advice for positive training (w\clicker)
- Thread starter emmygirl
- Start date
ryanelguiri
Forums Regular
Have you primed the clicker?
Priming is simply clicking and treating, without the dog doing anything. This gives the dog a positive connotation with the clicker and the click itself.
That could help the dog not be afraid of the clicker. Also, use high value treats (pure chicken, or whatever else the dog goes nuts for).
Then you can start training from that.
Priming is simply clicking and treating, without the dog doing anything. This gives the dog a positive connotation with the clicker and the click itself.
That could help the dog not be afraid of the clicker. Also, use high value treats (pure chicken, or whatever else the dog goes nuts for).
Then you can start training from that.
labgirl
Forums Sage
When your pup pulls just stop dead, don't move. Quite quickly your pup will realise you aren't following and she should turn and come back. As SOON as the lead goes slack that is the time to praise - if you have primed the clicker that is the time to click, if not just 'good girl! clever pup!' and reward.
Then carry on, all the time she is walking nice tell her so (what a clever pup, etc) and reward often. If she charges forward stop again. Simple as that. No need to over-complicate things with trying to perfect heel at this point, as she gets better you gradually make her have to do more for her reward.
Be patient, don't be tempted to tug or let her get away with it and even practice in the garden and soon she will get the idea.
I know this from experience with a hardcore puller who had me over at Christmas! But with patience, persistence and a very good trainer we are getting there. Good luck
Then carry on, all the time she is walking nice tell her so (what a clever pup, etc) and reward often. If she charges forward stop again. Simple as that. No need to over-complicate things with trying to perfect heel at this point, as she gets better you gradually make her have to do more for her reward.
Be patient, don't be tempted to tug or let her get away with it and even practice in the garden and soon she will get the idea.
I know this from experience with a hardcore puller who had me over at Christmas! But with patience, persistence and a very good trainer we are getting there. Good luck
Silaria
Forums Sage
As someone mentioned earlier in the thread, it is very important to "prime the clicker" when you start using it so the dog associates the sound with something good (a treat). If, even after you prime the clicker with your pup, she is still a bit jumpy, perhaps you can try different style clicker.
I purchased the Clik-R from Clean Run recently and found it's click is definitely quieter than the traditional clicker but still loud enough for a dog's sharp hearing. (The raised button also makes it easier to click against your leg, palm of hand, etc.) There are some other styles on Clean Run as well but I haven't worked with them to know if they are any quieter than a traditional clicker or not.
Clickertraining.com also offers a "quiet click" clicker which is actually cheaper than the Clean Run one I mentioned: i-Click
If even a quieter clicker doesn't work, try marking the behavior with a "Yes" and treat.
I purchased the Clik-R from Clean Run recently and found it's click is definitely quieter than the traditional clicker but still loud enough for a dog's sharp hearing. (The raised button also makes it easier to click against your leg, palm of hand, etc.) There are some other styles on Clean Run as well but I haven't worked with them to know if they are any quieter than a traditional clicker or not.
Clickertraining.com also offers a "quiet click" clicker which is actually cheaper than the Clean Run one I mentioned: i-Click
If even a quieter clicker doesn't work, try marking the behavior with a "Yes" and treat.
JenandJess
Forums Novice
I had an instructor suggest I just 'click' with my mouth - a kind of click sound that you a) have with you always, and b) is a bit quieter than the actual click-r.
Re the running - Jess wants to herd and nip when we are running, so when she is supposed to be training we just stop completely when she starts being silly, and walk sensibly again. Off lead, she can do what she wants after I tell her 'go free', although when she tries to nip the game stops.
Of course, I'm no expert!
Your pup is only young though - have patience - they do get there eventually!
Re the running - Jess wants to herd and nip when we are running, so when she is supposed to be training we just stop completely when she starts being silly, and walk sensibly again. Off lead, she can do what she wants after I tell her 'go free', although when she tries to nip the game stops.
Of course, I'm no expert!
Your pup is only young though - have patience - they do get there eventually!
Last edited:
romeosangiovese
Forums Enthusiast
Try to soften the click using the methods suggested (putting a piece of sticky tack (blutack) or tape over it also helps).
For me I taught CASUAL loose leash walking like this:
1. I imagine a fairly large square right next to my left leg (and right leg if you don't mind your dog walking on the right side too).
2. Every time the pup walks in that square (basically falling into place by my side), I click. Click EVERY TIME and the pup doesn't have to be exactly in the square in the beginning either (start easy first - say front paws or just back paws). Feed the treat WHILE WALKING. For this reason, keep your treats small and soft (bits of ham, cheese, steamed chicken, egg work very well).
3. Every time the pup looks at me, I click also and feed while walking.
I did this with Romeo (instead of yanking the leash or standing still then moving when he stops, or walking in the opposite direction of where he's pulling, ALL of which I tried to no avail) and by our 3rd walk he's gotten it and walked by my side for the majority of the way and at times nearly tripped me because he wanted to get so darn close to my legs! Once he's doing it very well and when he was slightly older, I transitioned food treats to life rewards. I click and send him to "go sniff" a tree or pole or whatever. He will work for that and finds sniffing and marking a tree very rewarding. I don't bring treats out anymore!
I say "Casual" loose leash walking because when we're on our daily walks, I really don't care if he's not heeling all the way. I don't mind if he wants to stop and sniff things or if he wanders abit further from my side so long as he doesn't drag me there. And I also don't care much if he walks on my right or left. We're just walking anyway, not in a competition!
For me I taught CASUAL loose leash walking like this:
1. I imagine a fairly large square right next to my left leg (and right leg if you don't mind your dog walking on the right side too).
2. Every time the pup walks in that square (basically falling into place by my side), I click. Click EVERY TIME and the pup doesn't have to be exactly in the square in the beginning either (start easy first - say front paws or just back paws). Feed the treat WHILE WALKING. For this reason, keep your treats small and soft (bits of ham, cheese, steamed chicken, egg work very well).
3. Every time the pup looks at me, I click also and feed while walking.
I did this with Romeo (instead of yanking the leash or standing still then moving when he stops, or walking in the opposite direction of where he's pulling, ALL of which I tried to no avail) and by our 3rd walk he's gotten it and walked by my side for the majority of the way and at times nearly tripped me because he wanted to get so darn close to my legs! Once he's doing it very well and when he was slightly older, I transitioned food treats to life rewards. I click and send him to "go sniff" a tree or pole or whatever. He will work for that and finds sniffing and marking a tree very rewarding. I don't bring treats out anymore!
I say "Casual" loose leash walking because when we're on our daily walks, I really don't care if he's not heeling all the way. I don't mind if he wants to stop and sniff things or if he wanders abit further from my side so long as he doesn't drag me there. And I also don't care much if he walks on my right or left. We're just walking anyway, not in a competition!