CLICKER TRAINING

[Richard Crowe]

Pepsi, our poodle-mix foster, who was found with his sister, Cola, in a storm tunnel under 14-lanes of Los Angeles freeway traffic was uneasy around strangers.  He had been protecting Cola when they were living in the tunnel and he would barked and growl at strangers.  Cola was scared and nervous around strangers.

We began a regimen of clicker training with both dogs and have been very impressed with the results...

Pepsi

Cola

These dogs behaved very badly when we previously introduced them to strangers. Pepsi barked and acted aggressive and Cola was scared.

Clicker training has done wonders.  I took Pepsi to a large rescue event yesterday along with four of our smaller dogs and puppies.  He behaved wonderfully. he was friendly to everyone and would initiate contact with strangers.  We received multiple compliments on his personality and behavior and he visited a prospective adoption home where he conducted himself very well. Cola is also coming along well but, a bit slower.

At first, I gave him a click and a treat every time he greeted a stranger who came up to our booth.  Then I gave strangers a treat to give Pepsi and clicked when he took the treat.  Later, I was walking Pepsi through the very crowded rescue event (which had multiple exhibitors from various rescue groups) and I noticed that he was becoming a bit nervous at all the activity and strange people and dogs,  I gave him the sit command (clicked and treated) and then the down command (clicked and treated).  He seemed to have forgotten his uneasiness and became calm again. 

I would recommend that anyone who has a treat oriented and intelligent dog investigate clicker training if there are some personality issues to confront, or just to have a well trained dog.  

Clicker training works... Judy was working with Cola on the sit-down commands when Holly, our Goldendoodle ran up to them and mimicked the response to the command.  We had never tried clicker training with Holly but, she had observed us training Pepsi and Cola and learned from the observation. She wanted to get in on the game!

There are multiple books on clicker training and are also multiple YouTube videos on that type of training. The concept is simple and the equipment needed is minimal: a clicker (can be purchased at any pet store for about a dollar) and some sort of a pouch in which to hold tiny, but high value treats.  The pouches can be fabricated or purchased for about four or five dollars at most pet supply outlets.

Try it, you'll like it; and so will your dog!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Sounds terrific. Pepsi and Cola look great.

[Lori, Daphne, Lucy & Pippa]

I have used clicker training for Daphne. She responds very well and learns quickly. Lucy and Pippa don't seem to like the noise. Lucy actually runs from me so we use the word "Yes" for them and Daphne responds to that as well. I do think the clicker helps them to associate quicker.

[Richard Crowe]

Thanks for the much appreciated comments.  I was wondering if making a certain noise or a word would not accomplish the same thing as the clicker.  That way, I would never be without my source of reinforcement.

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

I have always used clicker training and taught myself through YouTube. For puppies it is wonderful as it is reward based and it's amazing what you can achieve with it. Great what you have done with Pepsi, you do amazing work.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Richard, you and Judy provide such a wonderful foster home.

[Anne & Mr. Haley]

I have used clicker training with Haley.  Works great.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Thanks for sharing your experience, Richard.  I think there are lots of dogs who respond really well to clicker training.  It's really about positive reinforcement and dogs who are food motivated do extremely well with this method.  I've also found that you really don't always need to "click"....because I never seem to have one when I need it I always use a "marker word", which for me is "YES".  It kind of works the same way the click would.  You do such an amazing job rescuing and then rehabilitating these dogs....I have such respect for the work you and Judy are doing.