Dog Community

Have you tried clicker training?

Posted : 10/13/2006 7:14:14 AM

In light of recent training discussions......Lets hear your thoughts.

Keep the responses clean and to the point of the topic

Scout in Canada

Posted : 10/13/2006 7:28:30 AM

We adopted our pup at 4 months old, not knowing her background (she was found as a stray). No noise or stimulant has ever frightened her, until I tried the clicker. When I first clicked a gave her a treat, she ran into the basement, cowered there, and continued to run away from me for another 5 minutes. I tried quieter clickers, using it in my pocket, etc. She was so scared of it - I wonder if someone once used it negatively with her. I love the idea of it but I feel like I am breaking her trust in me by bringing it out again!

cyclefiend2000

Posted : 10/13/2006 8:22:56 AM

we tried amelia in a class where the instructor required the use of training collars. she shut down and wouldnt do anything.

later on after we got sydney, we found a clicker training instructor and got them both into class. they both learned alot and loved the training.

jode88

Posted : 10/13/2006 2:22:45 PM

Sam is very food driven. Clicker worked well for us. He hears that
clicker and stops whatever he is doing and waits for a command.
I have his full attention. When i first started leash training, we would walk and i would use the clicker whenever he was right at my side and not pulling. He was rewarded and is now a fairly good walker. He has his moments though.

spiritdogs

Posted : 10/13/2006 5:58:30 PM

I love all forms of reward based training, and have found clicker training especially useful for shaping complicated behaviors. My dogs couldn't be happier!
Don't be afraid to try it on an old dog either - Fergie learned about the clicker when she was 15. She loves to "make mom click".

denise_m

Posted : 10/13/2006 6:27:45 PM

I've accidently clicker trained my dog using a retractable leash. When I first started walking him he would stop endlessly to shiff and mark and sniff again. Some days it would take 1/2 to get to the end of the block. When it was time to move on, I would lock the collar, tug on the leash and say 'let's go'. At some point I realized that he was already coming before I tugged or gave the command. He was actually responding to the click of the leash lock. Other than that, I've never used a clicker.

whatsh0uldmyl0ginbe?

Posted : 10/13/2006 8:11:51 PM

I didn't want to clicker train because I didn't want to have to worry about wether or not a had a clicker handy when I needed to give a command..

DPU

Posted : 10/13/2006 8:24:19 PM

I never tried it, but might, it just seems to be too silly for me.

mondayblues

Posted : 10/13/2006 8:29:41 PM

Yes, and it works!

chelsea_b

Posted : 10/13/2006 8:30:53 PM

I didn't want to clicker train because I didn't want to have to worry about wether or not a had a clicker handy when I needed to give a command..

You only click when you're teaching the behavior. Once they know it, you don't need to click it anymore. One of the books I have, Clicker Training for Dogs by Karen Pryor, is really nice and simple. Just explains the basics of clicker training, and how to teach several behaviors. It's only like 70 pages, but jam packed with information. You should get it. I bet Maisie would thank you for it. [

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spiritdogs

Posted : 10/14/2006 5:27:45 AM

DPU, beggin' your pardon, but once you see how effective it is, the "silly" will wear off in a New York minute. [

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DPU

Posted : 10/14/2006 7:24:47 AM

The clicker just brings up bad memories for me. In grade school the nuns used the clicker to control behavior in their class. The nuns also used to beat the hell out of us for inappropiate behavior. You advocate one and are strongly against the other. I know kids are different from dogs but excuse me but I may need longer than a New York minute. I do want to do whats best for the dog and teach my little buddies in the most effective manner.

Debbie R

Posted : 10/14/2006 8:19:39 AM

I'd love to clicker train I have tried it a sqillion times, I know it works, but nit and wit are scared to death of the noise, I've gotten the softer sounding ones and even that didn't work.

Angelique

Posted : 10/14/2006 8:32:15 AM

Although I don't personally use the "clicker" part, (but my voice instead), I've found it to be an excellent form of "training" for many animals. It works with everything from chickens to dolphins. I have a friend who is a falconer and has done wonders using this method to train his birds. It excells within a controlled environment when teaching a task, trick, or specific behavior.

Clicker training is amazing in the agility arena.

However, I do not use "training" methods alone when dealing with social, behavioral, or psychological problems. In these instances, I've found it's best to start at the source of the problem (usually the owners) and work from there.

IMO, training problems require training solutions, social problems require social solutions, behavioral problems require behavioral solutions, etc...

snownose

Posted : 10/14/2006 8:43:30 AM

didn't want to clicker train because I didn't want to have to worry about wether or not a had a clicker handy when I needed to give a command..

Exactly the way I feel!