beginning to
practice the new exercise. This will ensure that your dog is in an
ideal frame of mind for learning the new exercise. Finish your
training sessions with one or two of the exercises he most enjoys,
followed by a brief play session.
Once you have taught your dog all of the exercises in this guide, try
mixing up the order of exercises in your training sessions, slowly
introducing distractions and training in new locations.
LEARN MORE
Throughout this guide you will find Learn More sections. These
sections contain additional information on operant conditioning and
on how dogs learn to give you a better understanding of how the
training process works.
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Dog Training Made Easy- A Step-by-Step Guide to Using the Pro-Training Clicker
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starmarkacademy.com
TRAINING
EXERCISES
CLICKER CONDITIONING
1. Hold both the leash and Pro-Training Clicker in your left hand.
Your treat pouch should be on your right side. (If you are lefthanded, you may find it more comfortable to reverse the right-left
order indicated in the exercises in this guide.)
2. With your left hand, quickly press and release the button to
create the click. Immediately give your dog a treat with your
right hand.
3. Repeat the above steps 25 times.
Practice clicker conditioning for 2 training sessions.
After your second session, your dog will probably start to understand
that a treat follows the click. Because a dog thinks about what he
is looking at, the second half of clicker conditioning involves getting
your dog to look up at you. The following steps will help you capture
your dogs attention while clicker conditioning.
(Note: Press the button on the Pro-Training Clicker only once to
make the distinctive click-click sound.)
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Dog Training Made Easy- A Step-by-Step Guide to Using the Pro-Training Clicker
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A release
word
communicates
to your dog
that the
command he
was performing
has finished.
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Dog Training Made Easy- A Step-by-Step Guide to Using the Pro-Training Clicker
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Dog Training Made Easy- A Step-by-Step Guide to Using the Pro-Training Clicker
The Place
should be an
exercise your
dog enjoys
performing.
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Your dog
should match
his pace to
yours, not
the other way
around.
Your dog should match his pace to yours, not the other way
around.
Keep your leash loose enough to form a slight loop between you
and your dog. The snap attached to your dogs collar should
swing as you walk.
Practice walking on a loose leash in the forward direction only at
this stage of the training.
Many dogs are stubborn leash-pullers. If your dog fits this
description, ask your retailer about the Pro-Training Collar.
Using the Pro-Training Collar in conjunction with the ProTraining Clicker will make teaching your dog how to walk
peacefully by your side much easier.
TEACHING SIT-STAY
Teaching your dog to Stay in one place is one of the most useful
and enjoyable aspects of having a mannerly, well-trained dog. We
will use the Sit command to introduce Stay into your dogs routine.
Although it is common for people to tell their dog to Stay, it is
not necessary to do so. When you say Sit, to your dog, it should
mean Sit and Stay, until he is released. Do not release your dog
from a distance--staying close to him will help to keep him calm and
will discourage him from anticipating the release command. When
teaching your dog to Stay, you increase the amount of time he stays
by gradually delaying the click and reward. Your dog eventually will
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Dog Training Made Easy- A Step-by-Step Guide to Using the Pro-Training Clicker
learn to Stay even if you walk away from him.
1. With your dog at your left side, give the Sit command.
2. Click, reward and release him if he sits for 3 seconds.
3. If your dog gets up before you click and reward him, repeat the
command Sit, and help him back into position if necessary.
4. Repeat the above steps 5 times.
5. Repeat the above steps again, but this time click, reward and
release your dog for remaining in the Sit position for 5 seconds.
6. Repeat the above steps until your dog can remain in the Sit
position for 10 seconds by the end of your first training session.
7. Start your second training session by clicking, rewarding and
releasing your dog after he has remained in the Sit position for
5 seconds. Gradually delay the click and reward until you end
this session with your dog remaining in the Sit position for 15
seconds.
8. Expect your dog to remain in the Sit position for longer periods
until he can remain sitting by your side for 1 minute.
(Note: The number of sessions it takes to reach this goal varies, but
most dogs will learn a 1-minute Sit-Stay within 10 sessions.)
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Although it
is common for
people to tell
their dog to
Stay, it is
unnecessary to
do so. When
you say, Sit,
to your dog, it
should mean
Sit and Stay,
until he is
released.
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Dog Training Made Easy- A Step-by-Step Guide to Using the Pro-Training Clicker
7. Practice the Down for 4 training sessions.
8. On the fifth session, say the command Down the moment the
dog is in position. Immediately click, reward and release him.
