Training cats is not merely about teaching your pets good behavior and tricks. More importantly, it provides mental and physical enrichment that will help your cats stay fit and strong. You will also be able to condition them to have better social skills and reduce aggression. To help set your clicker training session for success, here are some guidelines you can follow:
- Prepare yourself with patience and treats for all sessions.
- First, hold the compact-sized clicker out of your cat's sight. Your other hand should be holding the treats.
- Next, call your cat. When she comes near you, "click" and reward her immediately. Repeat this step two to three times a day.
- You can begin introducing a command to follow you outside with a short distance first then proceed with the rest as soon as she masters the first skill.
- Experiment with other tricks, too, like "sit" and "give me your paw."
- Remember always to keep the training sessions short and enjoyable. Each session should not last more than five minutes.
Always keep in mind that cats learn best through positive, reward-based training and not through punishments if you are correcting behavior. Regular "click and treat" training will allow your felines to have a good association with the sound it creates and your voice as well.
