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Originally Posted by anthroboi  Interesting. So, you would click during the correct action (such as going potty) and reinforce it with the verbal command ("go potty") and then reward him/her right after she's done? |
Yes. When we went outside, I would say "Go Potty". Then I would wait for her to squat. (Sometimes I would have to say "go potty" a few times when I would have to re-direct her, if she got distracted with something) As soon as she squatted, I would click and when she finished, I gave her her treat. Of course, this part was a little tricky, because after a few times, she would squat, I would click and then she would immediately stop and want her treat and I was not sure she was actually finished. So when I knew she understood what I wanted, I would not click until after she was completely done, right as she was getting out of squat position. This reinforced that the click/treat was for the completed task, at that stage in her training.
Very very effective! And really this method was as effective in other areas of training. If I wanted her to learn to sit, I would state the command "sit" (you only say it one time no matter how long it takes for them to actually do the behavior) then get her to sit or wait for her to sit, as soon as her butt hit the ground I clicked. then she got the treat. After 2 or three times, she knew what I wanted.