TEACHING PLACE-STAY
Your dog now should be ready to remain on his Place for longer
periods.
1. Stand 2 feet in front of your dogs Place with your dog at your
left side.
2. Give your dog the command Place, and take a step forward. Do
not lure him with a treat. Guide him onto his bed with the leash
if necessary.
3. Have your dog remain on his Place for 10 seconds.
4. Click, reward and release him and encourage him to come off
his Place. Do not release your dog from a distance-staying close
to him will help to keep him calm and will discourage him from
anticipating the release command.
5. If your dog breaks his command before you click, reward and
release, repeat the command Place and guide him back onto
his Place. Expect him to remain in position until you have
reached your time goal for that repetition.
6. Repeat the above steps as many as 10 times or until he will
remain on his Place for 1 minute. Add at least 5 seconds to
each repetition before you click, reward and release him.
7. Begin the next training session by having your dog remain on his
Place for 30 seconds. Add 15 seconds to each repetition until
your dog will remain on his Place for 2 minutes.
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Although it is
important to
take your time
when teaching
any obedience
command, it is
especially so
with the Down
command.
Dogs see this
position as a
subordinate
posture and as
a result, some
may resist it.
Remember,
do not click,
reward, and
release your
dog until he
has completed
your time goal
for a particular
repitition.
However, you
may reward
his continued
good behavior
with a treat
every 30
seconds or
so when
practiving
extended
periods.
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Dog Training Made Easy- A Step-by-Step Guide to Using the Pro-Training Clicker
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Both
proofing and
generalization
are essential
to maximize
the benefits
of training.
Remember to
put your dog
into situations
only when he
is ready for
them, and
eventually he
will perform
reliably in any
situation.
TEACHING DOWN-STAY
Dogs are
sensitive to
body language.
Practice giving
your Down
command
while standing
in an upright,
normal
posture.
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Dog Training Made Easy- A Step-by-Step Guide to Using the Pro-Training Clicker
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Teaching
your dog to
remain in the
Down position
when you step
away from him
will help him
to become a
safer, more
reliable and
enjoyable
companion.
Leadership is
not a scientific
principle. It is
an intangible
concept and
difficult to
measure,
but it is
critical to the
relationship
between you
and your dog.
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Dog Training Made Easy- A Step-by-Step Guide to Using the Pro-Training Clicker
LEADERSHIP continued...
Keep an appropriate leash and collar on your dog whenever he
is with you, not just during training sessions. Use a 6-foot leash
for walks and most training sessions; a 20-30-foot long line in
large, open areas; and a short, tab-style leash when your dog
is relaxing with you at home.
Never leave a leash and collar on an unattended dog.
Follow rules 1 and 2 until your dog rarely needs leash guidance or
whenever appropriate (such as in public or outdoors in unsecured
areas).
It takes anywhere from 3 to 6 months for good behaviors to become
permanently established in your dogs mind. This time frame
depends on several factors, such as your dogs age, temperament
and experiences before you began training. Allowing your dog too
much latitude too quickly can slow training and create unnecessary
confusion and frustration for you and your dog. A good rule is that
when you feel confident that you can relax these guidelines, wait
another month before you attempt to do so.
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Have your
dog wear a
short tab
style leash
when he is
relaxing with
you at home
for times
your dog
needs leash
guidance.
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Dog Training Made Easy- A Step-by-Step Guide to Using the Pro-Training Clicker
36
If you doubt
your dog will
come toward
you the first
time you ask,
give him the
command
and gently
guide him
with the long
line. Once
he decides to
move in your
direction,
click, back
up, and praise
him.
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Dog Training Made Easy- A Step-by-Step Guide to Using the Pro-Training Clicker
SIT AT DOORS
1. With your dog on leash and at your left side, walk to the front
door of your home.
2. Stop 2 to 3 feet from the door. Give the Sit command.
3. Repeat the command and open the door. Watch your dog as you
do so.
4. Continue to watch him as you step through the doorway.
5. Stand facing your dog, wait 5 seconds, then click, reward and
release him.
6. Invite your dog through the door and reward him with a treat as
he does so.
7. If your dog breaks the Sit position before you click, reward and
release, repeat the above steps.
8. Perform 5 repetitions of the above steps in each direction
through the door, for a total of 10 repetitions.
9. Add several seconds to each training session until your dog can
remain sitting at a door for 30 seconds.
