Chapter ONE--What IS Clicker Training? Let's discuss!

[Adina P]

When you are finished reading chapter one, please share your thoughts, questions and insights in this discussion.

If you have not yet received the book or are still awaiting your password, don't worry, you won't be behind!

[Adina P]

Let me add something... Let's say you want to teach your dog to "Go to bed" ... well once you get your dog to target the target stick (or your hand or whatever you decide to use as a target) and he is doing it consistently regardless of where you move your hand. Then you can start directing your dog to his bed. In one session (depending upon how clicker savvy he's gotten so far) he may start offering "go to your bed' after he realizes what gets the click. So he goes to his bed...on his own accord. You click, then treat by tossing the treat away from his bed. He goes to get the treat...then if he understands the system...he'll go right back to his bed for another click. At that point you again toss the treat for him to retrieve...and he offers going to his bed again for a click. At this point you can withhold the click for a few seconds so that "go to your bed" means go there and WAIT a bit longer. Then click and toss the treat.

IF you don't use targeting then you can just toss his bed in the middle of the room and click for close approximations of what you want. So he might look AT the bed..you CLICK! Then he'll move his body toward the bed...you CLICK! (treating after each click of course). Then maybe he'll walk to the bed...you CLICK! Then he might actually go touch the bed...you CLICK! And so on (possibly with some repeats for the above) until you're clicking for going and standing ON the bed. Once he offers this several times in a row you can then Add the Cue ("Go to Bed") AS he's doing it. Once you've done that several times, and you are pretty darn sure he is getting it...you say "Go to Bed" before he does it and if he responds many times in a row..then you know he's GOT IT!

All of this might be done in several short sessions before you have added the verbal cue.

[Doodle Kisses]

P.S. The first few chapters are for your background knowledge on clicker training, the theories and philosophy behind it....we'll get more hands-on later.

[Dozzer55]

Just want to comment on the quality of writing. Very well written, interesting and a pleasure to read.

[Jeanette]

Thanks Adina!

[Steve Drury]

The puppy obedience class we took Daisy to utilized clicker training. I was skeptical as well. When I set out to train "down" I couldn't imagine it would go as quickly as it did. I had about 15 treats in my hand. She was sitting; everytime she would move---at all---I would click and treat. We went through the treats pretty quickly. As I was loading up a second batch of treats I was thinking it was going to take forever. We continued click and treat as she changed positions. Within 5 treats she got to "down". We treated and praised and clapped and cheered and rubbed and hugged. The next "down" took three treats. After that she would got right to "down" each time I looked at her. The idea isn't just to wait for them to do something specific; it is initially also to encourage activities that are moving in the direction of the desired behavior. That is why we don't add the cue until they have the desired behavior down cold. We want the dogs to figure out the desired behavior----and they do !!!! Plus because they've figured it out themselves they "own" it.

[Nancy Greenberg]

Hi Adina,
I'm getting a little worried and frustrated....still NO word from Canis. I got my payment confirmation 3 days ago and to my knowledge no password has come.....HELP!!! I wrote them yesterday - actually forwarded my receipt for the course so they would know I really did pay....but still no word. Can you do something? I'm really frustrated. Nancy

[5a54ofb5qk1d]

Nancy, I can only imagine how frustrated you must be! I've only been waiting since about noon today and I'm pretty peeved. I did email them around 4 this afternoon and received no response.

[5a54ofb5qk1d]

I woke up to find an email from Canis along with my password. Yay! Nancy, have you gotten yours yet?

[5a54ofb5qk1d]

I don't know, Cheryl. It seemed very strange. It wasn't in my spam or my inbox (I was checking very diligently)

Anyway, right now I'm just thrilled to have access to the "stuff"!

[Adrianne Matzkin]

I am loving this training. Since we have completed the classes for obedience, I didn't know what else to do for new experiences for Samantha. We have worked on targeting with the stick which didn't take long, tho we are having trouble with her touching the target with her foot. She will nuzzle it, move it around the floor with her nose, paw it but not step on it. Any suggestions?
We sarted with holding her dumbell toy but as soon as I click she drops it. Anyone know how to get her to hold it longer than a millisecond?
We are having the issue with her finding a stick and playing 'keep away' with it. Next time I will try their suggestion in offering her a treat or her ball, having her drop the stick, click & treat. Pray with me on this one - it makes DH & I nuts the keep away 'game'.

[Doodle Kisses]

If she paws it that means she does 'touch' it technically right? So be real careful with your timing so you click the moment her paw meets the target.

As to holding her dumbbell...remember 'the click ENDS the behavior' so once you click she's told 'all done'. So I would withhold the click a fraction of a second at a time until she holds it longer. Ill try to post a video later...also the canis team has a hold video in their video set...check the download site again :)

[Holly Southall]

In my dog training class our instructors did a game to help us understand clicker training better and it was really an eye opener. We, the people, paired up and one of us drew a human behavior from a bowl. (like "look at floor") The "trainer" with the clicker has the sheet of paper with the behavior written on it. The other person, or the "dog" has no idea what is on the sheet of paper and has to offer behaviors. Once the "trainer" sees the "dog" do the behavior they click. Then the "dog" has to figure out what behavior they offered that received the click. Once the "dog" guesses the behavior, game over.
Sometimes it was easy and sometimes it was hard. My kids loved playing this game and it opened their eyes as well as mine with how frustrating it can be for us and our dog to figure out what behavior is right. But with the clicker, once you zero in on the behavior that is clicked, it is easy to continue.