Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Clicker Training

"How is clicker training used in the vet field?"

Clicker training is used in the vet field in many ways. First of all clicker training can be used in the treatment room as a way to calm or distract an animal. In a treatment room an animal could be distracted from what the vet is doing if the owner is using clicker training with the animal. It keeps the animals mind off the unwanted but necessary treatment. Clicker training can be used to help with behavior problems. It is a quick way to train an animal. Clicker training uses targets and cues which the animal learns quicker then voice commands. The click is what notifies the animal of what he has done correctly. With clicker training there are many opportunities to train an animal.

What you can use clicker training for is to train a new puppy simple commands, or the complete opposite train older dogs how to do simple or more complicated tricks or commands. Clicker training can be used by any type of person in the animal field. Animals learn by the owner giving a cue clicking and then rewarding and praising the animal.

Ways that I would use clicker training is to train my dog to stay, and lay down. The way I would go about this is first giving her a simple cue to show her what I would like her to do. Then I would follow that with demonstrating, then waiting for her to do it on her own. After she did it right I would click and praise her. Clicker training is the most efficient and quick training and I think that the method is the best.

-Heather Angotti

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Four Weeks

Hello,

I feel that in this class I am doing very well. Everyday I am learning something different. I am very much enjoying coming here to pre-vet tech. I like getting the knowledge that is offered here. Not only are there are people here that can help me succeed but there is hands on experience that can show me.

I have excelled in many different parts since school has started. In the last four weeks I’ve learned how to work with animals, how to deep clean cages, feeding animals, and sanitizing the room when we are all finished. I’ve also learned some basic medical terminology and I feel this is where I have been excelling to the highest degree. When we first go over the terms they just seem to stick in my mind and it is easy for me to learn them. Another way that I am excelling is handling animals. I’ve been around animals a lot of my life and I have learned how to hold an animal properly. During the duration of the past four weeks I have continued learning how to handle an animal. I believe that this is a skill that is required to learn in this profession. It is more then just holding an animal it is feeding and making sure that the animal is completely comfortable and not have any straining.

There are also things that I need to work on and I will try my hardest to perfect them. The first thing that I need to work on is bathing the animals and restraining them. I think that if me and some kids get together then we will be able to study together. I believe that while studying together we could accomplish great things and all of us will get the knowledge that we need. Other ways that I could get others to do well in class is by helping them any way that I can. Assisting others and expecting the same from others is how everyone will succeed in the class.

I think that in this past four weeks I have really improved my skills and are retaining knowledge that I can use in my later proffession. The skills that I learn now will benefit me now and later.

Heather Angotti