For a very good guide to all sorts of dog training processes and dog behavior challenges, I use and recommend Clickertraining ...that link goes to the description of this terrific ebook you download immediately, wherever you are! -- Rosana

In the minds of most kids, dogs are warm furry cuddly companions who love to be hugged and squeezed.

However, this isn’t always the case.

Different dogs have different temperaments, and from an early age children need to learn how to treat dogs respectfully. This will help reduce the incidence of dog attacks on children, and allow them to live peacefully together.

The term “temperament” refers to a dog’s general attitude and outlook. Dog temperament not only varies between breeds, but between individuals within a breed. For example, working breeds are known to be active and may not like to sit still, whereas terriers can be tenacious and quite strong willed. Read the rest of this entry

Whether we are talking about your own dogs or any dogs that your children may happen to meet, be sure to teach your kids some basic principles of how to behave around dogs. Doing this will make it much less likely that they will suffer a dog bite. No matter what ages your children are, you can teach something in a way appropriate for their level of understanding.

Read the rest of this entry

Good Dog! Kids Teach Kids About Dog Behavior and Training is, as you’d expect from the title, a book written by kids. Evelyn Pang and Hilary Louie began writing this book when they were 9 years old, and Dogwise published it when they were 14.

The book is written for kids to read themselves, so it had to be clear and simple. (Hey, that is best for grownups too, and I’m sure this would be good for adults as well.) It is… I read some of it online, as you can do if you click the image or the link. I was pleased that clicker training is taught.

Dogwise Publishing commented, “We’ve believed for a long time that someone needed to write a book about dog behavior and training targeted towards young readers in the 8-12 year old range. There are lots of “read-to” books for little kids, but as children become good readers and interested in actually understanding and training dogs there has been little to choose from. So we were ecstatic when we were presented with the opportunity to work with two amazing young women on this book – not only did they write the book, but they illustrated it as well!”

The premise of the book is that when kids teach kids about dogs, everybody has fun! Kids will learn how to watch a dog and figure out what he is feeling or doing by gaining an understanding of body language and calming signal basics.

And they can learn how to teach him cool things like “Sit,” “Come,” and “Stay” just like professional trainers do – and even learn how to use clickers and targets when they train!

And, perhaps most importantly, kids can learn how to be safer around dogs they may come in contact with.

So if you are not a kid, but know a kid who is showing an interest in dogs, check this book out and get him or her started off right working with dogs.

What Others Are Saying

“This book, created by kids who clicker train, tells other kids how to use clickers to understand and communicate with their pets: a great idea and a useful and amusing book, with illustrations by the authors.” — Karen Pryor, founder of clicker training

“We know that kids learn best from their peers—so it is surprising that it has taken so long to get a dog training book written by kids for kids. Good Dog! Kids Teach Kids About Dog Behavior and Training covers the real essentials of being responsible and effective in caring for and training dogs. The emphasis is on safety and empathy—two things often overlooked in the profusion of books by adults. A must-read for any child or teen starting out with a new dog, or trying to better understand a longtime companion.”
-Randall Lockwood, PhD, CAAB, author and Senior Vice President, ASPCA, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

Where You Can Get This Book

book is available at Dogwise, who published it. Good Dog! Kids Teach Kids About Dog Behavior and Training

And here it is at Amazon:

Gloria White is a dog trainer who subscribes to my newsletter. When she wrote me the following email, I asked her permission to use it in the blog, she said yes, and here it is:

Just read your note about the clicker and how to transition to another  cue.  In the classes that I teach, the students are given the option of using the clicker or using the word "yes" – to be perfectly honest, I often use both of these cues together.  What I have found is that I improve my timing as I have to say "yes" as quickly as I click.  Then, when I don’t have the clicker handy, I always have the "yes" with me and my dogs know exactly what it means.  

What I have found, over a period of  the last couple of years is that the students who were consistent about using  the clicker had more success that those who started out with the word "yes".  Eventually, most of these students came to realize that others in the class were progressing more quickly with the clicker so they decided to use it as well. 

The clicker can be "cumbersome" for some students who find it difficult to coordinate the leash, the treats, etc; however, once they get the hang of it, they are very excited about the outcomes.

I call it the "power of the clicker" since it makes no difference who uses it, it always sounds the same – whether it is Mom, Dad,  or one of the kids.  In one of my family pet classes years ago there was a 4 year old with a very exuberant Lab puppy.  This pup was a walloping 45 pounds and getting bigger and stronger by the minute.  The little guy was becoming fearful of the pup as it jumped on him in excitement and could knock him over very easily.  In one session, we resolved the problem with the clicker.  I taught  Josh (the 4 year old) to fold his arms and turn away as the Lab came toward him – for this first time, I had him standing near a wall that he could use for support.  The Lab came near, and Josh turned his back and braced himself on the wall.  The Lab jumped but got no attention for doing so.  Once the Lab had "4 on the floor" I clicked and Josh gave pup a treat.  We repeated this 4 times and each time there was improvement.  Finally, we were able to move Josh away from the wall and he was able to stand his ground and didn’t have to turn around at all.  The Lab would come near and now decided to sit and wait for the click and treat.  Josh went home that week and taught all of his friends this method and it worked!

In regard to the Clicker Expo – if one has the opportunity to go, this is a wonderful opportunity to hear from the very best trainers in the country.  I attended an APDT Convention in Denver a few years ago that lasted for a week.   To be in the presence of Ian Dunbar, Suzanne Clothier, Patricia McConnell, etc. was an experience that I will never forget.  I learned so much about dogs and how to work with them.  I didn’t take a dog with me but there were many demonstrations with shelter dogs that were amazing to watch.

[tags]dog clicker training, puppy clicker training, children and dogs[/tags]