As it was

Many years ago I was a professional dog trainer. We are talking many years - like in the 1980’s. In those days the use of the check collar was the main form of dog training, and, I still stand by the fact that used correctly, it isn’t unnecessarily cruel.

Unfortunately not many people know how to use them correctly. This ended up with small dogs having injured necks and dogs of all sizes being dragged around (or dragging around!) and only a small number actually learning anything useful. Even dogs that I trained personally I would see months later pulling their owners around, having forgotten everything because, once away from an experienced hand, they got away with bad behaviour, their owners not knowing how to correctly “check” them.

As it is now

Twenty years later I found myself in need of a Medical Service Dog. As a dog trainer myself I decided to get a puppy and train it, rather then go through an organisation, all of which are under funded and can’t supply the demands of dogs needed.

As I didn’t need a large dog, and as we have a very small apartment, I decided on a Papillon. Papillons are small, neat, intelligent, they don’t shed much and their hair doesn’t tangle much either. But as much as I love the breed, that’s not what we are here to talk about.

Having picked up my puppy, a female we called “Gem” I then had to start to train her. And this is where “Clicker” training comes in.

What is Clicker training?

A clicker is a small object that has a metal flange that you press to make a “clicking” noise. The noise points at a moment in time. It says “NOW” to your pet. Following the click with a treat means “do what you did at that exact second in time and you get a treat”.

Learn how to use the clicker.

How early should you start training?

Your puppy is learning all the time, so training can start immediately you get pup home. You just have to make sure the lessons are age appropriate, and that you keep them short. A five minute lesson, repeated several times a day, is better then one half hour lesson where your pup is going to get bored and restless and even cranky half way through.

Gem could sit, drop, come and leave by the age of 16 weeks, and would fetch her ball. This "fetch" game has become more useful as she has grown up. Now, when I'm doing the housework, she will pick things up off the floor and give them to me. All she wants for this little service is a few seconds of pats! Cheap labour indeed!

While I'm busy writing this site if you have any questions please email me at eliza@elizasart.com