Click with Arwen 10 weeks

Today Marie-Anne came to visit with her husband Mario and son Leo. 

This is Marie-Anne training a seal! Marie-Anne has long and extensive experience in training animals using positive reinforcement / the clicker training technique. She has worked mainly with marine mammals including porpoises, dolphins, various seals and californian sea lions, but also cats and even sea gulls!!! Imagine that!

And this is Marie-Anne with her new "project" Arwen! We are very excited and happy that she will now work with Arwen (and me), and will keep you updated on the progress with small videos from the training sessions as we go along.

Video of Marie-Anne and Arwen (10 weeks old) during the first clicker training session today can be seen here! 

First lession: Eye contact, click and treat! Learning Arwen the connection between the sound of the clicker and the treat. And that reward is given every time she makes eye contact. Either as a treat or a cuddle. Make sure to hide the clicker so that the dog is focusing on you not the clicker or the treat. Avoid distractions, use favorite treats, work short sessions with young puppies, always stop before the dog looses its interest / focus. Arwen was not very hungry prior to this first training session - hence motivation to earn the treat could have been better - but I think she did well even on a full stomack.