Clicker Training, any tips?

[Ruskie]

Dog is a Golden Retriever, 2 years old.

Any advice?

[base]

I have clicker trained my dog, its very handy, the key to success is timing, timing is everything, ask your dog to sit, as soon and i mean as soon as his/her bum touchs the floor click treat straight away, very quick action,

the point is to mark the bit you like, like on recal, as soon, as i say "Here" my dog starts to come to me "click" and on arrival treat straight away, its very easy but as i said timing is the key,

The kind of food i used when training was always food that did not take much time to consume, i always bought cheap hot dogs, and cut them up into small bits, so more than anything my dog got a taste, and wanted more! and in turn was very obediant.

I would suggest you find a doggie improvers class that does clicker training, as there are many other benefits to going to these type of classes as well.

hope this has been of help

[parakitaMol.]

Echo what base has said - it is all about timing.

It helps if you break down the action you are working on. The click must signify the precise thing you want the dog to do, the reward can come a bit later as the dog gets to know what the click means.

We have been using this for a dog with fear of other dogs, we click the second when we see other dogs but delay the reward so he keeps the anticipation of reward coming whilst we walk past dog. (ie he is focussed on waiting for his treat because he has heard the click and not so focussed on other dog). But that stage can only be reached by teaching that click means reward and click means you did something good.

I don't need it for one of my dogs at all but the other it is brilliant, and very easy to teach.

[rasputin]

Find really small treats. You go through them so quickly that it's easy to fatten up a dog.

And make sure you charge the clicker really well before you begin. Click & reward about 100 times (broken up into 2 or 3 sessions). By the end the dog should get visibly excited when they hear the clicker.

The two things that I found really easy to start with, and the dog finds easiest to do (while he was still getting the hang of the clicker) are:

1) Touch. Hold clicker & treat in one hand, and open up your other hand near the dog. As soon as he touches the open hand with his nose click & treat.

2) His name. Say his name and as soon as he gets eye contact with you, click. As he gets better at it, gradually make him stare at you for longer until you click.

And have a look at this website: http://www.clickertrainusa.com
I found it pretty helpful with demo videos, etc.

[Ruskie]

Thanks for the tips. My dog can sit to command but main issue is letting him of the lead, he will be fine for 15-20 mins then run off!

[Mrs Grumpy]

I love clicker training! Would always use it now in preference to any other form of training.

A clicker is a consistent marker and used as a bridge between what the dog has done right and getting a reward. It is instant so much easier when training at a distance for instance than just using rewards.

The clicker means three things:

• A reward is on it's way (so reward once you've clicked even if you've inadvertendly clicked at the wrong time)
• You've done the right thing
• The exercise is over - that's the one particular part of the exercise. You can immediately go onto another part or back to the same thing.

You can use clicker training in three basic ways:

• Capturing - like taking a photo. You click on what you want, such as waiting for the dog to sit then 'capturing' with a click the instant his bum is on the floor.
• Free shaping - this is when you want to teach more complicated stuff and so need to break it down into tiny steps. For instance you can teach your dog to shut the door, so you'd start by clicking him for looking at the door, then when that's consistent, move onto walking towards the door (small distance at a time, you wouldn't expect him to walk up to the door straight away), then touching the door with his nose, then pushing the door, etc. I taught my dog to go out and round a bucket using this the other day and have also taught her to do twist, whirly, back, figure of 8 through my legs and weave through my legs. Basically you just wait it out and mark what you want. It teaches the dog to think for himself and can be really tiring for them! Useful if they can't have much in the way of physical exercise.
• Lure, click and reward - this is sort of a cross over between lure and reward and capturing or free shaping. I don't tend to use it much as I find the dog often concentrates more on the treat in my hand rather than thinking about what it is I want them to do.

What you click is what you get, so timing is the key. I also tend to keep the clicker either behind my back or in my pocket. I've seen people pointing it at the dog and trying to use it like a sort of remote control device! Also some dogs can be a little noise sensitive, so clicking in their ear can be scary for them.

A clicker is great for behavioural work too. One of mine can be fear aggressive, so I click him for looking at the scary thing. Again I don't have to be right next to him to give him the treat as he will then trot over to me for his reward.

Anything by Karen Pryor is a good read. Her website is www.clickertraining.com There are several articles there you can read.

Have fun

[Mrs Grumpy]

Ruskie said:

Thanks for the tips. My dog can sit to command but main issue is letting him of the lead, he will be fine for 15-20 mins then run off!

I think that is an issue that may need more than just clicker training? Do you interact at all with your dog when out on a walk? An unemployed dog often becomes a self-employed dog.

With my dogs I do various bits and pieces when out on a walk - some training (like some of the fun trick stuff I mention above), some heel work, loads of recalls, play time with a ball. All this gets them to focus on me. Then we have some sitting and chilling time and then just allowing them to be a dog.

I always reward for a recall and also for just checking in with me - actually checking in (looking at or coming up to you) can be easily rewarded with a click and treat. I am fun to be with and give them loads of attention. Both of mine love chasing a ball, so sometimes as a reward for recall I take the ball out and chuck it a couple of times for them. Because I might chuck it for them, they always come back to me, just in case this time is when I chuck the ball.

[Ruskie]

Just took him out. Concentrating on sit command and sitting before road crossing. He did ok. Needs lots of practise.

[parakitaMol.]

There is a lot going on for your dog when crossing the road because Outside can be quite distracting and sensory overload. Plus there are several actions involved. You can train to respond to clicker all the time at home, if he is in a different room and you call him, the second he has come to you then click. You can practise sit, and also wait. With my dog I spent a few weeks tuning him into clicker, firstly just getting him to look at me and make eye contact, the second he did then click..... before upping the ante with outside behaviour reinforcement. Also it can take a little practise for us humans to get the hang of it!! Well it did for me

Edited by parakitaMol. on Tuesday 26th July 18:54