Keith
Benson, President and Chief Operating Office of Triple Crown Dog Academy, Inc.
Jessy
Gabriel, Co-Director of Training and Certified Professional Dog Trainer and Animal Care Specialist, Triple Crown Dog Academy,
Inc.
Pet education, including socialization and training,
is a fundamental element in successful dog ownership. Early socialization and
imprinting will affect the dog’s confidence and how it reacts to its environment, including other people and animals. Training improves the quality of life for dogs of all ages; however, effective education
programs should begin at an early age and extend beyond the training classes and into the homes where dogs live. Training also allows owners to effectively communicate with their pets, promoting a well-adjusted companion
and life lasting bond. Genetics, nutrition and training are all vital elements
in the lifecycle of successful dog ownership. Successful training programs require
an understanding of the basic science behind how dogs learn. One of many techniques
that combine the principles of classical and operant conditioning is clicker training.
With this technique, dogs are conditioned to associate the sound of the click to a positive outcome, or reward. For most dog owners, this is a good first step towards imprinting desirable behaviors
and the experience provides a better understanding of how dogs learn. Solvable
training and behavior problems are the primary reason that owners become happy with their dogs. Unfortunately, this leads to millions of unwanted dogs in shelters each year. Providing educational resources on breeds, behavior, and training will help to keep pets in the home where
they belong. As responsible breeders and pet care providers, it is our responsibility
to promote training and education for the life of the dog.
AWS Partners’ recommended resources:
Triple Crown
Dog Academy
http://www.triplecrowndogs.com/
Clicker Train
http://www.clickertrain.com/
Karen Pryor’s Clicker Training
http://www.clickertraining.com/home/index.htm
A Dog Owner’s Guide: Clicker Training
http://www.canismajor.com/dog/clktrt.html
An Animal Trainer’s Introduction To Operant
and Classical Conditioning
http://www.wagntrain.com/OC/
Dog Patch: Clicker Training
http://www.dogpatch.org/obed/obpage4.cfm
Clicker Training Lessons
http://www.clickerlessons.com/
