[Sweetums]

I suggest reading "Don't Shoot The Dog" by a very renowned animal trainer who has trained all kinds of animals (all mammals will learn by the same methods) for all kinds of endeavors including t.v. She is one of the original clicker researchers and has had great success with positive reinforcement. The problem with most people is that they don't understand there is more to it than just learning to give your dog rewards. It has to be timed a certain way. Not that it's difficult to pick up at all, it's just a matter of learning that there are certain refinements to it if you want it to succeed. She also addresses negative reinforcement in her book and says that negative reinforcement has some success but not as much as positive reinforcement and it depends on what you use it for, which she elucidates on. Also positive and negative reinforcement can be used in conjunction with each other, they are not mutually exclusive. She states that all the researchers who worked with her on positive reinforcement training had the best behaved children she'd ever seen as they used the same techniques with them.

It's a fabulous book and will give you a much better understanding of how to train your pet than just taking lessons, altho I recommend the lessons because they offer practical hands-on instruction.