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Dog Training Made Easy- A Step-by-Step Guide to Using the Pro-Training Clicker
When you practice an exercise for an extended period, you
may offer your dog a bite-sized treat. For example, if your dog
is peacefully waiting in your vehicle, you may offer him a treat
before you click, reward and release.
Expect your dog to remain calm and mannerly whenever he exits
your vehicle.
Another useful Wait exercise is to teach your dog to Wait before
going through a gate, up stairs and more.
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Chaining
involves
grouping
exercises in
a sequence
until they
become one
complex
task.
If your
dog seems
to excited
to remain
sitting for
greetings with
petting, have
your friend
say hello to
you from a
distance.
Once your
dog is settled
into the Sit
position, your
friend can
move closer.
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Dog Training Made Easy- A Step-by-Step Guide to Using the Pro-Training Clicker
42
FUN TRICKS
In this section we will show you a few fun and easy tricks to teach
your dog using the Pro-Training Clicker Training System: Spin,
Shake, Play Dead and Sit Up. While the obedience exercises
you have been learning should be practiced daily, adding a few
tricks into your dogs routine will keep the training fresh, fun and
interesting for you and your dog.
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Dog Training Made Easy- A Step-by-Step Guide to Using the Pro-Training Clicker
TEACHING SHAKE
1. With your dog standing in front of you, give him the Sit
command.
2. Use either hand to raise either paw, click and reward your dog.
Keep your dog in the Sit position.
3. Repeat the above steps 15 times.
4. When your dog begins to lift his paw off the ground without
assistance, immediately click and reward him. Any voluntary
movement of his paw is sufficient.
5. Gradually expect your dog to lift his paw into your extended hand
before you click and reward him.
6. Once your dog fully offers his paw to your extended hand, add
the command Shake, then click and reward your dog.
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Fun Tricks
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Dog Training Made Easy- A Step-by-Step Guide to Using the Pro-Training Clicker
TEACHING SIT UP
1. With your dog in front of you, give the Sit command.
2. Hold a treat directly above your dogs nose but out of reach.
3. Entice him to follow your treat hand as you move it directly
upward.
4. As soon as you notice any attempt by your dog to have his front
paws lift from the ground, immediately click, reward and release
him. Do not click and reward if his rear end comes off the
ground.
5. Gradually expect your dog to lift his front paws higher off the
ground until he sits up fully.
6. Once your dog fully sits up, use the command Sit Up as soon
as he is in the correct position, then immediately click, reward
and release him.
7. Gradually delay the click, reward and release until your dog can
Sit Up for 5 seconds.
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Problem Solving
PROBLEM SOLVING
My dog will not eat treats. What do I do? Find a treat that is highly appealing to your dog, such
as Starmarks Pro-Training Treats, hot dogs, cheese, or boiled chicken, and only use them during
training sessions. Always train a hungry dog. Do not train your dog after a big meal because he
will be satiated and the treats will be less appealing. If your dog prefers play over treats, you may
want to use an alternative reinforcer like a favorite toy.
My dog grabs for the treat. How do I teach him to take the treat softly? Only release the treat to
your dog when he is being polite. You may need to close your hand more fully around the treat to
prevent him from grabbing it until you choose to release it. If your dog grabs for the treat and gets
it, he will learn that grabbing gets the treat. In addition, do not reach out then immediately pull
your hand back when giving the treat. Pulling your hand back too soon may teach the dog that he
has to leap forward to your hand to be able to reach the treat. Another alternative is to give your
dog the treat from your palm instead of from between your thumb and forefinger. You may also try
giving your dog the treat by putting the treat on a metal spoon.
My dog will not focus and follow the food lure. What do I do? Try using a larger treat that your
dog can see and follow more easily, or use a treat that is extra appealing to him. You may also try
holding the treat closer to your dogs nose and moving it more slowly. If your dog still does not
follow a lure, use the technique of shaping or capturing to teach him the exercises. To shape a
behavior, click and reward successive approximations of the behavior you want. For example, if,
when teaching the Place command, your dog does not follow the lure all the way onto the Place,
then you would first click and reward for one paw being up on the Place. Then, click and reward
when two paws are on the Place, and so on. To capture a behavior, wait for your dog to perform
a behavior on his own. The moment he performs the behavior you wish to strengthen, click and
follow with a treat. If your dog prefers to be lured around by a toy, use a toy such as the Starmark
Dura-Foam EasyGlide, instead of food.
