"Clicker" training? Anybody use this?
 

I saw a gadget at Wal-Mart for clicker training.....what is this and how well does it work? Anybody out there with stories to share?:rolleyes::rolleyes:

I really, really, really wanted to use clicker training with Thor. It is a GREAT method of training your dog, and there is a ton of information on there about how to get started.

However, Thor being Thor, was absolutely terrified of the "click". The best treats in the world wouldn't get him near me when I had it in my hands. And that was the end of that.

I do have to say, I enjoy praising Thor with my voice rather than a device, and that seems like part of the training now. It's fun to gush and coo at Thor when he learns something new and I think it bonds us.


I think there is supposed to be a "quiet" clicker out there for timid dogs, but I know of other people whose animals were frightened of that as well. I haven't seen one myself.

I tried but I guess I wasn't coordinated enough because the class I took used the clicker and treats and it was just too confusing to me

I have been doing clicker training with my little ones and I think it works great. They are 15 weeks old and they know sit, lay down, leave it, stand pretty, and come. I have been very pleased with the results. I've never had a dog catch on so quickly. You can do a google search on clicker training and you will get lots of results. This free site Clicker Training Lessons - The Clicker is where I got information on clicker training. I followed her instructions, practiced patients, and let my little girls be the star of the show. I don't even have to use the clicker or treats all the time now. Just make sure you have few to no distractions when you first start. Our first few times it didn't work so well so we stopped and waited for a better time for them. It can be a scary sound for them at first so you may want to muffle it a little bit at first so it's not a shocking experience. I sat cross legged on the floor and held the clicker in my left hand kind of down in my lap to soften the sound at first. Now they associate the sound with the fact that they have done a good thing and know a treat is going to follow. My little girls are eager to please me following commands now even though they don't always get a treat at this point. Use a lot of praise as well.

I wouldn't train any other way now. :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

Clicker training IMHO is the quickest and easiest way to train. If you follow the guidelines and understand the principal behind it and "marking the behavior" you desire, it is a breeze!!!

You can use it for everything from potty training, to the most important command--- "come" and everything in between.

When using it, I would only spend 5 minutes, twice a day with the puppies, and once a day with the older furries.

Just as an aside, I trained my two older dogs "the traditional way" with repetative commands and hand signals and it took a lot longer for it to "click" (lol, no pun intended) then with clicker training. Of course, I started the clicker training on my first Yorkie who is a Mensa member anyway, LOL, so maybe she had a head start :)



I bought a clicker and the program dvd which also comes with a cool little pocket notecard book, and learned a lot from this site:

Karen Pryor Clickertraining| dog training and cat training info, books, videos, events

I just want to say that Karen Pryor is one of the coolest, most interesting people ever. She invented clicker training in the 70s(?) while she was training dolphins in Hawaii. She's absolutely brilliant. [/gush]

I have not personally used it much but would really like to learn myself! I know that a lot of people have great success with it!

I use the clicker training method - but use a key word (yes) instead of a clicker - that way i always have it with me. LOL

Hot Rod was scared of the clicker but it did wonders for Maggie. Her attention span is so short that it was good to use with her.

I used clicker training with my horses (both miniatures and quarters) and it works fantastic. Instead of a clicker device I make a clicking noise with my tounge that makes my "click" distinctive and different from other clickers if I am working with other people doing clicker training. That way I don't have to coordinate the use of the clicker, treat, etc. I actually taught one of my miniatures to do the "hokey pokey" and another to pick up her feet and hold them up on command.

CLICKER TRAINING ROCKS!

I have done some clicker training with the dogs, but not as much as I would like.

Hm, that's a good idea. Maybe I'll just use my tongue to click.

I just wonder if this will work on TEENS? :D

I'm not sure that they are receptive to training :lol tears

I dont think they are receptive to much of anything.

Nope... I tried. It doesn't work on 4 year olds either. :p