Special to Aroostook Republican
PRESQUE ISLE — It’s a small, rectangular box which creates a “click” when pressed with your thumb, but to an unruly dog it might as well be a “big stick”.
Contributed photos
Assistant obedience instructor, Pat Smith of Easton, above, enjoys a “discussion” with two black lab pups, Allie and Scout, owned by Pat Desjardins of Caribou.
To dog handlers and trainers this tiny but mighty device is a useful tool in shaping a dog’s behavior through a method called clicker training. This fall, Central Aroostook Kennel Club members offered their third year of clicker-based “Canine Good Manners” obedience classes at the Recreation Center in Presque Isle.
According to class instructor, Dotty Dudley, the goal of Canine Good Manners is to “make the dog a good companion in the home. Clicker is the means of communication.” The click sound tells the dog the instant it has done the right thing. When combined with the positive reinforcement of a treat or toy, it’s an effective way to teach or “shape” a behavior.
Dudley and assistant instructor, Pat Smith, begin by showing class members the technique for “charging” the clicker — helping the four-legged students associate the click with a reward. From here they move on to basic behaviors such as attention, sit, down, stand, stay, loose leash walk, and recall; as well as more complex behaviors like targeting an object. They use the last class to practice behaviors they’ve learned by using agility equipment with agility instructor, Tracy Snow-Cormier.
As Dudley explained, the clicker and treat are used initially, but once the new behavior becomes consistent these training tools can be faded out until a new behavior is taught. She says she’s always amazed at how fast the behaviors develop.
“You don’t tell these dogs what to do. They’re offering behaviors and thinking for themselves.” Dudley says that’s the value of clicker training — it develops a good communication between the owner and the dog. “It’s positive based learning resulting in a very happy, thinking dog.”
“Canine Good Manners” classes for puppies and adult dogs are eight-week sessions offered each fall and spring. Advance registration for “Canine Good Manners” is strongly recommended as class size is limited. Contact Dotty Dudley at 488-6841 for specific registration information.
Heather Rogers of Fort Fairfield prepares her lab, Kali, for her first ever trip through the tunnel.
Contributed photo
Instructors Dotty Dudley, left, and Pat Smith shorten the agility tunnel for Liz Dionne of Caribou and terrier mix, Ginger, as class members Dana Pike and Anna Hale, also of Caribou, look on.
