A Training Godsend--The Clicker! I have so many problems with Daisy wanting to charge another dog when I walk her that I have to walk in a totally different direction to pass another dog. She pulls on the leash and goes berzerk. That is...the did before I discovered the clicker. Daisy knows a lot of tricks and she performs flawlessly every time and has won every obedience competition we have entered at Petsmart. BUT when we go for a walk and meet another dog she goes into a completely insane zone that I can't get her out of. I have about given up when I decided to try using a clicker to 'click' her out of the zone. I started by clicking it a few times in the house or back yard and giving her a tiny piece of a treat. Once she knew the click meant a treat she totally forgets what she was doing no matter how worked up she is, and runs to me for a treat. I WISH I had thought of this sooner. She is 7 yrs old and I can now walk her peacefully without worrying about her going into the crazy zone when she passses another dog. I'm sure that info about clicker training has been posted before but if I had only started using the clicker when she was running out the front door and escaping from the yard when she was younger, I don't think I would have had so many near nervous breakdowns. I hope this will help someone else with similar problems. |
That is AWESOME! :thumbup: I also use clicker training (but for different purposes, tricks and obedience stuff, etc) and it's amazing. |
I really need to try this with one of my yorkies. She also goes bezerk when she sees other dogs during our walks! |
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Although, thought I should add for people not knowledgeable about the clicker. The clicker is not technically supposed to be used in THIS particular way (though, of course, if it's working, don't stop!) The clicker is simply a tool that you use to mark a GOOD behavior. It's the basis of you saying "Yes!" to your dog but the clicker is a much more consistent clear marker rather than human voice. So by you clicking when she is barking... you're essentially telling her she did good and will get a treat. So just a warning to look out for the in the future... she may start barking at you for a treat, waiting for that click! I only use the clicker when I am shaping a new trick. Once he has the trick down pat, he no longer needs a clicker.... it's supposed to be used just for the initial training. So it would probably be better to teach some sort of a Quiet command rather than clicking WHILE she is barking, because you could potentially be reinforcing the behavior. |
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I don't think that she got the message that she was being rewarded for bad behavior. I did make sure I was clicking when I spotted a dog and before she reacted to it. I haven't had to use the clicker at all the last few times we walked. The good news is that I can now successfully walk her around the park without a clicker and she is much more calm. I guess she is walking so well anticipating that she may get a treat at any minute but that is fine with me. After several years of dreading the daily trek to the park I am sooo relieved that our walks are pleasant now. :) I didn't think of using the word "quiet" before clicking but I believe it would have taken forever for her to get that since she ignored the voice commands when she was going crazy. I was desparate for a quick answer. Can you explain using the clicker with the "quiet" command? Maybe I could have made it work. Thanks |
Glad it's working for you.:) I'll be honest and say that I don't quite understand how to use it. Max is sensitive to it because when he hears the click he knows he will get a treat. I just don't know how to use it in action. The biggest issues I'm having right now are the 2 dogs barking out the window at passing cars or people and Max eating his poop. Any ideas how I can use the clicker to help them? EDIT: sorry i didn't quite read the above post thoroughly. Yeah, Brit, how do we keep 'em quiet?? |
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