Any knowledge about clicker training?

[Baileys Mom]

Has anyone here had any exposure to "clicker training?" http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/confused.gif Now that Bailey has most of her shots, I'd like to take her for obedience training. I will not put a choker collar on her and have been looking at the possibility of clicker training. I've sent off a few emails to local trainers. Wondering what experiences any might have had.

[Owen's Mom]

I haven't tried it (yet) but I'm looking into it also. I need something that will get Owen's attention away from whatever he's consumed in and back to me. I'm not sure a clicker will work, seeing as he's the most stubborn dachshund ever born, but I'm willing to try it out!! http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/biggrin.gif

~~Amy~~

[Buddy's mom]

I saw something on clicker training and thought I would look into it when I got Buddy. I found a few sites on clicker training but I can't seem to find them now. I did also call a local trainer and talked to them about it. She doesn't use clicker training but a simular principle of key words and rewards. She said the down fall with the clicker is if you forget to have it with you or lose it. With a key word or sound you always have it. Also back up any training with lots of praise. I am hoping to start Buddy in obedience training this month. Now that he's 10wks old I am also working on key words and tasty treats. Hope this helps some.

[Penny's Aunt]

I am just starting clicker training with my pup. The first step, which you can start at home, is getting them to connect the sound of the clicker with a treat.

While things are quiet, or you've hit the mute button during the commercial, click the clicker ONCE & immediately give them a small treat. Never click more than once, & never fail to give a treat when you do.

You may have to do it 30 times or 100 times, but they will catch on. Do it 20 times or whatever you have time for. It doesn't have to be all at once, sequentially. Do it for a few evenings, & after a while start doing it when they aren't looking at you. If they are catching on, they will jerk their head back to look at you, waiting for the treat.

There are several books & videos on the subject, Morgan Spector & Shirley Chong are two that are well-liked. Spector's book is $30. I think they have videos, too, which are said to help with timing, which is EVERYTHING, people who do this say.

The people I've talked to can't say enough good about it. Only one is having trouble, & she is having someone else do the clicking while she does the training & treating, & the dog is having a problem making the connection, so be forewarned if you are tempted to try it this way.

BTW, the people I know who are using it have large, rambunctious, silly dogs. If it works with them...

[Buddy's mom]

Does anyone know if clicker training works on kids and husbands? I am have no luck training my bunch http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/disgust.gif

[Con&Finn'smom]

Well... Clicker training is based on Pavlovian principles (classical conditioning)... This type of conditioning CAN be used on humans, you just need the right types of triggers and rewards. Once you figure out a kid and husband training system, you could get rich selling it to the rest of the world!

[Baileys Mom]

Thanks for all the replies. I've gotten a reply from one local trainer I sent an email to. She has a puppy socialization class this coming Saturday for "toy" breeds, 15lbs and under. Bailey may not be a toy but she sure fits the weight reqmnt at 4lbs. Unfortunately she doesn't have her rabies innoculation yet so she can't go. http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/crying.gif I'm gonna go without her and check out the trainer. They have puppy kindergarten!http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/bounce.gif 40 min. of training and 20 min socialization. No choke collars, hooray! Aunt Penny, I'll get busy with the clicker in the meantime and get her prepped. She already does great on the leash and I've been using treats as a reward when she goes potty outside and comes when called, so I'm pretty confident she'll get the hang of it quickly. As it is now,it's potty and immediately go to mom for treat. And of course everytime she comes when called it's at a full run. <FONT COLOR="Pink">Where's that treat, come on call me again.</FONT c> There are a few family members here to I'd like to use a clicker on, LOL. Buddy's Mom, I'll keep you posted on how it goes this weekend. One thing kind of confuses me though. Puppy kindergarten and the puppy socialization classes are for puppies starting at 10 weeks. Are there puppies that have all shots including rabies by 10 weeks?


<font color="#00FFFF" font size="1">[This message has been edited by Baileys Mom (edited July 05, 2000).]</font>

[Baileys Mom]

Oops sorry Owen's Mom, didn't mean to leave you out http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/emb.gif this is my first board and still trying it out. Thanks and I'll let you know how it goes this weekend too.

[wireweiners]

I have used clicker training on my guys and it is a lot of fun. It can be used to teach them the basics (sit, stay, down) but it can also be used to teach them tricks. I had Rita retrieving in about 15 minutes. Anyone who's ever tried to teach a dachsie to retrieve the old fashioned way can appreciate that. I also taught Katie to lick her nose on command and taught all of them to touch a target stick. I used the clicker to teach Pippin to stack for the show ring. I can tell him to "stand pretty" and he will go to a show pose, cock his head, and give the judge the L@@K.

Karen Pryor and Gary Wilkes are 2 of the pioneers of clicker training. I highly recommend Karen's book, Don't Shoot the Dog. It is not a dog training manual but rather about behavior modification. (She gives tips on how to use behavior modification on husbands and kids! http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/biggrin.gif) She also has a web site at www.dontshootthedog.com. (http://www.dontshootthedog.com.) I have been to one of Gary's seminars and it was fantastic. He not only taught about using positive reinforcement he also talked about using negative reinforcement to correct problem behaviors. I have his basic clicker training video. He also has a web site at www.clickandtreat.com. (http://www.clickandtreat.com.) There are various other clicker sites on the web you can visit.

[Penny's Aunt]

My vet said she would vaccinate my 3-month pup now if required for puppy kindergarten, but would otherwise wait until 4 months. But less than 12 wks/3mos, I have not heard of that.

[Baileys Mom]

Hi all, good news, Bailey's ok to go to her first puppy party http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/party.gif without rabies shot. The instructor emailed me and as long as she's up to date with other shots, she'll waive the rabies requirement. The more I read the more excited http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/eek3.gif I am about this form of training. There's a web ring devoted to clicker training. Possibly more but the one has been keeping me busy reading. I can try to paste it if anyones' interested.

[Baileys Mom]

Bailey went to her first puppy party today and had a great time. She minded her manners and I was very proud of her. She loved playing with all the little dogs. She became best friends with a little rescued terrier mix named Digger, hummm wonder if there's dachsie in the mix LOL.

I bought a clicker, stocked up on treats and we're getting ready for her kindergarten class end of the month.

All the Mom's and Dad's got to walk around and meet other puppers. Dogs were all free and milling around legs. Bailey would check in once in a while but for the most part ran her little legs off playing. Treats were given generously ( a great way to make new friends!) She was the only dachsie and of course the shortest dog there. She could just kinda scoot UNDER and get out of the way when she wanted to. All in all a great time for her. I was impressed enough with the instructor ( and Bailey gave her lots of kisses)to sign up for the class. Think we will have great FUN with this.