Teaching Clicker Classes

An Instructor's Guide to Using Reinforcement in Dog Training

By Deborah A. Jones Ph.D.

My goal in training is to find positively-based methods and techniques to teach basic behaviors and to solve problems. When I decided to move away from punishment as an option, I learned that there are many other possibilities for changing behavior. And, most importantly, I learned that the positive methods could be easier, quicker, and more effective than the 'traditional' ones.

This manual is intended for use by dog obedience instructors who are interested in teaching individuals and classes using operant conditioning techniques. It assumes that the user already has a working knowledge of operant conditioning and its applications. You may have already trained several dogs of your own using operant conditioning methods. Teaching others, however, requires a more specific framework and organization.