My dog will not go into the Down position. What do I do? The Down is a subordinate posture and
some dogs may resist you helping them into position. In this case, teach the Down by waiting for
your dog to lie down on his own accord, and capture it with a click followed by a treat. The perfect
time to capture the Down is when you are watching TV, prepared with your Pro-Training Clicker
and some treats. As you are watching TV, wait for your dog to get bored and lie down, then capture
it with a click and give him a treat. You may also teach the Down through shaping by rewarding
successive approximations of the Down. For example, first click and reward when your dogs head
drops towards the ground. Then only click and reward when he drops his head and shoulders.
Then click when an elbow hits the ground, and so on until your dog is completely in the Down
position.
My dog will Sit at home but not at the dog park when other dogs are running around. What do I
do? Take a few steps back in your training and practice the Sit at a distraction level slightly higher
than what your dog is proficient at. Then generalize the sit to several different locations where the
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Dog Training Made Easy- A Step-by-Step Guide to Using the Pro-Training Clicker
distraction level is low. Gradually increase the distractions, but dont overload your dog with them.
When you plan to work around higher distractions, bring a reward that is extra special, over and
above what you normally use. When you first get to an area with higher distractions, give your dog
a chance to look around and check things out before starting your training session. Dont work too
long and stop your training session on a high note. Set your dog up for success and dont expect
too much too fast. If you still need to lure your dog into position, he is not yet ready for working
around distractions.
My dog is afraid of the sound of the clicker. What do I do? If your dog has a sound sensitivity, you
will want to muffle the volume of the clicker by placing it behind your back, in a pocket, or wrap a
few layers of tape on the clicker, until your dog has been desensitized to the sound and has learned
that it means a treat is coming. You can also use a retractable pen at first to make the click sound
and progress to the clicker once your dog is comfortable.
COMMON QUESTIONS
What is the difference between the Pro-Training Clicker and other clickers? The Pro-Training
Clicker was designed with ergonomics in mind. It has been our experience working with hundreds
of clients that traditional box clickers can be bulky and uncomfortable to hold. The user friendly
Pro-Training Clicker feels comfortable wherever you hold it, and is made from a lightweight and
durable material. Have you experienced missed clicks from accidentally pressing the wrong end of
the traditional box clicker? With the Pro-Training Clicker there are no more missed clicks! The
raised button is easy to find and press, even if you are wearing gloves or have long fingernails. The
stainless steel clicker element will not rust, plus it has a built in lanyard attachment.
Why do I need the clicker? Cant I just say Good Dog, and give my dog a treat? The reason the
clicker is preferred over a verbal marker word is that a clicker allows you to quickly and consistently
mark the exact moment your dog performs a desired behavior, even at a distance. The click sound
is consistent, while verbal cues can vary in tone, volume, tempo, and emotion. In addition, it is
faster to click than to say a word. The sound of the clicker signals an automatic response in the
dog that a word cannot do, making it clearer for your dog. When teaching a new exercise, you have
only limited moments that your dog is in the desired position. A clicker allows you to catch those
moments in time and bridge the period to when you give him a treat. The precise timing the clicker
gives you allows your dog to learn quickly, while minimizing confusion.
What happens if my timing is off when I click? Once paired with something positive, the clickers
precise ability to mark a behavior can sometimes create a problem if your timing of the click
is off, especially if you have clicked and rewarded a behavior repeatedly. For example, if you are
teaching the Sit and you click when your dogs rear is only halfway to the ground, you can end up
teaching a hover sit. If you find your timing is off, practice your timing without your dog. Have a
friend bounce a ball while you click whenever the ball hits the ground. Pretty soon you will be able
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Common Questions
to click the precise moment the ball hits the ground.
How do I wean my dog away from luring, the clicker, and treats? In this guide you will initially use
a lure to help show your dog the desired behavior. When your dog is beginning to understand the
exercise, start to slowly take the lure away. Then, switch from luring your dog into position with the
treat to bringing the treat out only as a reward after the dog has performed the desired behavior.
Throughout this guide a continuous schedule of reinforcement is used when you are teaching a new
behavior and are in the initial showing stage to help your dog learn the fastest. With continuous
reinforcement, your dog receives a reward every time he performs a behavior as you asked. Once
your dog has a general understanding of the behavior, we recommend you switch to a variable
schedule of reinforcement to help your dog generalize and retain the behavior, making it stronger.
