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Timing:
 Studies prove a dog has a period of 1.5 seconds to associate a cause with an effect. This means that all types of reinforcement should be given in that time frame to maximize learning potential and minimize confusion. Since dogs live in the present, they believe they are being praised or corrected for what they are doing at that exact moment. Reinforcements given after the fact often mold additional inappropriate behaviors. Timing has a great importance in training and you will have to watch closely to see when successes or mistakes occur in order to praise or correct instantly. For example, if housebreaking your dog, you have to catch him in the act of eliminating in the inappropriate area. You would then praise or reward him when he eliminates in the preferred area. Scolding your dog when you come home to a mess on the carpet only confuses him since too much time has passed for him to understand any wrong doing. Dog training products, such as the Triple Crown Clicker™, can aid in instantly rewarding a behavior, even at a distance. When a correct behavior is performed, you click to mark that behavior, then instantly reward with a food treat or verbal praise. Once conditioned that something pleasant follows the click, it becomes a clear signal to your dog that he has done right.
Consistency:
 In order for your dog to clearly understand what you expect of him, your training must be very consistent. A rule must always be a rule. Allowing a particular behavior sometimes and not others will be confusing to your dog, as he will be unable to determine when this behavior is appropriate and when it is not. If a behavior is not always appropriate, it is best not to allow it at all. For example, if you allow your dog to jump up on you, but do not want him to jump up on others, he becomes confused because he does not understand the difference in the situation. If you sometimes don't want your dog to jump up on people, it is best not to allow him to jump up on anyone. Teach him an alternative behavior, instead, such as sit to receive a greeting. While staying calm and sitting for a greeting is rewarded with praise, jumping up and rowdiness is ignored. Using the Triple Crown Clicker™ or the Click and Play Squid help quickly teach your dog to sit calmly for greetings by clicking and rewarding him when he does so.
Reinforcement:
 Your commands must be properly reinforced to clarify to your dog when he has done right and when he has made a mistake. Behaviors that have been consistently rewarded will occur more often, while those that have resulted in correction will happen less often, if at all. Both rewards and corrections must be meaningful and motivational to your dog. Rewards should be good enough for your dog to want to strive for them and corrections unpleasant enough to diminish or extinguish the inappropriate behavior. For example, if your dog is more enthusiastic about playing with a toy than receiving treats, a toy may be a more effective reward. The Click and Play Squid is a revolutionary new dog training product that combines the clicker into a toy. When teaching your dog a new command, you simply click the embedded clicker when the correct behavior is performed, then toss the toy for a reward. The Triple Crown Collar™ is useful in eliminating leash pulling, as well as other behaviors. For example, with your dog on a loose leash, walk at your usual pace. When he tries to forge ahead or pull, use a quick, firm pop of the leash as a correction (this "pop" makes the collar get smaller, causing a mild pinching effect), then begin walking again. Only correct your dog when it is necessary to do so and be sure to give plenty of praise while your dog maintains walking with a loose leash. Implementing all of the Big 3 will ensure effective communication with your dog, resulting in a stronger bond between you and your new well-mannered companion.
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