Is clicker training for every dog?

[3Stars]

I'm a fan of clicker training. I use it when teaching any new behaviour, or if I need to "clean up" a specific behaviour (ie. get a closer heel, or a faster sit). I run a shelter training program, and we use clickers on all of the dogs there - the results have been phenomenal. A lot of trainers don't understand or can't communicate how to use them effectively, and that's when people usually think that they don't work.

Good luck with your training!

 

[labgirl]

I am fairly new at clicker training and I went through a spell when I felt it was not working and reverted to not using the clicker. My trainer has now changed it so the entire class uses clickers and she has gone over the basics again with me and now I see how I was going wrong.

Let's just say, it weren't the clicker!

In three weeks of going back to clicker training and doing it correctly, I have Cadbury walking and watching me, I have finally taught him to 'stand' on command and we just started a new trick on Wednesday 'put your paw on your nose' and Cadbury is already offering the behaviour after only two sessions.

My friend is teaching her flat coat to ring a bell, that is going to be my next project.

What I forgot was just how much Cadbury loves clicker training. I think because he knows exactly when he is getting things right and he gets so thrilled, far more so than normal training.

I am definitely a clicker convert (again!)

 

[Silaria]

I don't understand clicker training at all..

our last dog was a growly little thing, we got a behaviourist for him and he brought a container of liver. when Jamie went up to him he clicked and gave him some liver. then he went outside and kept backing up. Jamie was coming up to him, he would click, give him some liver, and keep backing up. Finally he ended up in our gazebo, Jamie came up, he clicked and gave him some liver. When the liver was all gone, Jamie started growling at him so much for his clicker training.

Clicker training is just another method of positive reinforcement training. Instead of a verbal, like "yes", to mark the correct behavior you use the 'click' sound from the clicker which is very distinct and clear.

It sounds like the session you describe above was a combination of "priming the clicker" (you just click and give the dog a treat, no behavior required - teaches them that the click sounds means something good is coming) and getting the dog to offer a come and/or focus.

If what you describe above was just from 1 session, then I'm not surprised the dog went back to growling. It can sometimes take more than one or two sessions for them to 'get it' when you start. Every dog is different, however.

But yeah, the clicker is just another positive reinforcement training method.

 

[Princetopher]

I know that we have many members of the forum who are serious clicker training fans. Oh, and I'm not opposed at all to clicker training (Bentley is clicker trained...though we haven't done much with it recently).

Thoughts?

i had this long response with a john wooden quote on training and everything (famous UCLA basketball coach)

simply find what works best and brings greatest results combined with your abilities and stay with it....

here is a pic of prince graduating from "clicker" obedience school.
http://www.sheltieforums.com/album.php?albumid=330&pictureid=3765

 

[Toffee's Mom]

I am fairly new at clicker training and I went through a spell when I felt it was not working and reverted to not using the clicker. My trainer has now changed it so the entire class uses clickers and she has gone over the basics again with me and now I see how I was going wrong.

Let's just say, it weren't the clicker!

In three weeks of going back to clicker training and doing it correctly, I have Cadbury walking and watching me, I have finally taught him to 'stand' on command and we just started a new trick on Wednesday 'put your paw on your nose' and Cadbury is already offering the behaviour after only two sessions.

My friend is teaching her flat coat to ring a bell, that is going to be my next project.

What I forgot was just how much Cadbury loves clicker training. I think because he knows exactly when he is getting things right and he gets so thrilled, far more so than normal training.

I am definitely a clicker convert (again!)

YAY for Sophie and Cadbury!
I am so happy to hear that! I bet you can get some more focus out of him with a clicker.

 

[Hurtseverywhere]

I have one, used it with Jake for a bit with success, with Cosmo I never need it, he just did pretty much whatever I wanted from him right from the get go for a good boy & a scratch behind the ears ,bring out the liver and he would just about roll over himself for you. Our neighbours
were simply stupified with him, at 6 months old I would take him out into our culdesac circle with every one outside doing chores & stuff put him in a sit, walk to the otherside of the circle 40 ft make him sit there for a minute , then call him in he would just sit like a statue till I called him in even with all the comotion goin on. Now he gets 2 min minimum. I think I can only recall him breaking the sit stay maybe three times ever and one of those was young kids comming out and calling to him. He would be a awesome obdience dog, I just never had the interest too persure obedience .

 

[labgirl]

YAY for Sophie and Cadbury!
I am so happy to hear that! I bet you can get some more focus out of him with a clicker.

