petting will then become sufficient motivation. The treats you choose should be bite-sized, soft and appetizing
to your dog. (Treats the size of a navy bean will work well.) Should you decide not to use any treats while
training, it is important that you reward your dog in some way, especially after he performs an appropriate
behavior as a result of a correction. Choose a form of Positive Reinforcement that you feel comfortable with and
that your dog enjoys, such as praise, petting, etc.
About Clicker Training: For those who wish to optimize training with the Pro-Training Collar™, ask your retailer
for the Pro-Training Clicker™. Visit our website, starmarkacademy.com for a FREE “Complete Clicker Training
Guide” to use in conjunction with the Pro-Training Collar™. Using a clicker will help accelerate the learning
process by marking training events for your dog with an auditory marker. It is a very useful tool for many aspects
of training and behavior shaping.
Timing: To maximize learning potential, give all reinforcements and corrections within 1.5 seconds of a dog’s
behavior. Waiting longer than 1.5 seconds makes it more difficult for your dog to associate the cause (behavior)
with the effect (praise, reward, or correction). If you miss the 1.5-second window, it is best not to follow
through with any reinforcement. Instead, repeat the command or situation.
Consistency: Dogs thrive on rules and routine. The familiarity of patterns puts them at ease. When you keep
your actions consistent, your dog will begin to do what is expected of him without being asked. Consider the
parallels in the following examples:
1. If you know that promptness at work is expected, and each time you show up late your boss corrects you by
docking your pay, you will be less likely to show up late for work. If you teach your dog that sitting for
greetings is expected, and that jumping-up results in a correction, your dog is less likely to jump-up.
2. However, if your boss docks your pay on some days when you arrive late, but greets you warmly on others,
it is likely that you will feel anxious whenever you arrive late. But, it is also likely that you will continue to
chance that behavior, as the benefit of a leisurely morning outweighs your anxiety about possible correction.
If you sometimes reward your dog (by praise and petting for example) when he jumps-up, but correct him
(by scolding for example) at other times, he too will be confused and anxious about how he should greet
you, but will likely chance jumping-up to enjoy the benefit of your attention.
3. Finally, if you consistently show up to work early, and your boss rewards you for this, it is likely that you will
continue to arrive at work early. If you consistently reward your dog for sitting politely when he greets you,
he will continue to do so.
A boss that sends clear signals in a simple manner is more enjoyable to work for than one that sends mixed
signals. The same is true of your relationship with your dog. Think of common situations in which your dog
performed undesirable behaviors. Can you recall times when you sent mixed signals to him? Chances are you
found that you or members of your family actually rewarded some of your dog’s nuisance behaviors on some
occasions, yet reprimanded your dog for those same behaviors on others. Keep your rules simple and realistic,
and it will be easy to communicate with your dog consistently. Consistency allows you to communicate more
effectively and to become a better friend and leader to your dog.
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