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Human Animal Solutions

Clicker Training

What Makes a Good Therapy Dog?

People often ask me whether or not their dog would make a good therapy dog. In the first place, it is important to emphasize that the dog – or other animal – is only one part of the team. The handler is often more important than the animal in setting the team up for success! That being said, however, here are some general things to look for in an animal who might enjoy this work:

• LOVES interacting with people. I’m not talking about an animal that is OK around people, but one who is genuinely relaxed, confident, and comfortable being around all kinds of people (not just family) – to the point that he will seek out the company of people, perhaps over others of his own species. Since therapy animals visit strangers, a happy therapy animal must be self-assured around strangers.
• Is very accepting of and at ease around all kinds people acting differently than people do at home. People who are ill, for example, act differently than people who are feeling well. An animal who is worried about people who act differently than what he considers “normal” will not be happy working in animal-assisted interactions.
• Is forgiving of people who do things that are rude in dog language (or horse language, or cat language, etc.).
• Has good self-control and manners.

The first three things are largely a matter of personality (or temperament); the last is a matter of training. If the first three things are there, then usually the training can follow – if the handler is willing to do so!

Clicker Training for Therapy Dog Work

We offer clicker training for people who wish to train their dogs to be therapy dogs for working in animal-assisted interactions (AAIs). Animals other than dogs can become remarkable therapy animals, and the training method we use is applicable to all species. However, we limit our instruction to dog handlers and their dogs because our training experience lies mostly with dogs.

We use clicker training for two significant reasons:

1. It fosters a compassionate, respectful working relationship between you and your dog that is decidedly evident to patients and staff in AAA/T sessions.
2. It provides a positive and highly accurate method of communication between you and your dog.

We can meet with you individually in your own home or you can attend a group class. We keep class sizes small (6-8 handler-animal teams) in order to provide you with personalized instruction and constructive feedback on your progress.

There are three important aspects of therapy dog work: the handler’s skill, the dog’s manners, and the dog’s personality.

1. Handler Skill. There are two primary areas where handlers need skill: handling their animal, and dealing with clients (while handling their animal).

   Animal handling for animal-assisted interventions requires very different skills than do other dog sports and activities. Some handler behaviors or cues that are appropriate in other settings are quite inappropriate for AAIs.

   Further, talking and interacting with clients requires one skill set. Talking and interacting with clients while effectively handling a dog requires another skill set. The handler must be able to do two things at once!

   The Delta Pet Partners handler course provides basic training for the handler in these skills. View our Calendar to see when we will next offer this course. Or go to the Delta Society website and search for a course in your locale.

2. Dog Manners. The dog must have very good basic obedience skills. In general this means sitting when asked, lying down when asked, walking on a loose leash, leaving something alone when asked, staying in place briefly, taking food nicely, coming when called, and being very, very neutral when meeting another dog.

   If your dog doesn’t have these skills down pat, then take a refresher obedience course or a therapy dog-training course. Here is where the style of training can have a dramatic effect: Positive, reward-based training methods show up in your dog’s attitude about you and about people being visited. Forcing a dog to visit with people is antithetical to the essence of AAIs.

   The handler plays a key role in helping the dog be successful with these skills. How the handler does this is the difference between a team that inspires confidence and a team that merely gets by.

3. Dog Personality. The dog must LOVE people – all kinds of people – but still be under control (see manners, above). This means that the dog must be happy (not fearful, stressed, or aroused by) being around people who look and act differently than how you look and act at home: rough handling, peculiar gate or movements, angry yelling, crowded petting, etc.

   Personality is not something that can be taught to a dog. Your dog either has the personality for this work or he doesn’t. We can help dogs feel more comfortable in situations that might be a little anxiety provoking, but we never want to insist that a dog love being around people when he really doesn’t love that.

Dogs can also change their minds about this work after working for a while. Haven’t you ever found that a job wasn’t quite the right match for you after being in it a while? We must respect our dog’s choice. Handlers can also learn techniques to help their dogs de-stress and cope with the stresses of working to avoid burnout.

It is important to know that taking a therapy dog training class is not required for teams to become therapy teams. Few people go to an actual therapy dog training class in order to pass the behavioral test. Most handlers learn what they and their animals need to know by attending a handler’s class (like the Pet Partners class for handlers); then they go home and practice on their own or take a general obedience class. There are specific therapy dog training classes, however, and we offer them. View our Calendar page to see when we will next offer a therapy dog training class.

Contact us for more information.

General Clicker Training Information

What is clicker training? You might think that there is a standard answer for that, but in a survey of the top clicker trainers in the U.S. during the summer of 2004, expert Kathy Sdao found that each trainer has his/her own slant on what clicker training is. So here is our definition: Clicker training is a highly effective method of training where we communicate clearly with the dog about what “works” (gets rewarded) and what doesn’t work (gets no reward).

In addition, clicker training focuses on motivating your dog rather than forcing your dog. Most of us want a loving and respectful relationship with our animal companions. If you are uncomfortable with training methods that cause pain to your dog, or force your dog into submission, or end up with a fearful rather than a joyful dog, you will be thrilled with the results you get through clicker training. Clicker training enhances your relationship with your dog without losing performance.

As you might imagine, clicker training does not use force. This method is used to train marine mammals (think Shamu) to do the amazing things they do in shows, and it is pretty hard – no impossible – to force a killer whale to do something. As a result, people with disabilities find that they can train their dogs without having to physically position a dog or force him to do something. Children tend to catch on to this method particularly fast (much to the chagrin of their adults). We believe it is possible for everyone (who wants to) to use clicker training effectively.

One of the most frequent questions we receive is, “Does this mean I have to have a clicker with me all the time?” The answer is, “No.” Some people don’t even use a clicker! But during training sessions, it is essential to have a unique way of “marking” specific behaviors in a way that your dog clearly understands. A clicker helps with this. If you are physically unable to use a clicker, your instructor will help you find a way that works for you and your dog. Instructors also teach people how to use a tool they have with them all the time so that when they don’t have their clicker, they can still take advantage of that trainable moment to help their dog learn.

Clicker training is based on scientific principles, not guesswork or trying to figure out what makes a dog do something. (“Is he mad at me?” “Is he trying to get back at me?”) Karen Pryor and Gary Wilkes are two pioneers – and gurus – of clicker training in the U.S. Please view their websites for excellent information.

© 2009 Human Animal Solutions. Photos by Frank Siteman