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Post by Nicole on Jun 28, 2004 17:42:50 GMT -5
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Post by Aussienot on Jun 28, 2004 17:49:34 GMT -5
No expert in clicker training, but I believe you need to "load up" the dog before starting specific exercises with clicker training. You click - treat, click treat, click treat about 30 times so that the dog makes the mental link of click preceeds reward. Then you can transition into to command - click - reward. And I'm laughing over my coffee at the mental image Blade must have had but with husky ears.
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Post by amyjo on Jun 28, 2004 18:10:31 GMT -5
I am gonna have to get me one of those too! maybe I can finally keep my cat off the counter !!!!! No seriously - you do have to do what Linda said... And to Loey about your question about how a PP trainer would handle the ATV thing...well I am not really sure but my agility classes were PP and for them they are all about GETTING and KEEPING your dog's attention... whatever it takes to keep them from gravitating towards bad behavior like staring/chasing other dogs etc... many used clickers and treated thier dogs just for looking at them. Theory being if your dog is busy looking at you he can't do bad stuff. Personally I found it exhausting.
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Post by sibemom on Jun 28, 2004 18:21:48 GMT -5
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Post by Willow on Jun 28, 2004 18:57:38 GMT -5
I got a clicker today too, only I didn't get mine at Shopko, because it was so darn big and I couldn't figure out how to hold it in my hand and push the button at the same time, so I went over to the Pet store and paid $7 for a small one! (Told you I was a sucker).
I haven't tried it on Kerra yet, because we just got home from our walk and she's lying her sleeping! I'll bet the clicker would wake her up, though! ;D
In a bit I will try something with her and see how she does. I want to try something she doesn't know how to do already, but she knows all the basics, so I'll have to think on it....maybe a trick.
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Post by Willow on Jun 28, 2004 19:03:21 GMT -5
Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.....so for the first time just click/treat many times in a row. Don't ask the dog to do anything, right? Kerra is going to LOVE this, little chow hound that she is! I'm sure after the "Load up" all I would have to do is show her the clicker and she will come running! If nothing else, this will be amusing, although I don't think Kerra will be as funny as Blade!!!
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Post by Willow on Jun 28, 2004 20:07:17 GMT -5
Well, so much for that. Does anyone want to buy a slightly used clicker? I clicked and then immediately treated. Kerra jumped at the click, so I did it again, same thing. Same thing, plus she went in the other room and lied down like she though she did something wrong. When she came back in the kitchen, I tried again several more times and she became very nervous. She wanted the treat (I verbally praised her and tried to make it seem like fun for her...a "good" thing,) but even after I managed to get her "loaded", she was nervous. I then asked her to "sit", which she did and I clicked/treated, and although she kept the "sit", she visably jumped at the click again, so I praised her and released her from the sit. Then with just a treat I told her to "sit" and she wouldn't sit, because she was afraid she would hear the clicker again! It took me several minutes to convince her it was o.k. for her to "sit" and she wouldn't hear the click! Luv, have you had this happen? What should I do? I think I have traumatized my dog!
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Post by Aussienot on Jun 28, 2004 20:09:35 GMT -5
I pretty much knew clickers were a waste of time with Finn as a wild and crazy mouthy teen, but desperate to try anything with my wild beast, I did the Click Treat Load up thing.
Finn loved the sound, I think he thought it was an insect of some kind and wanted to check it out for himself. He jumped up and bit my hand*, grabbed the clicker and ran around the house, head held high,self clicking madly until he broke it.
I remember at the time being really glad I had not clicker trained Sailor.
*I actually carry a small scar on my right hand from clicker training.
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Post by Willow on Jun 28, 2004 20:22:50 GMT -5
I know it's not funny, but I can just see Finn running through the house clicking the clicker!! I feel really bad for Kerra. She is acting afraid of me!
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Post by sibemom on Jun 28, 2004 20:43:58 GMT -5
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Post by Willow on Jun 28, 2004 21:01:10 GMT -5
Well, maybe they are o.k. on untrained dogs? Kerra is not a timid dog....and heaven knows Blade isn't!!!! So what's the deal? That's what I was thinking...I'm sure if she barks inappropriatly and I click it, that will sure stop her! Weird. I like that! PT training...."Purely Terror". That's what it is doing to my poor lil' girl!
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Post by Nicole on Jun 28, 2004 21:37:05 GMT -5
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Post by Iluvmypup on Jun 29, 2004 9:32:11 GMT -5
Wow, I've never actually met up with a dog that was afraid of the sound of the clicker, but I have HEARD of dogs being afraid of it. My dog loves the clicker..everytime I bring it out, its like "YAYY!! Clicker time!" I tought him to 'bow' in a days time. Okay, if your dog is freaking out over the sound, it just means its too loud. For this, you could either put the clicker in your pocket to dull out the sound, or you could use a regular old click-it pen that makes that click noise when you push it on and off. OR, you could use a snapple bottle cover which is great for those dogs that freak out over the noise of a regular clicker. And, like Aussienot mentioned, you have to 'load up' the clicker. Dogs don't naturally think a clicker means food. For about 20-30 times you keep clicking and treating with something extra yummy. Save those bland treats for regular rewards...when you want to teach something new, use something worth working for. My dog loves tiny peice of cheese stick cubes (you'll want them to be pinky tip sized since you'll be feeding a lot of treats with the clicker). After your dog starts looking at you when he hears the 'click', you've now got him 'clicker trained'. Make sure you know what you're doing when clicker training though. Its not as simple as it looks...a lot of research has gone into it. Make sure you only click ONCE for the exact behaviour you want. For example, if you were teaching the dog to 'shake', you'd want to click for even the slightest behaviour. Its called chain linking, where you click for the little things, while building up to the big behavioru. So, for teaching "Shake", you would click for any lifting of the paw. Even the slightest shifting of weight. Another technique of doing this, which isn't the one most clicker trainers use, but I've found it successful, is to hold a treat in your hand, and hold it about shoulder height to your dog. Hold that smelly, yummy treat in your closed fist and let your dog nudge it, lick it, and stare at it all he wants. If you see him lift his paw, click and treat. Eventually he'll get the idea that he's supposed to lift his paw, but waight until he lifts it higher and click for that. Eventually you'll want him to touch your hand with his paw. As soon as he does, give him a jackpot of treats (that is, maybe about 5 or 6 instead of just that one he's been getting for slightly lifting his paw) and praise him like crazy. Make training sessions short and fun. Some dogs work great for food, while others work for toys. Feel free to click and have a short game of tug if thats what your dog would rather have. If you still need help with training your dog next to the ATV's, let me know.
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Post by Willow on Jun 29, 2004 14:48:58 GMT -5
I did "load the clicker" or " dog" or whatever it's called. I clicked/treated many times and gave her meat, not grain, but now Kerra is jumpy at the slightest noise, which she was not before trying the clicker. This morning I had an empty box for pantyhose, so I crumbled it before throwing in the trash, and she tucked her "stub" and scooted out of the way! She was never noise sensitive like this before. I really don't think I want to try anything that sounds like a clicker from here on out, even if it's a softer noise. Now I have to work to get her to trust me again and get over being afraid of noises, because to her the click means she has done something wrong....it is a NEGATIVE, not a positive, eventhough a treat immediately follows.
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Post by Nicole on Jun 29, 2004 17:02:20 GMT -5
Oh Loey. I am so sorry this has happened. I am sure she will fine though. I would not make any deal about her skittishness though. Just act like you don't notice and go about what you would ordinarily do so she will know that there is no reason for her to feel nervous. I know you already know that but I wanted to say it anyway.
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