How to Train Animals

There is only one thing that two dog trainers can agree on: that the third trainer is wrong. It's an old joke, but it has a basis in truth. Animal trainers, whether they are training dogs, whales or horses, have different methods by which they swear. There is one principle, however, upon which almost all modern, educated trainers agree: positive reinforcement. Animals respond better to honey than they do to vinegar, so to speak.

Things You'll Need

  • Animal treats
  • Clicker (optional)
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Instructions

    • 1

      Ensure your animal is well-fed, healthy and well-rested. Animals that are hungry, ill, overtired or uncomfortable are distracted by their condition and will not be able to focus on your efforts. No matter what type of animal you are training, this applies. Animals need to be in a frame of mind conducive to learning new things. Long before you begin training sessions, you should have taken the time to get to know and understand the animal.

    • 2

      Show the animal what you want it to do. Help it to sit, lie down, or turn around, depending on what you are teaching. As soon as the animal performs even a part of the action, reward with a treat and give the action a name, such as "sit," "stay," "come" or "turn," for example. Some trainers advocate using a clicker as a bridge. That is, you snap the clicker, making the clicking sound, so that the animal associates the sound of the clicker with the action, and then you treat. The idea behind this is that you can click faster than you can offer the treat and that's necessary to ensure the animal associates the sound. According to the Seaworld Trainer's site, a delay of even a few moments can reinforce bad behavior. Always offer praise when an animal performs the action.

    • 3

      Practice the training session daily. Victoria Stillwell, host of the television show "It's Me or the Dog" recommends training every day, twice a day, for about 15 to 20 minutes. Set aside a specific time each day so that the animal learns to anticipate what will happen and look forward to it. Praise good behavior and ignore bad behavior.