Let's Share our Clicker Triumph Stories!

[Adrianne Matzkin]

Samantha is ball obsessed. One of my goals has always been to have her visit the kids at Children's Specialized Hospital and help in their physical therapy. CSH finds 'other ways' to get kids to do their PT - in a game form so it is fun and they want to do it. Can you just imagine a child who has trouble sitting wanting to sit up and play roley poley (roll the ball back and have Samantha roll it back to them) with a Doodle?? Samantha has always played roley poley but not with consistency. She loves to give numerous chews on the ball and roll it back when she felt like it.
My triumph came through this morning!! When she decided to roll it back I clicked. Upon hearing the click she sat up with her head straight up looking for her treat. I gave it to her. When I asked she 'roll it' and she did when I asked, I c&t. It took about 30 seconds for her to realize that if she rolled it when asked, she got her c&t. Of course, she started rolling it back without waiting for me to ask so I did not c&t for that. I made her wait for me to ask and she got it!! We ended it on a great note. Of course, it was just the 1st round - have to wait and work more to make sure I get the consistency that will be needed for therapy but a great 1st step!
Again Adina, I am thrilled that you chose Clicker Training. Such a wonderful mental workout for both Samantha & I!!

[elyse]

How exciting. What a great girl Samantha is. I can't wait to get back to some more training. I have taken a break this week because we just had Harley spayed and I thought we needed to rest, especially because she is wearing the collar. She has been bumping into everthing and it makes training kind of hard. But a few more days and back to work. She was really getting into it and I loved working with her. My daughter is actually going to try and show her at the State Fair in the end of April, but I'm not sure how she will do. She is only 6 months old, kind of young yet, but it should be fun anyway.

[Adrianne Matzkin]

How exciting for you and your daughter!! I will be looking foward to reading how it goes!!

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

My two dogs are SOO very into clicker training that it has been difficult to separate them to train them individually. It was getting to the point where I was developing behavior problems - whining, crying, not be willing to go to the crate (laundry room) etc. So three days ago, I decided that I was going to have to not separate them and have one watch the other. Also I have been reading "Animals in Translation" , which cites a lot of research about animals learning behaviors by watching.

So I gave it a go. Both dogs have and fairly good sit and wait ( Roo the older is better, but Tigger's is fair too, but not perfect, but actually improving throught having to wait his turn). I have, to my astonishment, had great success. They are both learning that only if I ask for the behavior do they get the reward and Tigger, the younger and less curious or eager, has made dramatic progress by watching Roo. I am currently working on the crawl and it is SOO fun. Tigger has gone from treat obsessed to trying to figure out what to do to get the treat. Tigger was actually the first one to figure out that he had to lay down first then touch his nose to the stick. Roo quickly figured it out from him!

Yeah! If you have two dogs this might work for you too. It has become a pleasure to "click" for all three of us instead of an ordeal for the left out one, a distraction for the one being trained and frustration for me.

[Denice Caouette]

Hi...I had the same problem so started training them together...it is working great and they are soooooo cute.. they do learn from each other! and since Coco is older and actually was a little ahead of Bri when we started the clicker training, she has learned "wait" well, and is patient waiting for Bri to get it! I love this training and we are all having fun together!! They love the touch and paw "games". We are a little behind right now because I have been a little busy, but hope to catch up this week!!

[Adina P]

How do you teach new things with the clicker? If you are shaping one and the other is trying to offer behaviors...how does each dog know when THEY got the click?

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

I use their name "Roo wait", and then looking at Tigger - Tigger's turn. And vice versa. If the waiting one breaks the "wait' I just return him to his wait spot. The secret is not to have the wait too long. I often misjudge it, but does not seem to bother them as much as me. I use both "wait" and "stay" as I don't want them to EVER break the "stay". Mostly it works fairly well and although It is sometimes a little chaotic, it is also fun and funny. It is a huge improvement over the crying and carrying on of the penned out( or in) dog. The dogs don't seem confused at all. I am not sure why. Perhaps because I am working on very short behaviors - crawl, spin and next I am going for bow.
I also practice in very short (maybe 5 minute at a time) bursts. Throw a load of wash in, play clicker, make necessary phone calls, play clicker, etc. I just put as much treats in one hand as it will hold and hold that hand behind my back.When the treats are gone it, clicker play is over. The treats on the counter proved to be just too much of a distraction for everyone. Pockets that smell like chicken and hot dog aren't as popular with people as with dogs. I do vary the hand with the treats and the hand with the clicker. I also know of trainers that teach clicker training with the treats in your mouth to keep you from talking.