Clicker help

[Cheza]

Hey everyone,
We're having a bit of a setback with Cheza's training... she's gotten to the stage where when we give her a command, she'll decide that she doesn't have to do it and walk away instead. We've been clicker training her, and went right back to the beginning with lots of praise and high value treats to give her a refresher... but it's beginning to look to me that she doesn't "get" the clicker... she associates the noise with a reward, but doesn't seem to get the process. Like she doesn't understand that the click means 'I like that.' and she wont ever repeat a thrown behavior.
Is there anything that could help clarify this for her? Or would another method of training be more appropriate?
Thanks!

 

[IliamnasQuest]

The concepts behind clicker training are really sound and I would encourage you to continue with it (or, if not a clicker, at least using a word to mark the behavior).

A couple of things you might try to see if they help. One, have someone who understands clicker training observe you to see if your timing may be a tad bit off. If you're marking a specific behavior and you mark it late, your dog may not associate it with what you meant it to be associated with. Another option is to videotape yourself and watch it. I used to do this when I was working on competition work - I'd set up a video camera and just tape the entire training session. I was amazed at some of the things I learned in watching myself. I was accidentally giving extra cues at times and didn't even know it!

Another thing that may help is to put her on a leash when you're going to work on some behaviors. I'd put the leash on and then play with her a bit before you go directly into the training session so that she doesn't start avoiding the leash. With her attached to you (so to speak) she can't just wander off when she chooses to. You could also work her in a very small room with little to interest her, but some dogs are so easily distracted that it may be hard to find a room that works.

Melanie and the gang in Alaska

 

[OutlineACDs]

Another thing, the clicker is really not for behaviors that you have on cue.

For example. if your dog is a year old and has been potty trained since he was six months, clicking him for going potty is not going to do any good.

You should be clicking only for behaviors that you want her to learn, once the dog has the command under stimulus control there is no need for a clicker anymore.

 

[Cheza]

Thanks for the suggestions, keeping her on a leash is a really good one actually, and it didn't even occur to me
I thought that a little brush up with a clicker would help enfore it but I guess i was wrong
I will keep it to new behaviors from now on. Thanks again!!

 

[JeeperBrian]

not to hyjac, but if you have two dogs, ones already started clicker training, i want to start my old girl now that my mom gave her to me, do i need a 2nd clicker? do i have to train them sepretly? like diff rooms?

 

[MafiaPrincess]

No.. one clicker is fine.. Easier and less confusing to work with one dog at a time.

 

[RD]

Jeeper, train them separately until you fade the clicker from the older dog's commands. You can still give them commands in the same room, just don't click then.

 

[JeeperBrian]

alright, i can just crate one and take the other outside to work with him/her. Buster just wasn't leaving marbles alone and she gave him a good swat, was funny.

 

[adojrts]

In case you haven't already seen it this is an excellent site on clicker training.
www.clickersolutions.com
well worth a visit, tons to read and learn.

Good luck
Lynn

 

[opokki]

Thanks for the suggestions, keeping her on a leash is a really good one actually, and it didn't even occur to me
I thought that a little brush up with a clicker would help enfore it but I guess i was wrong
I will keep it to new behaviors from now on. Thanks again!!

You can also use the clicker to refine known behaviors.

For example: If your dogs sits when you give her the cue but takes her time doing so, you can use the clicker to shape a faster response. You might start out only clicking if she responds within 3 secs, then when you have her responding reliably within 3 secs you can raise your criteria to 2 sec. responses, ect.