With a variable schedule, your dog receives a reward intermittently for performing a behavior as you
asked. The reward should be something that your dog perceives as desirable, whether its food,
play, social interaction, petting, or praise. For example, your dog sits reliably as you have asked
for the past 5 occasions. The next time you ask your dog to Sit, praise him instead of giving him
a treat. After that, ask him to Sit again and click and reward with a treat. Vary both the type of
reinforcement given and the occasions you give it so your dog never knows exactly when or what
kind or reward is coming. Go back to a continuous schedule of reinforcement when you teach a
new behavior. Note: Give a treat or some other positive reinforcement often enough so that you dog
knows that if he keeps performing the behavior, he is sure to win something he wants.
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Dog Training Made Easy- A Step-by-Step Guide to Using the Pro-Training Clicker
WORDS TO KNOW
Antecedent: Whatever occurs before a behavior.
Behavior: An animals response to its environment.
Bridge: A signal that connects a behavior to a reward. A bridge allows you to reward your dog with
food after a behavior has been performed.
Capturing: Capturing involves waiting for your dog to perform a behavior that you wish to strengthen
and then rewarding it. Capturing is used to teach dogs behaviors that they offer naturally, such as
stretching in the morning. It is also a useful technique to use when your dog does not respond to lurebased techniques.
Chaining: A training technique used for training complex behaviors which consist of 2 or more
separate behaviors that are linked together.
Classical Conditioning: Classical conditioning is related to reflexes and bodily responses to neutral
and unconditioned stimuli. Most of the time this takes place with the presence of food. As in the
Russian physiologist Ivan Pavlovs experiment, the bell alone did not mean anything to the dogs--it
was an unconditioned stimuli. Paired a number of times with food, the bell took on the properties of a
conditioned stimuli, meaning the dogs would start to salivate as an unconditioned response. When the
dogs heard the bell, after some repetitions, they were conditioned that food was on its way and would
begin to salivate. The important thing to remember about classical conditioning is that it involves
reflexes and bodily responses, things you have no control over. If you were to have a puff of air blown
into your eye, it would be impossible for you not to blink! No matter how hard you try to control this
sort of reflex, you simply cannot.
Clicker Conditioning: Clicker Conditioning occurs when your dog has associated the neutral stimulus
of the click sound with a primary reinforcer, such as a treat. Once this occurs, your dog will be
conditioned to respond to the sound of the click alone in anticipation of the treat, allowing you to mark
a moment in time. NOTE: It is important that a primary reinforcer follows the click, at least on a
variable basis, so the association does not become extinct.
Consequence: What happens in response to a behavior.
Continuous Reinforcement: With continuous reinforcement, your dog receives a reward every time he
performs a behavior as you asked. For example, every time you put the right amount of money in a
soda machine, you get a soda.
Extinction: Extinction decreases a targeted behavior. It occurs whenever a behavior that has been
previously reinforced (strengthened), such as begging at the table, is no longer reinforced in any way.
NOTE: Behaviors that have been intermittently rewarded, such as begging at the table, are more
50
Words to Know
resistant to extinction. Ignored behaviors that have been previously rewarded usually increase in
intensity before they drop off. This is called an extension burst.
Fading: The gradual removal of prompts (training aids) as your dog begins to understand the expected
behavior.
Generalization: Generalization involves teaching your dog an identical behavior in many different
environments. This helps your dog understand that a command means the same thing in different
areas or situations. For example, if you only teach the Sit while your dog is in the kitchen, your dog
will think that Sit means sit only while in the kitchen. For your dog to thoroughly understand that Sit
means sit on grass, gravel, cement, carpet, or while other dogs walk by, it is essential that you practice
it in many different environments.
Leadership: Leadership from you provides your dog with clear direction and rules. By communicating
with and training your dog, you provide him with the guidance he needs to be a mannerly pet.
Luring: With luring, your dog follows a lure (typically a treat in your hand or a toy) until he has
performed the desired behavior. When luring, it is important to wean away from having the lure,
otherwise your dog can become dependent on it. In training you initially use a lure to help show your
dog what the desired behavior is. When your dog begins to understand the exercise, slowly fade the
lure away.
Negative Reinforcement: Negative Reinforcement is when an occurrence is subtracted or removed to
strengthen a behavior.
Operant Conditioning: Operant Conditioning is the science of behavior that explains the functional
relationship between environmental events and behavior. Simply put, all living organisms (including
humans) learn through trial and error that there are consequences for their actions. These
consequences either strengthen or weaken behaviors and make them more or less likely to reoccur in
the future.
