Karen Pryor Clicker Training Blog

We're back from ClickerExpo Lexington 2008—check out the photos!

KPCT — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0500

We took over 1,000 photos at ClickerExpo Lexington. There was fun and excitement, learning and laughter, as well as an abundance of beautiful dogs.

Click here to see a small selection of what we saw.

Concerned about chemicals? Consider your pet too

Miranda Hersey Helin — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:51:56 -0500

Concern about chemicals in our environment—especially those inside our homes—is growing. From water bottles, baby bottles, and Teflon pans to cleaning chemicals, products that many of us rely on may be making us sick. This may be even more true for our beloved animals. Unfortunately, the US does not regulate the chemicals that pets are exposed to, including those used in manufacturing chew toys and pet accessories.

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) is a nonprofit research and advocacy organization. Founded in 1993, EWG works to protect human health and natural resources. EWG's groundbreaking investigations into human body's toxic burden led to the creation of Pets for the Environment.

In a study released April 17, 2008, EWG reveals that pets are indeed carrying a toxic burden—one that is even higher than their human owners.

"In the first study of its kind, Environmental Working Group found that companion cats and dogs are polluted with even higher levels of many of the same synthetic industrial chemicals that researchers have recently found in people, including newborns.

"Dogs and cats were contaminated with 48 of 70 industrial chemicals tested, including 43 chemicals at levels higher than those typically found in people, according to our study of blood and urine from 20 dogs and 40 cats. Average levels of many chemicals were substantially higher in pets than is typical for people, with 2.4 times higher levels of stain-and grease-proof coatings (perfluorochemicals) in dogs, 23 times more fire retardants (PBDEs) in cats, and more than 5 times the amounts of mercury, compared to average levels in people found in national studies conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and EWG.

"Just as children ingest pollutants in tap water, play on lawns with pesticide residues, or breathe in an array of indoor air contaminants, so do their pets. But with there compressed lifespans, developing and aging seven or more times faster than children, pets also develop health problems much more rapidly. Pets, like infants and toddlers, have limited diets and play close to the floor, often licking the ground as well as their paws, greatly increasing both their exposures to chemicals and the resulting health risks."

Wondering how to protect your pets? Here's a list of tips to keep your pet healthy. You can also read EWG's press release or visit Pets for the Environment for more information.

Graduate of Karen Pryor Academy makes headlines

Miranda Hersey Helin — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 13:22:36 -0500

A member of the first graduating class of Karen Pryor Academy, Terri P. Tepper of Barrington, IL, was recently profiled in the Barrington Courier Review. Terri's training business is the Cultivated Canine, also located in Barrington, IL. An excerpt from the profile:

"Terri Tepper, a Barrington area resident for over 40 years, is a former teacher, published author and portrait photographer but recently shifted her attention to her love of dogs and is the only certified clicker method dog trainer in Illinois.

"Clicker training is a dog obedience course that stresses positive reinforcement and Tepper said the training is more fun for dogs and the animals are more receptive to learning."

To read the full article, click here. You can also learn more about Karen Pryor Academy or find a great dog trainer near you.

Rescue horse + clicker training = positive outcome

Miranda Hersey Helin — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 16:37:12 -0500

Karen Pryor was recently interviewed for an article posted at CinCHouse.com, a website for military women and wives. The article details how clicker training helped a traumatized rescue horse.

Blue had clearly been abused. The then-7-year-old Arab/Appaloosa/Percheron gelding was petrified of horse trailers. His owner, Lei Ryan, Army wife and former active duty officer, could tell her rescue horse had been traumatized in a trailer.

After clicker training:

Blue now not only willingly loads in a trailer, but also trusts Ryan to guide him through all kinds of situations that used to terrify him. The horse that used to shy away from human contact recently took part in a parade through downtown Leavenworth. "He's very much my buddy," she said. "He chooses to be with me. He chooses to do the things I do. He's very cooperative."

Once again, clicker training saves the day—and the horse. Read the full article here.

Watch a clicker-trained cat band on YouTube!

Miranda Hersey Helin — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 10:10:43 -0500

Samantha Martin has been clicker training animals for commercials and films for more than 15 years. One of her special projects is the Rockcats, an all-cat rock band. Now you can help boost these felines' star power!

Samantha writes: "Hey everyone, help the Rockcats get more exposure by clicking on their YouTube video. The more people that see them, the better chance they have at becoming a featured video. Help them get the numbers up by passing it on to all your friends! You don't even have to watch the whole video, to make your hit count. Thanks!"

If you want to learn more about Samantha and her Amazing Acro-Cats, read our profile: Herding Cats in Hollywood.

We're back from ClickerExpo LA 2008—check out the photos!

KPCT — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0600

We took over 1,000 photos at ClickerExpo Los Angeles. There was fun and excitement, learning and laughter, as well as an abundance of beautiful dogs.

Click here to see a small selection of what we saw.

Be sure to click "View slideshow" on the right, and then choose your picture size to get an automatic slideshow of all the pictures.

Student scholarships now available for Karen Pryor Academy

Aaron Clayton — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 15:07:23 -0600

If you've been waiting for scholarship money to be available for the professional Dog Trainer Program through Karen Pryor Academy, then here's some great news!

Seeing How to Teach Those Who Can't See

Aaron Clayton — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 15:05:03 -0600

How does a sightless person teach a guide dog to help locate a wall switch or crosswalk button or find an empty chair to sit in? Those were just three of the fascinating training puzzles worked through at ClickerExpo this year.

Clicker trained Acro-Cats on Chicago's WGN morning news!

