Clickers...and Leave It!

shelley · Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2005 3:16 pm Post subject: Clickers...and Leave It!

Just ahd a nice walk/play in the park. met a lady coming out of park with a boxer (old and really not wanting to be bothere with a mad pup)

Holly of course pulled my arm off to get to this dog. The owner did come over to say hello (quite a friendly lot round here) but here dog was not interested in Holly and moved off. SHE Still pulled all the time we stood there. The ow3ner did fuss her which made her better for a minute (she did well then..no jumping up! Very Happy

) but i think i know have 1 arm longer than the other.

Anyway to MY point... the owner suggested using a clicker to get her attention and to calm down when near other dogs. But didnt have long chat (thanks to Holly and the arm stretching) So has anyone else used them for this and can give me any advice. I dont have a clicker at the mo. but would really like 2 arms same length so will consider most things. She is on a harness and really this is the only time she pulls.. to get to people or mainly other dogs.

Also i remember a post but cannot find it on getting your dog to leave things they find on a walk. Lost count of the amount of full stops we come to with stone leaves feathers tissues and far worse. Any one know where this post is hiding???

Cheers

Shelley

Kev · Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2005 3:22 pm Post subject:

Hi Shelley

I don't use a clicker so can't help you there,but others do so hang on as help will come along.

Do you mean the 'Leave It' command ? used when out walking ?

mommy · Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2005 3:34 pm Post subject:

Hi Shelley,

If I have done this right Confused

the link should take you to it......

http://www.labradorforums.co.uk/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=264&highlight=clicker

If not there are a couple in the training section.

I have always used a clicker from day one and swore by it

shelley · Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2005 3:58 pm Post subject:

Thanks for that link Rhoni- ive just had a read and its definitely something that sounds intersting and worth a try. It might mean as well a bit more consistency between me and hubby when using commands (though id have to train him first though LOL) Will investigate more i think...I can hear hubby now....what have you gone and bought this time LOL Wink

Kev...yes probably i do mean Leave it. i am finding that especially in evening for some reason if i take Holly out she will be walking along nicely next to me, then suddenly i lurch backwards as she has come to a full stop over something interesting. Guess this is her version of pulling... and god its hard to get her moving again sometimes Shocked

. She is so strong already!

mommy · Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2005 4:34 pm Post subject:

Shelley,

If you are going to go for clicker training it is vital you spend some time teaching and re-inforcing to Holly what the clicker means.....and get her used to it before using for training. This will also allow you to perfect using it.

Once Holly has firmly understood the whole set up, the clicker can be used quickly and successfully for nearly everything ( although I still haven't mastered Tilly doing the ironing yet Wink

)

lablover · Account Deactivated

Hi Shelly,
Clicker training is great, but it's not used as a distraction or to get attention as such (not sure if that's what the person meant). The clicker is used to mark correct behaviour. The consistency in commands is important, so to is chosing a command that doesn't sound like something else to the dog - ie - 'down' meaning lie down, and 'down' meaning get of the couch. Before you start training anything with the clicker, you dog/pup needs to understand that the click means treat (something good).

If you're interested in trying clicker training it's well worth joining a class.
APDT

If I'm training the leave command using clicker this is what I do.

First have two different treats - one low value, one high.

Put low value under foot, so pup/dog can't get it. It will try to get it, but your foot should stop them. The moment they pull back, click and treat with the high value treat. Take the treat from under you shoe, show to pup and repeat. Repeat this exercise, and start introducing the 'leave' or 'leave it' command when they pull back and click and treat. One important thing when training this is never let the dog have the food you are training them to leave and use a different type of treat as a reward. Once the have understood the 'leave' command, then you need to practice and proof it in different situations, with different things.
Hope that makes sense Confused

It's much easier to demonstrate it than explain it (for me anyway), which is why I'd recommend a class.

regards
Jenny

Kev · Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2005 4:58 pm Post subject:

I'd agree with Jenny it's easier to demonstrate,so training classes would be a better option.I was shown/used a differant technique to Jenny's but the result is the same.Having said that we wasn't using clickers.

shelley · Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2005 5:09 pm Post subject:

Hi

Thanks for those replies.

Having spent a bit more time looking it up on net, think your right about classes before using. Its a bit too much to take in at the mo. just by reading and i dont want to start it in the wrong way. Id much rather wait until i know what im doing

Would it work to do the Leave it command as you descibe using just high and low value rewards (no clicker). I d really like to begin with Leave it...cant find it in my beloved Gwen bailey books (lol) ... as only minutes ago got to Holly before she tried to devour a dozey bumblebee (she has a things for these) Rolling Eyes

and despite trying to trainmy kids Shocked

not to leave little things on the floor (fridge magnets being the latest!!) its a worry (and it may be easier to train HollY!! Wink

)

My training classes dont start again untill mid August as they have a summer break..but i might start looking for a clicker class

lablover · Account Deactivated

No reason why you would have to use a clicker to train it. As Kev said, their are many ways to teach it, the intention is the same, and the dog will get the same meaning. The main difference with clicker is the timing of the click and reward. Timing of praise/reward is key in all training, and really it matters not if the reward is praise a treat or a click and treat, it's just that many (particularly those new to training, althouth others too) find their timing is much better with a clicker. There are some good articles here
Clicker solutions
regards
Jenny

GillnRolo · Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2005 12:06 pm Post subject: clicker is a toy

hi all
clicker training doesnt work for me , a treat and a few kind words is all it takes.if he knows there is a treat he will do anything.he thinks he has to eat the clicker,unless i am doing something wrong
gill & rolo