Clicker training

[Breanne, Dave & Maizy!]

We are getting a puppy in two weeks and was just wondering what everyone’s experience with clicker training has been? When do you know to wean off of the clicker?

 

Also, poochie bells- ring with puppy’s nose or paw?

 

[Anne and Scarlett]

Congratulations!

We have been doing clicker training since Thursday with 9 week old Scarlett and she has learned sit, down, and shake. We are working now on "leave it". She responds well to the clicker.

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

My daughter trained her dog with poochie bells, dog uses her nose, problem is she knows this gets her outside...she does it to play, to visit neighbors through the fence and to just hang out. She also used it to go potty, she was out more than in.

I have no experience with clicker training but here on DK there are several discussions. Just put clicker training in the search box.

[Adina P]

I think clicker is nice for puppies and there are those who have had good success with it.  As a pup gets older I prefer a more balanced method where there is accountability for 'right' vs. 'wrong' (though of course the 'right' and 'wrong' is something we humans create for dogs) and consequences to choosing to NOT respond appropriately to a command.  But that's MY personal preference.  With the clicker you use it until a behavior is solid through and through.  You use it for teaching and for refining a behavior.  But you don't need to use it for stuff you're done training.  So let's imagine you've taught your dog to sit on command at home and you get a high reliability of response...you no longer have to click for it, you just reward at random intervals.  All the clicker does is tell the dog, with a very consistent sound, that "YES! Right there...that thing you JUST did was THE RIGHT THING and you're about to get a reward for it!"  It's just like saying "YES!" or "GOOD!" or "THAT's RIGHT!" but without having to use your voice and it always sounds EXACTLY the same. 

 

I taught my dogs to ring bells with their nose..I think it's easier to learn, but whatever works is fine.

[Elizabeth & *Kosci*.]

Hi , I've just in the middle of training my puppy with the bells. We have started with us ringing the bells every time I open the door, and say 'out side'. Go onto the grass and say 'get busy' when she 'wees' and 'poos'.
I have taught her to touch my flat open palm of my hand when I say 'touch it' with her nose ....and I now hold the bottom bells on my palm of my hand and say 'touch it'.. She is just starting to do it. Touching it with her nose.
Not always successful but getting close. I'm using small pieces of liver treats all the time she does what I ask.She sometimes rings it and I don't think she needs to go out but I let her out anyway as she has rang the bells. Kosci is only 12 weeks at the moment.

[Elizabeth & *Kosci*.]

On iTunes there is a 10 min. podcast free... 'Creative Dog Training Online Podcast' and there is a podcast on 'ring the bells to go outside'

[Dot, Maggie and KoKo]

All three of our doodles are "bell trained".  They are a great way for the dogs to let you know they need to go out since the door is at the back of the houseand I am usually at the front of the house.  Although I wanted them to use the bells to let me know when they needed to potty, they ring them whenever they want to go out - for any reason.  They use noses and paws, it doesn't matter.  KoKo also grabs the strip in her mouth and proceeds to "shake them bells".  

 

 

[PoochieBells]

Hello there Breanne, Dave and Maizy.

Thanks for the question about PoochieBells. It is our opinion that it does not really matter how a dog rings PoochieBells, the fact that s/he is ringing them is what counts. We have pooches that use their paws, noses, behinds, tails...it varies about as much as pooch personalities vary - ha! During training, as long as PoochieBells are rung, the pooch has done a great job and should be rewarded with lots of praise and with a trip outside to potty. We do not recommend using treats, as the pooch may start ringing PoochieBells to get treats - not the behavior we want. PoochieBells should be associated with your happiness, and going outside to potty.

 

Hope that helps!

 

Jennifer - PoochieBells