Creature Comforts Pet Services, LLC

Compassionate care for your friend

Training

What?! You can train a Cat?!

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Yes, not only can it be done, but most likely if you live with a cat you are already doing it.  When you call your cat for dinner, or make the sound of a can opening, and they come running, training is happening.  When you walk in the door and say hello and your kitty greets you with a head butt, training is happening.  When you get up at some crazy early hour to feed the kitty because they poked at you, training is happening. (Ok, maybe there, kitty is training you!)  When your cat hides under the bed from a new person, training is happening. When you make a nice cozy spot for your kitty in the window to watch birds, training is happening.  Training is always happening, it is the language you share with your cat. When you are in tune with the needs and wants of your cat, you are training.

Training is as equally important to your pet’s well being as good veterinary care, good nutrition, and a healthy, relaxing environment.  It is not a luxury or just to have a few fun tricks.  Training is teaching your kitty how to share life with you in a way that benefits both you and her.  So why not focus on skills that benefit both of you?  The prevailing view that cats will be cats is not all that healthy.  You and your cat do not have to just live with things as they are.  You can create a thriving environment that will enhance your relationship to each other. Training is a great way to prevent issues that may come up as well.  It increases your bond with your cat and your awareness of their behavior so that you can see when something is not quite right sooner.

Each year thousands of beloved cats are surrendered to shelters because of behavior problems that can be solved.  Most issues that cats have do have solutions.  My training philosophy brings together all the elements of a healthy, enriched environment along with actively working towards behavior that works for both of you.  I promote training through positive reinforcement as relaxing play together, time you can both enjoy each other’s company.

Benefits of Clicker Training

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Clicker training can be a fast and effective way for you to communicate to your pet exactly what you do want her to do.  The concept is simple.  The clicker is used to mark the exact behavior you are looking for her to do. All you need to do is watch for something you would like her to do and the instant that thing happens, you click then reinforce.  Once your pet gets the idea that they can communicate with you she will look for ways to get you to click.  It is a way for you both to form a common “language” that makes clear what you DO want.  

Once your pup is consistently repeating a behavior and shows she understands what earns the click, you can begin to add a cue (or word, hand gesture, or any signal you like) before the behavior that lets her know what you are asking for. When this connection between the cue and behavior is established, there is no need to click further.  The clicker is just a teaching tool and is not necessary to use forever.

I emphasize what you DO want because clicker training is all about positive reinforcement.  There is no punishment or negative aspect to it.  Because of this it has no detrimental effects on your relationship.  She will look forward to working with you and your ability to understand her body language will also automatically increase.  One of the great things about clicker training is how it increases your bond because training becomes play and fun for both. When I pick up a clicker in my household, I get rushed by an excited mass of animals hoping for their turn first!  Any behaviors you do not want you simply don’t click, and they will go away.  You can also use the clicker to teach a different behavior in place of something you do not want to occur.  The focus is entirely on seeing the good.

Clicker training works through two learning pathways. First, with classical conditioning, by establishing an emotional connection between the click and a reinforcer. Much like the connection we have to money, money is not inherently meaningful, but it is something we can use to get things we do want, therefore we are willing to work hard for it.  We like to earn money because it means we can acquire things we like. The reinforcer can be anything she really loves from yummy treats to belly scratches.   You connect them by pairing a click then the reinforcement.  The click is the currency she works for that means something good is coming. Once a connection has been established, you can use the clicker to signal the correct behavior.  Here is where the other form of learning called operant conditioning comes into play.  Operant means your pet gets to operate on, or have a say in, her world.   She chooses to perform the behavior and earn something she really likes creating a very enthusiastic learner who wants to do the behaviors. Clicker trained animals are so enthusiastic they try to learn new behaviors which can result in your own unique mix of behaviors you and she create.  Having the ability to have a say in her world can also increase her confidence.

The click, as opposed to a word, is important because it is a consistent and unique sound that means only one thing, so it can be clearly understood as having a connection to the reinforcer.  It can also happen in the same instant the correct behavior happens and, as a result any behavior can be marked, from a subtle nose twitch to a jump over a fence way across the yard.

Clicker training works with any animal, from dogs, to tigers, to chickens!

Happy training!