Clicker Training

Clicker training is a way to teach an animal to do something by using a specific signal and then they do the trick. There is a higher retention level for the animal than using voice commands and then telling them no if they do something wrong.

In the veterinarian field, clicker training can be used for a variety of things. For example, clicker training is really quick at teaching basic commands. It speeds up an examination because the animal already knows what it is supposed to do. Clicker training can be used with any species of animal. There isn't any discipline involved with this type of training method. Veterinarians want their clients to not fear or dislike them.

Clicker training is extremely efficient. Vets can use it well because it's quick and is successful.

How am I doing?

For the past four weeks in this class, I believe I am doing well in this class. At first, I was a little intimidated at the fact of having to work with live animals. Yet after these last few weeks, I am prepared to do the work required in order to have a job in this field. The stress of this class hasn't built up enough to affect me but since we have not been actually caring for animals I didn't expect it to.



I excel at book work and remembering medical terminology. I'm really good with Scooter and I have been trying to get Sunny to go on my shoulder. She stopped hopping away lately so I believe I am nice to each animal and make them feel comfortable around me. I really don't know what else I excel at because we haven't started anything besides just handling the animals.

If I was asked the question what do I need to work, I would have a couple of answers. For one, I need to not let my life at home affect my ability to work as much. I limit what I can do and I'm not social on these days. Also, I need to be more willing to handle some of the animals and not afraid I'm going to hurt them.

I believe I do help others but not as much as I could. I help with studying terms and just keeping the people around me with a positive attitude. I'm upbeat and don't intentionally put people down.

My overall experience of our PVT class is that this year will be extremely fun, but also hard work. It's definitely my favorite class this year and probably my favorite class ever.

Kitten Obsevations

Being in a class with three young kittens for the past few weeks has been a learning experience. Each kitten has formed their own unique personality since day two. At first each kitten was afraid of all the new people that they had to interact with each day. They weren't being very mobile and when the kittens found a place that they believed was safe they laid down and stayed hidden. As the days went by the kittens became more adventurous and continuously tried new things like climbing and play fighting with one another. The final week they stayed close together and continued learning the skills they needed to by playing with each other.

Sissy was the first cat to adventure around the classroom. She set the standard that the other two kittens had to keep up with. Each time Sissy was the kitten to do new things like climb up the cage while Leo and Sparky attemted to reach her from the inside. When the time came, Sissy was the one that initiated into play fighting first. While the other kittens enjoyed being held more than she did, she was definitely the dominant one and proved it every day.

Sparky spent the first few days finding someone that would hide him from everything else. He was probably the sneakiest cat and showed it when he hid himself behind a dog bed while we spent about ten minutes trying to find him. He wasn't an adventurer like his sister. He stayed in one spot most of the time and liked to be handled.

Leo was probably the loudest kitten. He loved to meow, purr and just make noise. Towards the end of his time in class Leo would always attack my backpack and run when I tried to grab him. I barely saw Leo until the last few days because he was always somewhere else. There wasn't many days that I saw him but he seemed to be the most playful and loved attacking pens.

The kittens changed a lot over the two weeks and evolved into their own personalities.