Book Review:

Go Click!

An introduction to clicker training
By Elizabeth Kershaw
Publisher: Qanuk Ltd
www.qanuk.com

THERE is, by now, not likely to be many dog owners who have never heard of clicker training. This is because when it was first used it was a revolutionary style of training - hands off and plenty of rewards for good work!

In this book you will learn the basic techniques of clicker training and from there you will find it easy to develop new actions and tricks that your dog will love to learn. He will love it because he is rewarded by a very small treat every time he gets it right and because all dogs love to please their owners, and because he is never pressured or punished for getting it wrong.

The book explains the method in a clear and concise manner, as well as the cues to use, the shaping tools, how to distraction-proof your dog, continuous reinforcement and fine tuning of training.

Your dog will love learning through these methods. But don't leave it there - the well-educated healthy dog needs a variety of outings to stimulate his well-being such as agility, obedience, trials, orienteering, tracking (or nosework), search and rescue training or quite a few other options. Find out what he enjoys doing and take him along regularly.

This, like the other books suggested in this issue, is not a long or difficult book to read, but it is very worthwhile and will leave you with a good working knowledge of clicker training and the way it works.

Interested readers in New Zealand can order by email - I also have a small supply of quality clickers at $5 each - from ziggy.peters@ntlworld.com ($10 plus p&p $3) or international readers may order through the website above. - EP