Positive Puppy Training

[LJSmith]

Has anybody had any expierence with positive reinforcement training and or clicker traing with their dogs. We are bringing in a puppy ina few weeks and any tips would help. I have read books by Joel Walton, Pat MCConnell (The other end of the leash), and PAt Miller. I am intrigued with the idea and see how it can work. Am I walking into trouble because of the "directness" of the rottweiler breed? I am optimistic that in theory it will work, but in practice it could be another story.

[Carol Burke]

I always train my puppies with positive motivation. I use food and praise lavishly, no corrections until I am sure they understand and are truly refusing to obey.

[Rott-Wiley]

Yes, I'm sure that a lot of us here on the board train exactly that way. After your pup has it's shots I would suggest you try to enroll him in a Puppy Class that teaches Clicker based training with rewards.

[Storm]

Very often the need to give corrections to dogs is because of our inadequecy as owners. We neglect too much in the developmental stages and then later try and put everything into perspective through corrections. First a dog needs to desire something in order to adopt positive training methods, so one has to work on drive, attitude etc. with the reward system. If the dog genetically can play his part with correct motivation or training you should be able to commence not eve requiring a lead. All my puppies training is done off lead as he is glued to you in drive permanently.

[DNeff]

Riven's training has been done with positive reinforcement and the clicker and he has turned out quite well if I do say so myself. ;)

All the books you mentioned are outstanding resources, the only one I would add would be Sheila Booth's Purely Positive Training.

Here's a link to a short article I did on getting your rottie started in obedience. It covers what to look for in an instructor.
http://members.aol.com/dplantier/Obedience.htm

The sooner you get started in a great class the better!!!

Good Luck!

Dawn
U-CD Cammcastle's Mystic Riven CDX OAC OJC OGC NA NAJ TT CGC
http://members.aol.com/dplantier
http://members.aol.com/rottweilerworld

[blueox]

I was just reading through the thread - can someone explain to me exactly what they mean by "corrections?" As you can see, I'm new to the dog training thing.

Also, unless it's to long to describe, what "clicker training" is?

Thanks much!!

[DNeff]

A correction is a verbal or physical reprimand given to the dog for performing an incorrect behavior.

Clicker training basically involves using a clicker (small box that makes a noise) to mark the moment your dog exhibits the correct behavior. You can create behaviors from scratch using shaping which builds on offered behaviors or you can prompt or lure behaviors and then use the clicker to mark when you dog was correct. Clicker training training is traditionally done without using any physical corrections.

Dawn
U-CD Cammcastle's Mystic Riven CDX OAC OJC OGC NA NAJ TT CGC
http://members.aol.com/dplantier
http://members.aol.com/rottweilerworld

[blueox]

Thanks dawn!!:)

[LJSmith]

. All my puppies training is done off lead as he is glued to you in drive permanently.

In regard to this quote. I am not clear on the concept of drive. Is this what you are creating by associating the clicker with treats? Because the dog will repeat the behavior to gain more food? Any tips on developing drive would be great. My first order of business is to gather the tools I need to raise a well-behaved dog that can be a diplomat for the rottweiler breed.

[Rott-Wiley]

No, that is not the concept of drives. Drives are what motivate a dog or pup to do an action, i.e. prey drive will cause them to chase what they consider to be prey.

The idea behind clicker training is that the clicker (or any consistant recognizable marker) is used to "mark" a behavior. You are conditioning the pup to recognize the fact that when it hears the click it did something good and will get a reward, often in the form of food. Once this is learned by the pup you can utilitize the clicker to mark good behaviors which by this method are very likely to be repeated.

[Storm]

Drive is a concept debatable in many areas. If you say "Drives are what motivate a dog or pup to do an action" then basically everything a dog does is reliant or intiated by a "drive". Basically developing a dogs drive whether it be for food or toy in this instance, so that with the "developed or hightened drive, one is able to establish a "bargaining sytem" .................. where the dog drives and works been motivated or put into drive by a motivator or call it a drive stimulater, working always in anticipation of the motivator, firstly been visible then out of site the dog always expects it somewhere. As in all facets of training a balance is required also the dog genetically must have these inherent genetics.