Clicker Training
 

I bought a clicker today from Petco - thought I would try and train Beamer.
Also bought the Clicker Training book.
I had a piece of a baby carrot (Beamer's favourite treat) in my hand, and held it close to his nose. I held it so he couldn't just take it out of my hand. As he pulled away I clicked and was going to let him take the treat, but as soon as I clicked, he took off! He didn't like the clicker. I didn't have the clicker close to him, but had it behind my back - it is a loud click.

What am I doing wrong? I followed the books instructions.

When I started hannah at petsmart with the clicker she put a towel around it because they say little dogs are more prone to being scared of it! Try to muffle it and see if it helps!

Hot Rod was 6 months old when we enrolled him in classes. It wound up that I could not use the clicker with him at all because he just freaked everytime I clicked. He is a good listener for the most part and by the time he was enrolled, he knew several commands already.

Maggie on the other hand needed the clicker as she was not a good listener. lol She was not one bit afraid of the clicker and I truly believe it was the success to her training.

We did the clicker training at Petsmart, and the first step is getting them to like the clicker. I let him see the clicker and sniff it. Next I clicked it and gave him food imediately. I continued to click and give him the food, and after a few minutes he understood the click was a good thing. I had a tougher time in the next part of training. My problem with the clicker was clicking at the exact moment Joey displayed the target behavior. For example on sit, as soon as their butt hits the floor, you click. I paused too long, sometimes the clicker was upside down. I found it easier to substitute the word "yes", for the clicker noise. My mouth is always with me, and I found it easier to say Yes, than click.

The clicker has been a GOD SEND for me. Jackson was already smart without it and learned tricks and commands pretty fast but once we tried the clicker, he was getting tricks within 5-10 repetitions, rather than 15-20.

I made the mistake of scaring him with it at first... I "charged" the clicker (clicking and treating for doing nothing, just so they understand click=treat) so once he got the hang of it, we started with take a bow. I had my hand under his belly to help him learn and I clicked (while it was under his belly) and he flipped out and ran away! lol. So... then we just had to take it slow. I placed a treat on top of the clicker itself so he could go and get it, and learn the clicker was not bad.

I don't know when it 'clicked' that the clicker was not bad, but once it did, it's been amazing for us. Jackson learned over 10 tricks in probably 2 months (things like getting me a tissue when I sneeze, saying his prayers, closing cabinet doors, etc). The actual sound of the click just makes him understand sooo much better what I want from him and he loves it!

Also, I think a common misconception with the clicker is that you have to have it on you at all times. That's not the case. Once Jackson learns the trick, we no longer use the clicker. It's just the initial stages of learning a NEW trick. Once he knows it, it's just verbal praise and reward.

I'll try letting him sniff it to get used to it. Will also try muffling it with a towel or washcloth.

I am going to try and talk my husband into letting me spend the $100 for the training classes at Petco (Petco is closer to me than Petsmart)

It was a fun class, and once you learn the proper techniques you can use it to train any dog any trick. I just feel like any training is good for dogs, and I know that Joey acts like he's so proud of himself when he does what I ask him to do.

If it is the sound that is concerning him then you can use a tin top of a pickle jar or a pen that clicks or for now just your tongue.

I would teach him first that the sound means food not that he is working. so click treat click treat click treat and pass it fast so he is not being asked to wait to take it. SO click and hte hand swings in to feed from up high not with the treat in his fast. It is called loading the clicker.

You can also find an I click which is a softer sound. I tend to use them so mine does not sound like every other clicker although older wise clicker dogs understand yours that others my baby right now flips her head around to others in the class when they click as she looking for thier treat. once I worked the i click she kow moine only caused the treat on her action.

Also you cna tape the clicker of stick it in something until he gets used to it.
You did not do anything wrong, he was just surprised by it.

If you want to start agian have him on one side of the room and you on the other and click and treat nad toss the treat to load and then start shaping from a distance.

JL

When I tried to give him a treat last night (without the clicker) he backed off, wouldn't take the treat. I had to pick him up and put him on my lap and let him know everything was OK. Was almost as if he didn't trust me with the treat in my hand.

You don't have to use a clicker to "clicker train" :D. I found it cumbersome trying to manage a clicker, dog (or horse) treats, etc. and get the timing down. So I now use a clicking sound with my mouth. I never misplace it and I don't have to worry so much about timing. If I am in a crowd of clickers, my dogs can always distinguish their "click".

Good luck with your training! Have fun and don't get discouraged!!!!

Maggie didn't like the clicker and would not take treats from me for a while as she thought I had a clicker. The trainer said I could say "Good Girl" in a sort of high pitched voice when she performed the task that was requested. It worked for us.

Change the treat maybe pull out something extra special.
Put the treat on the floor.
you need to breath and relax and not think anything concerning will happen.
if you are stressing then the little one will pick up on it and react.

JL

Brit, I've been really curious to see how the clicker worked out for you. You've definitely inspired me to work harder on incorporating it into trick training. Thor is scared of the clicker, the quiet clicker, the pen clicking, anything that looks like it might click.... you get the picture. I think I've found a substitute worth trying, though. Maybe I'll try it with Speak/Growl/Quiet, b/c I have had a devil of a time getting those on cue.

I just stumbled upon the StarMark Clicker dog training clicker at Walmart today and bought it. I'm going to see if I can work with Cooper a little bit. He really needs to learn "drop it" and "come" everytime he's told.

Drop it is such an important command, I always give a treat afterwards, I think it's so important that he drop it every time, he never has to wonder about it, and just drops it. He knows what I'm giving him is as good as what he has. Funny with come, I've never had a dog with a problem with this, YORKIES are different and I swear, he thinks about it, he has gotten better with age, and this too is rewarded, but just most of the time, not every time.