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Frostbight8 · February 2012

Just felt like sharing.. I start Agility classes with my dog this Saturday. Really excited! And maybe a little nervous.. RIght now I'm not so sure that I'm going to like the trainer, but hopefully that it's just how he seems over email. He said that they use positive reinforcement with clicker training. Not really a fan of the clicker.. It doesn't seem to work well with Pook, don't think she likes the noise. -_- She's been soing really well with other dogs, we took her to the vet and there was this Boxer mix sitting in the waiting room. She started to go after him, but stepping in front of her and redirecting her attention worked great, totally forgot about the dog.

EmmeZoec · February 2012

Have you loaded the clicker? Try clicking in your pocket so the sound is muffled.

Frostbight8 wrote:

but stepping in front of her and redirecting her attention worked great, totally forgot about the dog.

That's not training the correct behavior though. That saying "Ok, you can go after this dog if you want to, just not if I am standing in front of you." If you used the clicker you could have clicker or even used a marker word like yes, tick, click, good to redirect her attention back to you. So she learns, "Hey! A dog, look its over there now I'll turn because that is where I get a cookie."

Frostbight8 · February 2012

No, I believe it teaches her that her attention should be on me, not the dog. She was totally fine after that, actually laid down at my feet. Edit, I also said "Look" then stepped in front of her. Just the command itself doesn't work.. Maybe eventually, but not at the moment. She gets into this "zone", I guess you could call it..

EmmeZoec · February 2012

If you teach her that her attention should always be on you, or she gets corrected (getting her view blocked) she will want to look around any chance she gets that you are not paying attention. Its like being in the woods hearing a rustling sound an not being able to look at it or you get a punishment. If you continue this on into the agility ring at trials she will soon learn that you can not discipline her here so she can go off and look where ever she wants, therefore ignoring you. In a classroom when someone walks in you look at him to make sure it is another student or teacher and not a someone important or dangerous. How does your dog know that the dog over there is just another friendly dog and not a danger?

Frostbight8 · February 2012

Well, this isn't something I decided to just do one day. I learned it from a trainer that I like at the shelter, she was having me use it on another aggressive dog. Every dog varies, every reason for aggression varies. Pookie's particular case is that when she see's another dog, she wants to run right up to it. When the leash ends, she feels restrained and unable to defend herself and goes into her defensive mode. I greatly appreciate suggestions (but not criticism). I'm confident in this method, and as long as it seems to work for my particular case, I'll continued to use it. If a problem does arise in the future, I'll find a way to correct it.

Trianna · February 2012

All dogs -are- different, and if you found a method that's working for your dog, then that's great. Frankly, I don't see why everyone is so into clicker training, it's just another training aid. I've trained plenty of dogs, and never used a clicker, and they still behaved. I prefer to train without any aids other than a long leash and some treats in the beginning. I've trained an American Bulldog with separation anxiety who'd had no training, ran away every chance he had, and pulled on the leash.... and by the end of a few weeks he walked perfectly on a leash, I could let him off leash and he'd come back when called, he could ride in a car without freaking himself out so much he vomited, and his separation anxiety was almost non existent. Point being, if your type of training is what your comfortable with and it's getting the results you want, then stick with it.

DiamondPuppy0809 · February 2012

Max is scared of the sound that the clicker makes. And Czar thinks it's food so it distracts him from what he's supposed to be doing. Sayge just looks at me funny like, "Why are you making that noise?" and I've never tried it with Molly. xD I don't really like it. I did everything the 'instructions' stated and my dogs just don't respond like it's a praise. They're much more responsive with verbal praise or having me pet them or give them a small treat. But all my dogs are food motivated... xD Good job with Pookie! Certain things work with certain dogs. I have to use more firm discipline with Max, for example, than with Czar. They both respond in a different way. Each dog is a little bit different, we as owners just need to learn!

EmmeZoec · February 2012

@Trianna- The clicker is just to mark the -exact- second a dog does something, so they know right when the dog does the good thing. It is faster then grabbing a treat out of your pocket and giving it to them. It is also more consistent then your voice which changes depending on the time of day or your mood. Also it is very clear because you won't use a clicker in conversation obviously.

Garfieldz Gal wrote:

Max is scared of the sound that the clicker makes.

Have you tried clicking it in your pocket? If that is to loud then use a pen, then in your pocket, then the clicker.

Garfieldz Gal wrote:

And Czar thinks it's food so it distracts him from what he's supposed to be doing.

That is what a click is, a promise that food is coming. Clicking isn't replacing food it is simply marking what caused the food/praise/toy to be given to them. You can't load a clicker and then have your dog work for clicks.

DiamondPuppy0809 · February 2012

EmmeZoe wrote:

That is what a click is, a promise that food is coming. Clicking isn't replacing food it is simply marking what caused the food/praise/toy to be given to them. You can't load a clicker and then have your dog work for clicks.

I know that. But if I have the clicker behind my back/in my pocket, he focuses on where my hands are and doesn't listen to my commands (plus I do commands with my hands. Fist = sit, flat hand = lie down, etc). It doesn't work for him, I don't use it and I'm better off without it with my own dogs. Also, it's inconvenient for me to use a pen for training Max until he's used to the sound when he's very good with verbal praise. I understand the whole objective of the clicker, it just doesn't seem convenient for the way my dogs react to it. (: I don't do agility or any sports, however, which is where a clicker would be needed most, in my opinion.

Frostbight8 · February 2012

Guys.. This is kind of off topic. Some agree with the clicker, some don't. It's all a matter of opinion. That's fine, but please, clicker or no clicker was not the reason of this post.

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