Clicker Training

[themanbeast9]

Hello,

Has anyone had any experience in clicker training? I'm thinking about doing clicker training with Springy (springer/labrador cross, 7 weeks old).

- Do you recommend it?

- Is it effective?

- Do you think there a better alternative?

Any comments are much appreciated!

 

[Maxy24]

I LOVE clicker training and think it is one of the, if not THE best way to train a dog. The dog is able to think for himself so there is really never any time that you force the dog to do anything, you just make sure he enjoys making the decision you prefer so he will do it again. It allows you to take a timid dog and work in very small steps with him so he is never rushed. A dog is able to take it as slow or as fast as he'd like so training is always enjoyable for the dog. Plus the obvious reason that you can mark a good behavior the moment it occurs so the dog knows exactly what he did right. For instance I'm teaching a dog to close a door, she was not putting enough weight on the door for it to close so I held of on the click (before I had just clicked for her standing on her back legs and touching the door) but the moment she brought her second paw up and it slightly touched the door I clicked and treated. That told her the exact thing I wanted, I wanted that second paw to touch the door, now she knew that I needed her to add that step for her click. Clicker training keeps your dog relaxed and in a non confrontational mood during training. It eliminates the need for fear or pain in training as you do not concentrate on correcting bad behavior but on waiting for the dog to have that moment of good behavior so he can earn his click. It's one of the few things that would work very well with a dog who barks.

I recommend that you get a clicker that can go on your wrist so you don't have to always carry it around, one like the bone clicker in this picture: http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/thumb/f/f0/180px-ClickersFxwb.jpg

The only time I don't use the clicker is for life rewards such as making the dog wait at the door while it is open until you release him and his reward is getting to go outside, although I suppose you can use it there, I just don't.

If you ever need help clicker training any behaviors start a thread or PM me and I'd be happy to help!!

 

[adojrts]

I too love clicker training, fast and effective. BUT you have to know the rules of clicker training, like any method if you do it wrong you will have limited results.
www.clickertraining.com and www.clickersolutions.com
are two very good sites.

 

[Kayla]

I agree with everyone above, I adore clicker training, it takes your dog from being a passive observer and following your movements through luring or physical placing to being an active participant where they must think and use their minds- this is what I enjoy about it. Like adojrts said however there are a few ground rules for both shaping and capturing when clicker training. However the base of clicker training is as follows:

Observe the behaviour, capture the behaviour ( by making your clicker, click) and reward the behaviour.

Not to mention you can teach your dog anything he or she is physically and mentally capable of doing while producing an enthusastic learner and having a ton of fun in the process. The websites listed in the post above are both excellent.