Miranda Hersey Helin — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 08:18:08 -0600

Tune in! Friday, February 1, between 8:15 and 9:00 a.m., the Acro-Cats, along with special guest Wilbur the Groundhog, will be making a live appearance on Chicago's WGN morning news to promote their upcoming show at Mars Gallery on February 3.

Watch as a groundhog competes with the Acro-Cats in a display of various skills and tricks. As always, cats and live TV make for unique entertainment!

Some of you may remember clicker trainer Samantha Martin and the Acro-Cats from our profile: Herding Cats in Hollywood. Samantha has been clicker training animals for commercials and films for more than 15 years.

Music teacher breaks new ground with TAGteach

Miranda Hersey Helin — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 14:35:16 -0600

The following success story was posted to the TAGteach Yahoo Group:

I just wanted to say again how much I enjoyed your TAGteach seminar in Sanford last week. It has really changed not only how I view teaching music and training dogs, but how I view all human interactions.

The Acro-Cats' holiday special, live in Chicago December 9

Miranda Hersey Helin — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0600

Some of you may remember clicker trainer Samantha Martin from a profile we ran about her last year: Herding Cats in Hollywood. Samantha has been clicker training animals for commercials and films for more than 15 years.

Now Samantha and her Amazing Acro-Cats will be celebrating the holiday season with two special shows at the Mars Gallery, located at 1139 W Fulton Market in Chicago on Sunday, December 9 at 4:30 and 6:00 pm. Tickets are $10 and available at the door.

These fabulous felines will perform such festive feats as jumping through Christmas wreaths, pushing a sleigh, and many more amazing and entertaining tricks. There will be a special appearance by The Rockcats playing seasonal carols such as "Sandy Claws is Coming to Town" and "Oh Catnip Tree." This show will be an unusual twist on what has already proven to be an entertaining and one of a kind show for audiences of all ages. For further details, read more!

Operant conditioning and the creative artist

Miranda Hersey Helin — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 15:46:34 -0600

Robert Genn is a painter who hosts the website www.thepainterskeys.com and sends out a semi-weekly e-newsletter on various art-related topics. I've been a subscriber for a few months now. When I received a newsletter on the connection between operant conditioning and creativity, I chuckled. I think you'll enjoy it. The letter is reprinted here (click "read more"), with Robert Genn's permission.

How to Raise a Puppy: A School Project

Aidan Bindoff — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 22:09:49 -0600

A young High School student, Caitlin, from Australia is doing a class project on "How To Raise a Puppy." Caitlin chose this topic because she is extremely passionate about animals and is raising a Labrador pup of her own.

Caitlin has these questions for us. I have done my best to answer her, but you might like to add your own comments below, please be sure to reference the question you are answering when you do.

Facilitating shelter adoptions with clicker training

Miranda Hersey Helin — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 07:21:16 -0600

The Washington Humane Society is the only the only "open-access shelter" in Washington, DC, meaning that no animal is ever turned away. The shelter now relies on clicker training to help their animals become more adoptable.

"Over the past 3 years, a growing group of volunteers have learned to clicker-train rescued dogs for obedience, agility and other skills. The goal is to make them better candidates for adoption, as well as reduce stress by providing much-needed stimulation."

Is Your Dog the Next "Indiana Bones?"

Aidan Bindoff — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 01:17:15 -0600

A dog untrained in cadaver search has made an astonishing find on a beach in Suffolk, UK—the remains of a Woolly Mammoth, more than 11,000 years old!

Fido Awards to Recognise Dogs in Cinema

Aidan Bindoff — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 02:02:17 -0500

Five Corgis, Anna, Poppy, Megan, Alice, and Oliver, have not only starred opposite Oscar winning actress Helen Mirren in her award winning role as Queen Elizabeth in "The Queen", but now they have been nominated for their own awards in the Historical Hounds category of the newly created Fido Awards at the London Film Festival.

Golden retriever nurses stray kitten

Miranda Hersey Helin — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 14:12:19 -0500

A golden retriever has stepped up to the plate as surrogate nursing mother to a stray kitten, according to an Associated Press report.

The hungry kitten, found in an old tire at a concrete plant, refused to drink from a bottle and her rescuers feared she would die. That's when Honey, the family dog who hadn't given birth in 18 months, stepped in with her motherly instincts.

"She started licking her and loving her. Within a couple of days, Honey started naturally lactating," said Kathy Martin, whose husband, Jimmy, brought the kitten home six weeks ago. "The kitten took right to her."

Clicking for Credit: Video of ClickerExpo Cleveland, 2007

Aaron Clayton — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 15:53:58 -0500

Don't miss this great video from the 2007 Cleveland ClickerExpo. Entertaining and informative. If you've never been to ClickerExpo, this clip provides a great feel for the event—and if you've been before, see if you recognize anyone! Click here to watch!

Ready, set, BOO!

Miranda Hersey Helin — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 11:23:44 -0500

Halloween is fast approaching! And why shouldn't your pet get in on the haunting fun too? For inspiration (and a few laughs) see our photo album of pets in costume from 2006 and the latest from 2007.

Don't forget to e-mail us a photo of your pet dressed for the big night. We'll post the photos for everyone's enjoyment, and we'll pick a prize winner, to be announced next month!

October groaner: What do positive trainers say when they go door-to-door on Halloween night? "CLICK OR TREAT!"—of course!

Horse Needs to Calm Down? Try Football!

Aidan Bindoff — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 19:38:02 -0500

A Thoroughbred x Irish Draft Horse given up as "unridable" has calmed down after learning to play football (or soccer as you may know the game). Horse trainer, Emma Massingale, taught her horse, Kariba, to play football as a therapeutic game to expend some energy.