I recently made the change for both me and my dog, to become a positive trainer or clicker trainer. It was only maybe 4 months ago that I made the change. Why did I change that's the big question. I made my first step when I was gifted a freedom harness, now I know that's probably not what you were hoping for. You probably expect me to say I changed because I wanted to be nicer to my dog and all that, we'll I did want to do all those things, it was mainly because of that one gift, I seen a difference in my dog the day I took the prong collar off and put on the harness. Now before I go on, I should say that I have seen many dogs with prong collars and I didn't see anything wrong, but since stepping into the positive world, I am noticing all the subtle signs a dog is uncomfortable.
Anyways, here I was with this harness I put it on my dog and decided to a test drive, now Mind you I'm used to my dog obediently walking beside me(not of her own free will, I know that now), and I really wasn't prepared for what happened my sweet puppy took off like the Tasmanian devil (which she still does). She had this life to her I had never seen before, she was sniffing every bush she so desperately wanted to before but couldn't for fear of consequences, she was rolling in the grass and pulling my arm off, for the first time in a while I enjoyed seeing her like that. She was actually happy, and that's when I decided I was going to change, now like most people who quit a way of life I held on to prongs for fear I may need them, which from time to time I have, but I have fought off the thoughts by the happiness In my dog, yes she still pulls like a maniac on leash, but we're working on that. does she bark at strangers passing? You bet she does. Does she still pull and get excited when we see other dogs? Yes of course. These were all just symptoms, that I had covered up with the prong collar, which i admit were still there, but we will work all those out to.
Switching to clicker training was the best thing I did, and here's why:
1. I made my dog happy to go places with me
2. She listens because She WANTS too, not because she has to.
3. It has given me a new outlook on life.
4. I have more patience, both for my new puppy, and my toddler.
5. It allowed me to better read my dogs body language and others because I'm not blinded.
6. I know my puppy won't have bad experiences ever.
7. I don't come home to a dog who cowers or doesn't greet me, she is actually happy I come back.
8. She has become the best companion ever, even with all her issues.
9. It allowed me to see the dog she really was, not what I wanted her to be.
10. It allows me to accept her and all the future failures we will have.
So there you have it. This is my journey to the right frame of mind. So do your dogs a solid, and give them everything you possibly can. It's also train your dog month, so break out those clickers and give it a try this month, see if you will be as happy as I am.
My confession: I know my dog isn't perfect, even though I'm a trainer, that's what makes her interesting, the possibilities, I wouldn't trade her for the most best behaved dog in the world, because half the fun is the challenge in getting her there.
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