Thank you
Yes, he is definitely focusing on me more. I click him every time he looks at me and he was really keeping his eyes on me during agility today.

 

[k9kreationz]

I'm sitting here wondering if it would make Lexi want to offer even more things, or if it'd calm her down.

I see it two ways. Because Lexi is already offering, you could easily be doing a sort of clicker training by saying "yes" or "good girl", but not realizing it. Because I clicker trained Koji (and not Miko), I catch myself doing it with my dogs and yes, even my nephews. It's just a habit for me to kinda "mark" the behaviors I want with something. So basically, you don't need to clicker train, because she gets it already and you're doing fine.

OR, she needs it because she's not getting the information from you that she wants, so she's just throwing her arsenal out there, even though you're not asking for anything.

My thoughts would be.....were you thinking of using the clicker training for anything specific? Or not?

Lastly, just another story. Koji is clicker trained, HOWEVER, I also use the clicker to mark things he does correctly, not necessarily shape behaviors. Lately, I've been using it for distance. When he gets out and away from me, I click (as he's going out and is committed - granted, I don't get the timing down correctly 100% need to work on that). He's not necessarily offering it to me, because I am giving him a command first. But I noticed that by marking it with a clicker, I'm able to "treat" him when I can't typically. So, I especially like it because I can mark behaviors from afar. And after reading the clicker books, I'm just impressed on how the clicking noise actually makes things stick more so, than words.

Just my two cents.

 

[corbinam]

I'm sitting here wondering if it would make Lexi want to offer even more things, or if it'd calm her down.

I see it two ways. Because Lexi is already offering, you could easily be doing a sort of clicker training by saying "yes" or "good girl", but not realizing it. Because I clicker trained Koji (and not Miko), I catch myself doing it with my dogs and yes, even my nephews. It's just a habit for me to kinda "mark" the behaviors I want with something. So basically, you don't need to clicker train, because she gets it already and you're doing fine.

OR, she needs it because she's not getting the information from you that she wants, so she's just throwing her arsenal out there, even though you're not asking for anything.

My thoughts would be.....were you thinking of using the clicker training for anything specific? Or not?

Lastly, just another story. Koji is clicker trained, HOWEVER, I also use the clicker to mark things he does correctly, not necessarily shape behaviors. Lately, I've been using it for distance. When he gets out and away from me, I click (as he's going out and is committed - granted, I don't get the timing down correctly 100% need to work on that). He's not necessarily offering it to me, because I am giving him a command first. But I noticed that by marking it with a clicker, I'm able to "treat" him when I can't typically. So, I especially like it because I can mark behaviors from afar. And after reading the clicker books, I'm just impressed on how the clicking noise actually makes things stick more so, than words.

Just my two cents.

Thanks, Cheryl, that makes sense. I guess in a way Lexi is trained to understand a marker. We use "yes" or "good girl" ALL the time as a marker or bridge to a reward. Like you said, we use it when she gets out, or commits to an obstacle/stride for example.

I was just thinking of using it to shape behaviors for tricks. I don't think I'd like to use a clicker in agility, because I can use my voice for the marker instead, and I can take my voice into the ring with me at a trial.

 

[k9kreationz]

Thanks, Cheryl, that makes sense. I guess in a way Lexi is trained to understand a marker. We use "yes" or "good girl" ALL the time as a marker or bridge to a reward. Like you said, we use it when she gets out, or commits to an obstacle/stride for example.

I was just thinking of using it to shape behaviors for tricks. I don't think I'd like to use a clicker in agility, because I can use my voice for the marker instead, and I can take my voice into the ring with me at a trial.

For tricks, I think clicker training would be the best, only because I see results so fast. They're so smart! And Lexi will be doing tricks in no time. (My problem is always trying to figure out how to shape the actual behavior, lol, but that's what you guys are for).

This is from wikipedia, however, I'm sure I read it somewhere in my clicker books. Honestly, this is why I like it better. The clicking noise just hits their brains faster than words.

At least one study has shown that the clicker can reduce training time by 1/3.[citation needed]
As this type of training was practiced and improved upon, it became apparent that the variability of the human voice, and its presence during all activities make it a less than salient tool for marking behavior. Besides the imprecision in timing, using the trainer's voice for feedback means that the actual sounds for feedback will vary. A handler's voice, pronunciation, tone, loudness, and emphasis may change even during the same training session. Clicker trainers believe that it is better to use a "click" sound to avoid variations in sound. Many trainers opt to use clickers for training that requires precision and continue to use their voices in the form of praise for behaviors that do not need to be precise.