Clicker Trick Class

This class is where all students start their training at Dog Sports Northwest.  We like to call it “dog training 101” because this is where we teach you the principals and skills of training with positive reinforcement.  We cover the tools used to teach a behavior including luring, shaping and prompting.  We help you develop correct timing of your behavior marker, teach you how to keep your dog motivated by keeping him earning a high rate of reinforcement and learn when and how to raise your criteria.  We also help you understand the importance of teaching your dog to play with you and working to become a handler worthy of your dog’s attention and efforts!  We emphasize the importance of understanding and executing theses skills in order to become the best partner you can be to your dog before you go on to agility or obedience where the training demands are great and you need the skills to match them.

This is a people class, which focuses on the process of teaching you how to develop a powerful working relationship with you dog.  It is not a class for gaining control of your dog but for learning how to develop the relationship you need with your dog to have a successful performance career.  Skill level will be evaluated at the end of the class and if requirements are met students will then progress to the program they are interested in.

The behaviors taught in this class are trick behaviors.  The reason we do this is we want you to focus on developing your training skills, not on the outcome of your dog’s behavior. If you need help with behavioral issues that is done through private sessions with one of our trainers.

This class is held at Great Dog Day Care (click for directions)