Dog Community

another home-made question....

Posted : 12/19/2006 6:21:40 PM

ok, so i think clicker training at least jason (for now) would be a GREAT idea.

problem: i have NEVER seen a clicker here. any way, i could use something else, for the same purpose?

also: the reason, i wanna clicker-train jason specifically is, that he will sometimes refuse treats. (when he is unsure on what to do, when he is full, after pooping (lol) etc..). also he is not toy-motivated. so i figure besides the usual neat things i can do with a clicker, it will give me a way of, umm positively reinforcing certain behaviours, therefore make him more confident. he is a dog that doesn't generelize well, which is the reason, i THINK that verbal praise doesn't always seem enough.

just looking for some suggestions...

fuzzy_dogs_mom

Posted : 12/19/2006 6:58:39 PM

If there's no such thing as a clicker where you are, maybe you could snap your fingers, or ring a small bell, or maybe use a whistle. I don't think it would matter what the noise is, just so the dog learns to respond to it.

Joyce

janetmichel3009

Posted : 12/19/2006 7:02:52 PM

oh, yay, a bell sounds good!!! i thought about snapping fingers, but i already do that as an attention getter (SOOO useful when on the phone [

]).
yes, the bell sounds really good. i wonder why i never come up with this kinda stuff... i'm supposed to be at least a little creative... hmmm. lol

Ihearthuskybutts

Posted : 12/19/2006 7:34:47 PM

Sometimes the lid from a juice bottle makes a good click sound. The type with the pop-up tamper indicator. When you pop the lid back and forth it makes a click noise very similar to that of a clicker.

Chuffy

Posted : 12/19/2006 8:08:11 PM

In theory it doesn't matter what the noise is, so long as its the same each time and so long as you introduce it so the dog knows noise=treat. A lid that makes a clicky noise might be better than a bell, the bell might not sound that same each time like a click does. Also, a bell is kind of more of a harsh rattly noise - a lot of trainers use a shake bottle or training discs to stop the dog in his tracks because its an "aversive" noise - might the quality of the sound put the dog off? Ive never used anything other than a standard clicker or whistle so I don't know, it's just a thought.

NicoleS

Posted : 12/19/2006 9:17:51 PM

in my thread about book recommendations, we were talking about clickers and I got suggestions about even using a word - short, upbeat, that you can eb consistent with. I agree that it doesn't have to be a clicker - Sammy is terrified of the clicker noise, and I'm getting feedback about what else to use or a verbal noise.

you might even find a clicky pen and use that? though more cumbersome a bit, I would think

brookcove

Posted : 12/19/2006 9:28:57 PM

Or the lid to a jar of baby food. Buy a meat product and your dog will enjoy it as a kibble topper.[

] We use these for ultra-sensitive dogs when the clicker noise is too sharp or scary for other reasons (as when those crazy BCs just get Notions).

jennie_c_d

Posted : 12/19/2006 10:39:03 PM

A retractable pen[

]

Emma's a little jumpy at noises, so I used that for a bit, until she got the idea that click=good. Clickers are more comfortable and convenient, but a pen works just fine.

janetmichel3009

Posted : 12/20/2006 11:07:27 AM

ok, so i really liked the bottle lid idea. so i looked around my kitchen just to see if i have a lid, that will work. and i did find an empty jar of baby food with a "clicker" lid (don't ask, i like to eat those from time to time..) i tried it a few times. the dogs, especially jason, don't seem freaked out at all. so this will be my new clicker! thanks so much guys. this weekend i will hopefully find some time to properly read up on clicker training, and then when i'm back from hongkong, jason will be in for some serious training sessions...YAY!! i'm so excited!!!

thanks so much, guys!!!

Pwca

Posted : 12/20/2006 11:53:42 AM

You know that the clicker isn't the reward- it's just a marker for the treat, or toy, or whatever the reward is, right? If the dog is refusing the treat, the clicker's not going to work- you need to find a different reward he WON'T refuse. (liver works well.

)

janetmichel3009

Posted : 12/20/2006 12:51:17 PM

oh.. sorry, if i misunderstood. my understanding of clicker training is pretty shallow at this point. i HAVE tried "better" food rewards. but it doesn't seem like that's what he is interested in in some situations. he just "blocks". and i feel that it might be, because he is unsure. so, i guess what i am saying is that when i get to that point, i usually stop the training anyways to give him some time to deal with it. it's just i would at least like the opportunity to, umm, well, give him some more confidence. he CAN be somewhat food driven at times.
but yeah, anyways.. i WILL read up on it, as soon as i find some time. any which way, i think it can't do much harm in trying, if this method works better for him

thanks for the input though

mudpuppy

Posted : 12/20/2006 3:51:21 PM

clicker training will certainly increase his confidence. Let me suggest that for your training sessions you pick a time and place where you know he will take your treats-- right before his due to be fed, in a very quiet non-distracting location.