Clicker Training a RR pup

1. Absolutely!

2. Here's one: http://www.clickerlessons.com/whatis.htm

Click for Joy (Melissa C. Alexander) is a good book.  You'll get lots of advice on websites, etc.

First, congrats on the pup!  Second, I think you will enjoy clicker training.  I have a very food motivated dog as well, and I believe that the combination of thinking and eating is why clicker training really works for her.

dogsRkewl

1.  Advise if clicker training can be used just for basic obediance?

Yes, definitely.  Clicker training is about marking a specific behavior by way of the click.  It provides a split-second sound for the dog to connect to, thus making it easier for the dog to pick up on what you're trying to teach.  Therefore, it can make an excellent training tool when used appropriately.  You can use it mark behaviors when teaching them, and then you can phase out the clicker after the behavior is learned.  And the clicking doesn't have to stop once the dog has learned basic obedience behaviors.  You can use the clicker at any time to mark a new behavior that you would like the dog to learn.  As an example, Honor and I are entering a rally class soon, and I've been using the clicker to teach new rally skills in preparation for the class.  For Honor and I personally, the method really "clicks" for both of us.

dogsRkewl

2.  Recommend a solid program / website / book / dvd that I can look into?  If you have personally used it, even better.

If you're really interested in clicking, check your local training facilities for a class that employs the use of clickers.  If there isn't one, the books that I have found very helpful are:

1. Click for Joy - Melissa Alexander

2. Clicking With Your Dog - Peggy Tillman

3. Click to Calm - Emma Parsons (great book, teaches you a lot about behavior and communication)

4. Clicker Training for Obedience - Morgan Spector

And the website FiC provided is my favorite on the web right now.
 

Oh how I love to recommend Morgan Spector's book.  Also, Pryor's Don't Shoot the Dog which is more philosphical, but really good.  And clicker training can be used for obedience, but not JUST obedience. 

aren't new puppies great?!!!!!

it's great that you're educating yourself on training, you won't regret that!

i loved this book:
http://www.amazon.com/Click-Easy-Clicker-Training-Dogs/dp/0764596438/ref=pd_bbs_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1210287110&sr=8-1

it was nice and easy to read, and took you from the absolute basics, teaching all the things right from puppy time. i'd recommend it  just from personal experience.

also, i'm reading this book:
http://www.amazon.com/When-Pigs-Fly-Training-Impossible/dp/1929242441/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1210287323&sr=1-1

it deals with hard to train dogs (i have a terrier) but she frequently makes references to RR (are they considered a stubborn breed???)

i'm only 3/4 of the way thru the book but i am in love with it!

 

i know there are lots of websites around that deal with it, but i enjoy the book format much more. also, you can always find really good advice here on this forum :) there's always someone willing to help, so don't be shy!!!!

good luck! and remember, that you get what you reinforce! 

There's also Building Blocks for Performance.  And of course Control Unleashed which had been discussed on some of the agility threads.

I second all the suggestions you got above, but if you want a good DVD, then get Leslie Nelson's "Really Reliable Recall".  It isn't clicker, but you can use a clicker if you want, and anyone who owns a hound type dog should start teaching a good recall right from day one. 

Here's a site you might like: http://www.takeabowwow.com/ 

http://community.dog.com/forums/p/28726/620533.aspx#620533