Clicker Training for Obedience: Shaping Top Performance-Positively

I'd suggest that people first have at least a basic understanding of operant conditioning (clicker training) but I say that only because Mr Spector provides a great deal of detail, explanation, trouble-shooting, and theory for each of the exercises, and his focus is on the serious trainer.

Those are all advantageous aspects of this book, particularly for those of us who want the details and thought processes behind the actions. Working with totally positive principles, he guides us through the most basic of exercises right on through to utility exercises.

Now, for someone not interested in competitive obedience you'd think this book is not the one for you -- not so! Many of the exercises and behaviours he details are transferrable to the agility ring (and elsewhere) and I've discovered some are also transferrable to herding.

The style of writing is simple, straight-forward (not what you'd expect from a lawyer) and very easy to follow. He sometimes provides examples that relate to humans to help understand some of the principles - another plus. Filled with clear photographs, it is possible for any dog guardian to follow and understand his explanations.

I also found that the logic he uses behind training certain exercises at certain stages, unlike many other trainers, made so much sense. One example: he recommends training a dog to heel off-leash before doing it on-leash. His explanation for why and how has worked flawlessly with my own dogs! I'll never go back to my old way again. He does this throughout his book.

The index makes it easy to look up specific exercises, problems, or other related information.

Even if your dog will never enter an obedience competition, and you simply want a reliable, happily-working, obedient dog -- this book will get you that and more.


Best Clicker Book Out There   May 9, 2005
Moolaka
6 out of 6 found this review helpful

I've read a bunch of dog training and clicker training books, and this is by far my favorite. If you are still a little foggy on how to implement clicker training or if you are completely new to this concept, then I'd recommend this book. It has very clear and concise explanations on how to shape certain obehaviors, and it reads well too.


A great clicker training book!   March 4, 2003
Jill M Henry (La Glace, Alberta Canada)
8 out of 8 found this review helpful

I loved this book. If you have had an introduction to the basics of clicker training, it describes in great detail how to shape even the most basic to more complex behaviours, and the theories behind it.
If you are new to clicker training, then try to attend a clicker clinic or even rent clicker videos first to help you visualize how it all works. Once you and your dog understand the principle and the "rules" , every training session will nothing short of fun! Anyone from the recreational dog owner to the more serious competitor will benefit from this book.


Thorough, messy and a fundamental shortcoming   January 23, 2003
22 out of 29 found this review helpful

This is a thorough work on clicker training, and the theories behind it. As such, it certainly makes worthwile reading for those with a serious interest in clicker training. And, more generally, for those whishing to understand modern humane dog training methods that are based on behavioral science. As others have noted, the book may not be well suited for the impatient novice, and it definitively isn't a simple 'how to' book.

I find that the text is heavy not only due to the substance, but unfortunately also because the discussion tends to be lacking in clarity. The work would in my opinion benefit from compression and some reorganization.

Although otherwise a thorough discussion on the subject, I find it has a fundamental shortcoming in the basic assumptions: Spector only considers using food rewards in clicker coniditioning, and simply discourages against using other types of rewards.

While this is probably fine for training dogs that have a keen interest in food, it cannot work well with dogs which simply aren't very interested in *any* kind of treats. Moreover, in order to motivate dogs with a strong prey drive to work with very high intensity, a prey object, such as a ball, tends to be the ultimate reward. Using food treats (or a clicker associated to the treats) simply doesn't tend to motivate such a dog to work that hard.

I believe that variying the type of reward (or correction, even) depending on the phase of the training of the particular movement, and the general character of the dog and perhaps also the trainer, would be more effective. I find that Susan Barwig's methods for Shutzhund training are well suited for the dogs with a strong prey drive that typically excel in this sport.


Not for beginners!!!   November 8, 2001
25 out of 29 found this review helpful

This book was way too technical for me. All I wanted was book that gave me the basics of clicker training and a how to guide for very simple tasks. This is definitely not for the beginner or nonprofessional.