Just wondering if any of you guys have considered clicker training. I mean I'm not a huge fan of it but I'm reading a book that has cleared up a lot of things about how it works. I'm thinking I'm going to try it with Junior and see how it goes. And of course I'll write a review for the book once I'm done too.

But just out of curiosity I was wondering if any of you guys have tried it? Do you do all the training with a clicker or just some things here and there?

I've used it for about 12 years. It's invaluable when working with multiple dogs outside and at a distance!
It'a also ideal for people who talk to their dogs too much!

Ann wrote:

It'a also ideal for people who talk to their dogs too much!

I'm guilty of that! I'm actually very interested on how much better Junior will respond to a clicker, went shopping around for one yesterday but just to check the different prices/qualities.

I've never seen anything but the little 99 cent clickers. Maybe they're like $1.29 now...haven't bought any new ones in awhile because I have them everywhere!

It's a very fast way to mark desired behavior, and simple for the dog to understand...for those owners who go into a diatribe while training.

Bandit is scared of the click.

Ann wrote:

I've never seen anything but the little 99 cent clickers. Maybe they're like $1.29 now...haven't bought any new ones in awhile because I have them everywhere!

Ya, the cheapest one I saw was in Petsmart, it was 1.29 or 1.49 can't remember.lol. There were also the more expensive ones that looked a little different, those were 3-5 bucks.

Samm-ban wrote:

Bandit is scared of the click.

Thats one thing I've always wondered about, I mean the click is pretty loud, I'm sure the more sensitive dogs would be frightened by them....

Were you charging the clicker when he showed that he was scared of it?

Mine was scared of it too. I didnt clicker train mine but got a clicker for free at this dog event i went to and tried it out but Batman ran away, lol.

Ive been considering getting one for Patchs.

Ann wrote:

It'a also ideal for people who talk to their dogs too much!

that'll be me then!

i am terrible for chatting away to.. L ucy.. i regularly have full blown conversations with her! suppose thats a hazard of living alone with my dog
after bringing up a family etc. i do cut it out when we are training though!

Steven_L wrote:

Samm-ban wrote:

Bandit is scared of the click.

Thats one thing I've always wondered about, I mean the click is pretty loud, I'm sure the more sensitive dogs would be frightened by them....

Were you charging the clicker when he showed that he was scared of it?

some of the clickers have adjustable volume controls..... that way you can make them louder for distance work. its worth paying a little extra for one of these
as they give you more training options. i have used clickers with Lucy....she did very well in the early days but i have found that she responds better to
treats. she is a foody labrador! clickers are brilliant but rely heavily on your timing.....if you get the timing wrong you are going to have trouble so it will need working on but having said that, used correctly, there are really good tools to have to hand especially if your dog isnt particularly food or toy orientated!

Quote :

Thats one thing I've always wondered about, I mean the click is pretty loud, I'm sure the more sensitive dogs would be frightened by them....

Were you charging the clicker when he showed that he was scared of it?

Bandit is very sensitive. Even if someone talks in a loud voice, his ears and head go down. Always has been that way. I would try to click and treat, but as soon as he heard the click down went the ears and head, and didn't want the treat. This action from a food/treat monger LOL I guess he could associate the click with something from his past..or just does not like it because its loud. Im better with a "yes" or "thank you" immediately after a desired action anyway. I try not to use treats too much for training...its all he can concentrate on and forgets that we are trying to learn LOL

Samm-ban wrote:

Quote :

Thats one thing I've always wondered about, I mean the click is pretty loud, I'm sure the more sensitive dogs would be frightened by them....

Were you charging the clicker when he showed that he was scared of it?

Bandit is very sensitive. Even if someone talks in a loud voice, his ears and head go down. Always has been that way. I would try to click and treat, but as soon as he heard the click down went the ears and head, and didn't want the treat. This action from a food/treat monger LOL I guess he could associate the click with something from his past..or just does not like it because its loud. Im better with a "yes" or "thank you" immediately after a desired action anyway. I try not to use treats too much for training...its all he can concentrate on and forgets that we are trying to learn LOL

The yes, thank you or good boy are all good to use, they are still secondary reinforcers and can be used in the same way as the clicker, every dog has its own way of learning I suppose.

ok just out of curiosity have any of you who havnt had luck with clicker training ever used the word no twards your dog to state what they did was wrong?

John wrote:

ok just out of curiosity have any of you who havnt had luck with clicker training ever used the word no twards your dog to state what they did was wrong?

Ive had limited sucess with clicker training, but to be honest, Ive only used it for a short time. Yes, I use the word no and I feel it is a basic command thet ALL dogs need to know.

oh sorry forgot to mention im new to this site

Betterdog4u wrote:

John wrote:

ok just out of curiosity have any of you who havnt had luck with clicker training ever used the word no twards your dog to state what they did was wrong?

Ive had limited sucess with clicker training, but to be honest, Ive only used it for a short time. Yes, I use the word no and I feel it is a basic command thet ALL dogs need to know.

I have to agree to the extent of having a dog that is very sensitive to sound to which if you with out knowing say the word no out loud your dog may believe it has done domething wrong

Hi John, Welcome!!!

I use NO as a way to stop the dog from doing what ever it is doing at that second. Much like using a clicker to mark a good behaivor, I use NO to mark a bad one. There is no punishment associated with the word, I just redirect the dog to a correct action or responce ...

Example:
Dog leaves the yard.
I Say: NO.
Dog Stops
I redirect with the "COME" command
Dog Comes to me and gets a pat on the head or a treat.

ok i understand this a little more now thanks