newest clicker trainer

[daaqa]

well, i'm sold. positive reinforcement training wins. thanks to whoever recommended "don't shoot the dog" to me. great read! got a clicker this morning and we started getting sylvie used to it. she doesn't seem to like the sound of it much, though... but i found that putting it in my pocket helps. must be too loud for her? didn't take her long to figure out that a click means a treat. unfortunately, we had to leave it there because we are leaving for a week and will have to pick up when we get back.

i haven't been around chaz much due to a crazy schedule and being sick [horrid headache after headache...] and then being away on the weekend. i haven't the foggiest what's going on around here! i guess it will have to wait until i get back next week. ciao.

 

[mrose_s]

lol

i'm buying a clicker as soon as i see one. so probably this weekend when i have time to go find one.
i've herd so many people say it did wondes with their dogs, so i'm very excited

 

[daaqa]

alright, last post before i leave...

mrose, have you read the book i mentioned? it's amazing. i was sold once i realized how much it made sense and how wrongly it's been explained to me in the past. and if the method can be used to train cats, sheep, horses, dolphins, and hermit crabs [what the heck?]... you gotta figure it's a good method.

i'm pretty excited too! plus, we looked up videos on youtube of clicker training and i watched them with my hubby and he was the first to grab the clicker and start playing with sylvie! he can't wait to see what we can accomplish with it.

 

[mrose_s]

i havn't read the book yet, heard of it, plan to read it. but havnt yet.

tell us how you go next week!

 

[Doberluv]

That's exciting Daaqa! That is a great book! Another one, which would enhance that one and in fact, give you even more insight into a dog's head, is Culture Clash, by Jean Donaldson. This is my all time fav....Fantastic. I highly recommend it to you.

What you can do is put a little cotton ball or something and wrap the clicker with some masking tape just to muffle it a little. Or look for another clicker. They're cheap enough. LOL. I have them all over the house.

There are studies which show that the distinctive sound of the clicker registers in a different part of the brain than our voices do. And that part of the brain sends the message quicker than words. It's kind of interesting.

One thing I really like about clicker training (and I don't use it for everything) is......that it's FUN!!! Fun for both dog and owner. And it's such clear communication to them, once they get onto it. I'm really glad you're having fun with it too. Keep us posted on how things go.

 

[daaqa]

well we are back and it's back to the start again. sylvie is scared stiff of the clicker. we popped it open and stuffed and taped it to mute it alot, and she just shuts right down when i start using it. her head goes down and she just wants to sit under/behind things.
apparently this isnt unusual and after it's muted, dogs get used to it in a couple of weeks. i really hope it doesn't take this long for her!

 

[Doberluv]

Why don't you foget the clicker for now and use a marker word (one that you only use for when you're following with a treat) and/or a ball point pen that clicks much quieter. You can even use another sound that you make with your mouth, like clucking or a quiet whistle. No sense in shutting her down. Make it fun for her from the get go.

 

[RobHedrick]

I bought one and I haven't had time to work with my dogs much with it.. though I can definitely say it does work well.

 

[daaqa]

thanks for the tip, dober. i started using a plastic ball point pen and she is finally staying near me when i am using it. still not terribly happy, but she is realizing that the bad loud noise isn't going to happen.

 

[Melissa_W]

I'm glad to hear that things are going well!

You won't have to muffle the sound forever. Kai was quite startled by the sound at first, but now he's excited to hear it.

I'm reading The Power of Positive Dog Training right now, and I really like it so far. It doesn't get mentioned as much as some of the others, but I think it's one of the best.