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Frequently asked questions about reward-based teaching:

Will I always need the clicker?
No, the clicker is only used to say "That's it!" about a new behavior, so the dog knows we like what he did. It is not even needed for many things.
Once the dog starts repeating the behavior, the clicker is no longer needed for that action. That sometimes happens after a small number of repetitions.

Will I always need treats? Will this make my dog unwilling to do anything unless I have food on me?
No and no! Rewards are based on what individual dogs want, which may not even be treats for some dogs.
In any case, treats can be replaced with other rewards once a behavior is learned, even with a dog who adores food. Dogs will respond to requests for familiar, trained actions without a reward in sight.

Shouldn't I be "alpha?"
Your dog will obey because you will be the one who controls what she wants, then, in time, because trust and good habits have been built.
The old-fashioned ideas that inspired things like alpha rolls, scruff shakes, and preceding the dog through doors are invalid. Dominance rituals are not needed between dog and human.

How will the dog know what I consider a bad behavior?

Your dog will learn what you don't want without your doing anything unpleasant -- managing and ignoring unwanted behaviors will go a long way towards stopping them. Just withholding reward can be a powerful consequence, for a dog who has learned you will reward desired behaviors.

More important, your dog will learn something much more useful; what you do want -- specific behaviors in specific circumstances, that replace the unwanted actions and become good habits.

Unpleasant attempts at punishment can have unexpected fallout, including confusing, frightening or even completely shutting down a dog. They can inspire aggression, nervous hyperactivity, or even backfire because the dog likes something the person thought would discourage him!

Isn't this stuff a cookie-cutter formula, that treats all dogs the same?
It couldn't be further from that. This method of teaching is based on the way all beings learn naturally, by trying to get what they want.
Every creature has a different opinion of what is rewarding, and different behaviors that come naturally, so every teaching program is tailor-made to that animal. A dog's personality, and the tendencies of the breed, if applicable, are taken into account.
Even the behavior being trained can inspire fine-tuning. The perfect reward for sitting might be a treat. But for the same dog, the perfect reward for not pulling on the leash might be walking quickly. And the best reward for a long stay might be the opportunity to chase a ball.

This sounds complicated -- is it a lot of work?
Not unless you spend no time at all with your dog now. The amount of time and effort you put into your dog may be about the same, but is likely to consist of more pleasant interactions, with you in control of what is going on, rather than reacting to unwanted behaviors after it's too late.
It does take practice, and using everyday activities as training opportunities, especially at first, but it is not unpleasant or hard work.

This may be OK for pet owners, but will it work for more difficult activities?
Yes, this type of teaching is being successfully used for competitive obedience, agility, and other dog sports and work.

Shouldn't my dog do what I say, just because I say so?
That will happen with this method. But you will have even more than that, something joyous and beautiful.

Think about people for whom you do things willingly. Why are you motivated to work for them? Are they the people who force you to do things, or is it because you get some satisfaction from it?

Do they give you respect, admiration, comfort, pleasure, or a salary? How would you feel about someone who gives you all of the above?

Perhaps there is someone in your life with whom you've settled into an easy, comfortable routine, someone who has been so valuable, trustworthy and kind in the past that you always want to give them what they need, without expectng immediate large rewards any more.

Well, that's who you will be to your dog. You will be worth obeying -- someone who recognizes your dog's value. Someone who knows how to reward and communicate in a way the dog understands, to build a relationship -- a partner in fun rather than a party-pooper.
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