Karen Pryor and Clicker Training

Clicker Training
Posted on January 21, 2012 by smadvent
Clicker Training

English Springer Spaniel Being Trained© Jeff Dalton | Dreamstime.com

Karen Pryor

Karen Pryor is a Behavioral biologist and an authority on operant conditioning; she came onto the public scene in 1984 with the publishing of her book, Don’t Shoot the Dog. The book explains positive conditioning and how it works on people and animals. The popular book has now gone into its 16th printing and is used by many dog trainers as a gentle and effective method for training.
Karen’s expertise comes from her graduate work in zoology and behavioral biology. Then, as  co-founder of Hawaii’s Sea Life Park and Oceanic Institute, she acted as curator and head dolphin trainer. It was there that she began using the technique of applying behavior analysis which is the basis for what is now called Clicker Training.

Clicker Training

In 1987, Karen Pryor began giving seminars under the name of clicker training for participants who were using conditioning to train dogs and other domestic animals. The use of the clicker for training gives the program its name. During training the clicker serves as a positive reinforce. Unlike the voice, the click immediately communicates to the animal that it has done something right. It also lets them know that at the end of the session a reward will be coming.
Additionally, Clicker Training is characterized by only positive reinforcement, there is no deprivation. Sessions are short and there is no drilling. Once the desired response is achieved, the training moves on. There is lots of variety in the activities. The effectiveness of the program shows in the accelerated progress of the animals in the training program.
Karen’s latest book, published in 2009,  Reaching the Animal Mind, comes from her 30 years of experience in training animals of every kind. In it she shares with the reader what she knows about animal training and what she has learned from the animals in turn.
Find out more about Karen Pryor’s Clicker Training

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Celebrating Christmas With Pets

REINDEER GAMES II © Irene Pearcey | Dreamstime.com
Posted on December 19, 2011 by smadvent

 

REINDEER GAMES II © Irene Pearcey | Dreamstime.com

Celebrating Christmas With Pets

By Frank Loethen

Christmas is a very busy time of the year. Shopping, parties, decorating and visits from family and friends can be very stressful for a pet. Make it enjoy the holiday without feeling overwhelmed by all that is going on.

Include a pet when sending out Christmas cards. Dress it up with a holiday costume or just a Santa hat. Take pictures and include them with the cards. Professional pictures are another option.

Keep it safe from poisonous plants like the poinsettia and decorations. Small items may cause it to choke. Make sure chocolate is not available because it can be harmful to a pet.

Buying a present for it is a great way to include it in the holiday celebration. Toys and treats make perfect gifts. Purchase a treat or gift that will bring excitement to the pet.

When making holiday meals, include homemade treats for a pet. Use safe ingredients such as peanut butter, yogurt and carob. Go online to find recipes for these treats.

A pet as a present is a great idea but consider these points first. It can be costly with the purchase and ongoing costs of food, grooming and veterinarian care. It requires commitment, time and space. If renting, the landlord may not allow pets. It can cause allergy reactions.

If the decision is to purchase a pet, research the different breeds, visit pet shops and breeders and contact the humane society. If children are involved do not bring them along.

Although giving the pet on Christmas day is a great way to surprise everyone, waiting till after Christmas maybe a better choice. Prices usually drop after Christmas and the problem of where to keep it is eliminated. Housebreaking and where to keep it when visiting is avoided. Selection can be shared by everyone and interaction determined. The pet can be introduced to the household without the stress of all the holiday activities.

Frank Loethen lives with his wife and three cats, Sunny, Sinclair and Midnite, in Georgia. My wife and I recently added a new member to the house. A long haired chihuahua from a rescue shelter. If you enjoyed this article, please visit my cat products website, http://purrfectcatproducts.com/, your one stop site for all your cat and kitten needs. Cat food, cat toys, litter accessories and cat treats are among the many items on the site. You can also see my three cats on the site.

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The Best and Worst Pets For Your Kids

Posted on November 5, 2011 by smadvent

© Yap Kee Chan | Dreamstime.com

The Best and Worst Pets For Your Kids

By David Beart

Looking for a furry friend for your kids? Or maybe a slimy one? Before you bring a pet into your family find out which animals makes the best… and worst pets for little ones. (You might be surprised at which animals fail the test!)

Fancy Rat – Best

Fancy Rats make great pets for kids… that is if parents can get past their “eek” factor. While they require a large caging area, if kept in a busy room of the home the rat will bond with the family and become a member of your clan in no time. Fancy Rats also enjoy being held and are actually highly intelligent.

Fun Fact: In Victorian times rich women would often take attic rats as pets and domesticate them. They would even dress them up!

Fish – Best and Worst

Goldfish can live up to 25 years… but usually they don’t. A fish is a great starter pet for kids because they are easy to manage and require little cost to keep. However, goldfish are notorious for going “belly up”… so if you have a sensitive child they could be a crying session waiting to happen.

Turtle – Worst

Turtles are among the most desired pets to children. They are adorable and easy to handle. However, they pose a hidden danger that many parents aren’t aware of. Turtles actually carry semolina. Cleaning the cage of a turtle or handling one without proper sanitation can lead to a doctor visit.

Dog – Best

Dogs are perhaps the favorite pet of families around the world. Not only do they have a generally long lifespan they also make fast friends with their owners.

While dogs are wonderful pets some are better for kids than others. Small dogs are often not a good choice for children as they require delicate handling. Their tiny bodies are also easily tripped on as children run and play. This can be dangerous not only for the dog but also for the children.

Golden Retrievers make excellent family dogs and English Bulldogs are another great addition. They are very loyal and good with children – however, they are very protective if strangers enter the picture.

Ponies – Worst

While ponies are great fun they are very difficult to manage. They require lots of space to run, a daily routine and they have a high cost of feed and maintenance.

Goats – Best and Worst

Goats are very intelligent. In fact, many goat owners argue that they are even more loyal than dogs. You can teach them tricks… and as a bonus they mow your grass and provide you with milk. However, the thing about a goat that requires a second thought is the fact that they are little escape artists and they do require a daily routine.

Lizards – Worst

Lizards are very difficult for kids to handle. Not because they cannot be handled but because they are VERY fast. Lizards also require the feeding of bugs and the use of heat lamps so the upkeep can be rather intensive. Heat lamps are also a cause of concern for some parents who fear they will get too hot and set fire.

Guinea Pigs – Best

While they smell to Timbuktu Guinea Pigs are actually a great pet for kids. They enjoy being held, have a 2 to 5 year lifespan and aren’t known to bite as often as hamsters. Guinea Pigs are also easier to handle as they don’t require as delicate a touch as mice and hamsters.

Ferrets – Worst

Ferrets are cute… but they give off a musky scent and even worse they can give you a very bad bite. This is especially worrisome to parents of small children. Bites can easily become infected by little hands. So while ferrets are adorable and we loved them in Rikki Tikki Tavi… until kids are older we’d steer clear.

When it comes to pets only you and your family can decide what pet is right for you. While a dog might be a great choice for one family, a snake might suit another just fine.

Sit down with your family and decide what kind of responsibility you can comfortably take on, plan for bumps in the road and whatever you choose… choose to love it for life. When you do it will pay you back by loving you for a lifetime.

David Beart is the owner of the Professors House [http://www.professorshouse.com]. Our site covers pet related topics from low carb dog food [http://www.professorshouse.com/pets/dogs/low-carb-dog-food.aspx] and pet trivia to raising cats and caring for birds.

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