Can you load a clicker with toy/play?

[pitbullpony]

I've been reading Killion's book; like it. Been reading her blog, nice. But her suggestion is clicker = food (calmer mind) and then a different noise for toy reward.

My problem; low/no food drive dog, that is going to get ramped for a toy, and I need focus; that is where our problem lies (if I choose to go forward and achieve titles on him).

Has anyone here (or is there youtube vids around) successfully loaded a clicker with toy play (it seems really painful to me; long, long learning curve)?

Thanks for suggestions.

 

[release the hounds]

absolutely, and not it doesn't take long. I don't really take the time to "load" a clicker though. Not in the sense some do, where they click and mark like crazy and just toss food. Everything is paired with an action from the start. I might not use commands right away, but it's always paired with an action.

usually most of my play and training with puppies is just plain old two ball. They get marked and rewarded for bringing it back, dropping it, going out for another one. If they have an idea of sit and down I'll still use body language to get them to do that in between throws and mark that and toss again.

You can do it with tug work, you don't have to throw anything. I do that too. I don't have a video of it, but it's just like marking with food. I'd always have at least 2 toys though that are the SAME.

It's long and tedious if you don't have a good fast out, most untrained dogs don't I always make the toy they don't have come to life, they drop the other and that' a perfect marking opportunity as well.

I think in just a few days I could throw a pile of food down, let the puppy get engrossed in eating, say my marker word and they'd swing their heads around so fast to get their reward from me it was awesome. I know it's conditioned at that point.

 

[pitbullpony]

Oh thank you; that's so much what I was trying to wrap my head around - duh; two toys; who'd a thunk it (well you obviously; me not so much) off to play games with pup!

 

[release the hounds]

Oh thank you; that's so much what I was trying to wrap my head around - duh; two toys; who'd a thunk it (well you obviously; me not so much) off to play games with pup!

nobody thinks of this stuff. We all just see someone else doing something that works and copy them . It's where I get my best stuff :lol-sign: