And Now, A Little Training Humor...

Laughter is contagious. It's disarming and it's healthy. If we can look in the mirror and laugh but love- that is if we can take ourselves seriously but not too seriously then magical things happen. The unapproachable is suddenly approachable. The unspeakable, may be speakable. Sometimes, we see things in an entirely new perspective. Common perspective can be found. Hey, we don't have much in common but we BOTH thought that was funny! That's something to start with anyway.

One form of humor is the cartoon and my favorites have always been in the New Yorker. Great cartoons. Wry and dry in black and white ink, you have to think for just a second before you roll off the bed from laugher or giggle a bit too loudly while the adult in the airplane seat next to you inches closer to the planes window. At least that's the reaction I get, but I inherited this laugh from my father that's rather hearty.

This month we launch the first of a continuing series (Funny to the Boneâ„¢) of humorous (or so we hope!) illustrations on the topic of training that takes a sidewise look at our relationship to training, dogs, the culture of training, and the often unique place of clicker training in all of it. The goal in all of this is simply to get you to chuckle and share. Training is important. Using all positive methods is vital and maybe if we laugh out loud a bit some of those folks that feel threatened by the clicker will come by and find out what all the fun is about.

I must admit I had my hand in this. These cartoon ideas keep spilling out of me, at night on airplanes, sitting at my desk. It became a huge distraction in the office what with me popping into Karen's office five times day and saying "Ok here's another one.. there's a dog, and a trainer and…" …well you get the picture. Finally, Karen said, "you really ought to draw these up" which is of course a highly practical suggestion but for the fact that I have zero drawing talent. But by chance and because she's great, my wife Wendy found someone who indeed does have drawing talent (in abundance) - artist/ environmentalist Michael Abate who agreed to take on the task of bringing these ideas to life.

Here's the first ‘toon

Now, the only thing is, we're not sure what to do with all of these. So you get to help us decide. Later this month, you can buy the first illustration on all kinds of great things. T-shirts, coffee mugs, mousepad, even note/greeting cards. Let me know what you think. (aaron [at] clickertraining [dot] com) And don't worry if you don't like them. I don't take myself too seriously.

About the author

Aaron Clayton is President of Karen Pryor Clicker Training and TAGteach International, and a member of the ClickerExpo Faculty.