Clicker training?
 

Hiya,
forgive me if this has been posted already--I tried using the search function but since there are so many posts on this board, it brings up pages and pages of unrelated posts.

Anyways, I'm curious what you guys think of clicker training. I picked up a clicker thingy at the petstore today but I don't know if I like the idea. First of all, it's a really annoying sound and I wonder if it is any more effective than simple verbal commands? I'm used to using basic commands and using certain hand signals to train a dog to sit, lie down, etc.

I would appreciate your thoughts and input. If you don't use clicker training, what method do you use?

Thanks!
D-

I also don't really care for the annoying sound and having to carry the thing with me with I'm training. My trainer and I both use a verbal "cue" that you use just like a clicker. Kiwi's verbal cue is "Yessssss". I say it just like that in a high voice and draw out the "sssss" sound. To her that now means that she did a good job and I like whatever behavior she just did. It also means a treat is coming!

So it would go something like this: "Kiwi, sit!" and then when she sits, immediately a "yesssss" and and a treat.

I like doing this much better than using the clicker and it works exactly in the same way.

You know, I forgot about clicker training until I saw this thread!

We tried it, but the sound terrified Tucker. The idea behind it is that the sound = treat = something good. So eventually it will mean sound = something good. But since he was so afraid of it, it never meant anything good to him, so it was useless to us. its very loud and annoying, and I don't reccomend it. It does work for some people though, so give it a shot if you'd like. =)

We just use happy, high pitched voices when he's good, and more serious voices when he's bad.

Good luck!

Thanks Ladies! I did the clicker sound for my mom and she forbade me from having it in her house LOL, and then I snuck up on my sister and did it and she jumped a foot off the ground. I don't see how this would not freak out a little puppy. I think I'll just stick to a good old fashioned "gooood giiirl" or something LOL

D-

Clicker training worked really well for Gus. We were doing okay with a verbal cue but he picked up the clicker so much faster. I love him but admit he is a little slow sometimes. I think it was very simple and clear to him compared to using more words. By the time we had finished the "load the clicker" part of the training he got it and was eager to do whatever it took to hear that sound.

The click doesn't need to be loud so anyone buying one should test them in the store first or you can just use a pen.

Another clicker training fan here!! There is a specific method to using the clickers for training. I had always used the verbal and hand training with my other dogs, very slow process in my opinion. I used the clicker with aprillove and nappy and I was amazed at how quickly they pick up on it. After a certain skill or behavior is learned via the clicker than you transition that to verbal. I use the clicker now only when we are learning a new skill/behavior.
Check out this site, it will give you some good info on the method of clicker training.

http://www.clickertraining.com/

Thanks for the link, I guess I'll have to keep an open mind on this one. I originally thought that the clicker was used to mark BAD behaviour because of the noise it makes...that kinda makes more sense to me but I get that it's the whole operant conditioning thing. Hmmm...

Clicker Fan here too! I noticed a real improvement in Millie after be began to implement the clicker, especially in potty training.

We got the clicker off the Karen Pryor site and that clicker is not very loud at all. All I know is that when I pull that sucker out to train Millie on some new behavior, Millie gets so excited she is beside herself! She knows she is going to get high quality treats for some simple activity.

I trained her on many things, but recently trained her to go in her roll-a-way airline carrier and to stay in there, so that she was exposed to the thing before we got on the plane. While I practiced a few weeks before the flight, she got what I wanted within 2 sessions.

I noticed that with potty training after we clicked a few times at the right time with the potty and used the verbal "go potty", she would get down to business faster when we took her outside, because she understood what we expected of her to get the treat.

The clicker identifies the exact moment of the correct behavior and is an identifiable sound that equals treat, so they know they have done the correct thing at the time of the click, not the time of the treat.

Interesting. So, you would click during the correct action (such as going potty) and reinforce it with the verbal command ("go potty") and then reward him/her right after she's done?

Yes. When we went outside, I would say "Go Potty". Then I would wait for her to squat. (Sometimes I would have to say "go potty" a few times when I would have to re-direct her, if she got distracted with something) As soon as she squatted, I would click and when she finished, I gave her her treat. Of course, this part was a little tricky, because after a few times, she would squat, I would click and then she would immediately stop and want her treat and I was not sure she was actually finished. So when I knew she understood what I wanted, I would not click until after she was completely done, right as she was getting out of squat position. This reinforced that the click/treat was for the completed task, at that stage in her training.

Very very effective! And really this method was as effective in other areas of training. If I wanted her to learn to sit, I would state the command "sit" (you only say it one time no matter how long it takes for them to actually do the behavior) then get her to sit or wait for her to sit, as soon as her butt hit the ground I clicked. then she got the treat. After 2 or three times, she knew what I wanted.