Pairing: Pairing happens when a stimulus is associated or connected with a response after enough
repetitions. In clicker conditioning you pair the sound of the clicker with food. When you are teaching
your dog a verbal command, you connect the behavior with the sound of the word.
Positive Reinforcement: Positive Reinforcers are things your dog wants that are paired to a behavior
to make the behavior more likely to occur. It can be either a conditioned or an unconditioned
reinforcement, such as the Triple Crown Clicker and/or the treat that follows.
Primary/Unconditioned Reinforcement: Primary reinforcers are based on what your dog instinctually
wants, such as food, drink, play and social interaction.
Prompting: Using training aids to induce the correct behavior from your dog and to rule out the
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Dog Training Made Easy- A Step-by-Step Guide to Using the Pro-Training Clicker
possibility of error. These aids can be verbal, gestural, or environmental.
Proofing: In proofing an exercise, you build your dogs commitment to performing an exercise. This is
done by the gradual introduction of distractions. Proofing is also known as generalizing.
Punishment: Punishment, whether positive or negative makes behaviors less likely to occur. Positive
punishment is when something is added to make your dog stop or be less likely to repeat a behavior.
An example of positive punishment is when your dog receives a pop of appropriate intensity from a
training collar for pulling on the leash. The pop, timed appropriately with your dog pulling on the
leash, teaches your dog that a tight leash leads to a pop. This causes your dog to be less likely to pull
on the leash. Negative punishment is when something is removed to cause your dog to be less likely
to repeat a behavior. Negative punishment is when your dog loses something he enjoys as a result of
his behavior. For example, you have a treat in your hand and when your dog jumps on you, you put the
treat away and ignore the dog. The behavior of jumping up is reduced because your dog learns that he
loses social interaction and/or the treat when he jumps up.
Reinforcement: Reinforcement is a stimulus that causes a behavior to be strengthened.
Reinforcement is also relative. If your dog likes to be petted, then petting is a reinforcer. However if
your dog does not like to be touched, then petting would not be a reinforcer. Its all in how your dog
perceives it and what he desires.
Release word: A release word communicates to your dog that the exercise he was performing has
finished.
Secondary/Conditioned Reinforcement: Conditioned reinforcers have been learned or paired with
primary reinforcers to make them meaningful to your dog, such as a clicker or praise.
Shaping: A training technique in which successive approximations of a behavior are reinforced until
the desired response has been achieved.
Stimulus: Any event that can be perceived with one of our five senses (hear, see, taste, touch, and
smell).
Successive Approximations: Any behaviors that resemble or get your dog closer to the final desired
behavior.
Variable Reinforcement: With a variable schedule of reinforcement your dog receives a reward
intermittently for performing a behavior. The reward can be anything that your dog perceives as
desirable, whether its food, play, toys, social interaction, petting, or praise. Once your dog has learned
a behavior, we recommend you switch to a variable schedule of reinforcement to help your dog retain
the behavior and make it stronger. Slot machines are a perfect example of variable reinforcement in
action.
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About Starmark
MENTAL
STIMULATION
INTERACTIVE
PLAY
TRAINING
TOOLS
TREATS
& REWARDS
As the world leader in pet education for over a decade, our awardwinning training and behavior tools are developed by experts and
performance tested by thousands of dogs at the Starmark Academy
Animal Behavior Center.
Our Goal
As the facilitator of world-class education and training programs for
dogs and professional dog trainers, we understand how dogs think,
play, and learn this hands-on knowledge makes our products
unique. Our goal is simple: keeping pets happy in their homes by
improving relationships with their owners.
The Starmark Academy
Starmark Academy is the largest, most comprehensive training,
behavior, and event center in the world. With a 100,000 square
foot facility situated on 360 acres, we cater to everything from
pets to pros. Our extensive staff of certified professional trainers
and behavior specialists offers a wide array of techniques and
specialties. Starmark Academy offers something for everyone,
from the pet owner to the dog sports enthusiast; including training
in basic companion obedience, solutions for common behavior
problems, agility, police K-9, search and rescue, schutzhund, and
more.
Our Facilities
Our 200-kennel boarding kennel features spacious climate
controlled indoor/outdoor runs, play yards, beach club activity area
with swimming pool, treats, massages, and more. Also onsite is a
2-mile professionally built nature trail, complete with various agilitystyle obstacles for dogs.
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