Teach your cat high-fives
● Want to have fun with your cat and amaze your friends in two to three weeks? Here are Sue Gilsdorf's tips for clicker-training a cat of any age to give high-fives.
● Set aside at least five minutes a day; extend the time when sessions proceed well.
● Watch the cat's behavior.
● When the cat picks up a paw, click and treat.
● If the paw doesn't move, tap near it or touch it with your hand to get the paw to lift.
● Initially, click and reward for even small movements when it's the behavior you want.
● Gradually require the paw to lift higher to receive the click and treat.
● Catch the paw with your hand, if necessary, to keep it going higher.
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● Be sure the cat raises the paw to the desired height about 90 percent of the time before introducing the cue - your raised palm.
● Offer the raised palm. When the cat lifts its paw to the palm, click and treat.
● Continue in stages, holding your palm higher and higher until paw to hand becomes a true high-five.
● Problems? Consult clicker-training resources.
Resources for clicker training
● The following resources can help you get started:
● groups.yahoo.com/group/ Cat-Clicker
● "Clicker Training for Cats," by Karen Pryor (Sunshine Books, $12.95)
● "Don't Shoot the Dog," by Karen Pryor (Bantam, $15)
● "Click for Joy! (Questions and Answers From Clicker Trainers and Their Dogs)," by Melissa C. Alexander (Sunshine Books, $24.95)
● At www.clickertraining.com, find information on a training conference Jan. 27-29 at the Doubletree Hotel, 445 S. Alvernon Way.
