[nagdu] clicker training

[The Pawpower Pack]

Laura,

There is a difference between positive training and permissive  
training.  Which program is using exclusively positive methods?  I'm  
just curious as I'd not heard that any of them had switched to totally  
positive methods.

When I'm teaching a new behavior, like a recall, I don't give the cue  
word at all until the dog is reliably performing the behavior.
So for a recall I'd start in a small boring space, and every time the  
dog came to me, I'd click and treat.  I'd then move to more  
interesting spaces with small distractions and putting the dog on  
leash, click/treat every time she came to me.  I would build up  
slowly, adding distractions while lengthening the leash.  Hand  
targeting is also good for this behavior.  I teach my dog to touch my  
hand, then increase distance.
Also a recall is something that IMHO should always be highly  
reinforced.  When my dog comes to me, whether it's because I asked her  
to or because she chose to, she is always highly reinforced.  Don't  
ask your dog for behaviors if you're not 100% sure that he can do when  
cued.

Rox and the Herbal HenchHounds
Bristol (retired), Mill'E SD. and Laveau Guide Dog, CGC.
"It has always been the prerogative of children and half-wits to point  
out that the emperor has no clothes. But the half-wit remains a half- 
wit, and the emperor remains an emperor."-- Neil Gaiman
http://www.pawpowercreations.com/retreat.html
pawpower4me at gmail.com
AIM: Brissysgirl