Clicker Training with working dogs? - Page 1

I was wondering what the thoughts were of clicker training...especially with working dogs. I've heard people singing it's praises with obedience and gaining focus from the dog/pup....but what about the working dogs? And can they be "weaned" off of the clicker? I need to get my 4 month old pup to focus on me...any thoughts? Food is only "ok" for him, but you know with pups, that blowing leaf or blade of grass can be much more interesting!! ha ha

Clicker is a great way to shape behavior with pretty much most dogs and especially puppies.. you need to read about it and understand it, there is a website clickertraining.com or something like that... try a search on the subject.... The clicker is not magic, you still have to figure out a way to get the behaviors you want and then click and treat them rapidly to move along to the next steps.... with puppies you have to be the most exciting thing, and what are you using for treats?? You HAVE to use something the dog likes... otherwise what is the point... would you work for beans instead of dollars?? So, experiment with treats... different.... be the center of that puppy's world... everything good shoudl come from you... Read Ruff Love by Susan Garrett.... Puppies are so much fun cuz once they catch on to the clicker thing they just start offering things and you get some great stuff and they figure out how to learn! Have fun!

I would look for a working group specializing in the discipline you want to persue that has established success with it. Your chances of successfully training your dog are enhanced by following someone that has proven results. Methods that sound good, work in some cases, etc...often create more problems in a young dog that an expierienced, much less inexpierienced trainer can take out. I'll bet 95% of the young dog that start some type of working training do not finish. For one reason or another they become pets. If you are serious about winding up with a working title. Find a trainer with successful RESULTS (Remember talk is Cheap)and work with them.

I also like the clicker for the pups, they figure out fast, no click, no treat, I am not doing something right. It is wonderful to see the mind working and the face when they "get it". I love the light in thier eyes and the strut, "yea, I got it".

Thank you everyone for your tips...I am still researching that method and talking to trainers as well...again, Thank you!!

Clicker training is great especially for the novice trainer who has trouble in praising in a timely fashion correct behaviour. It is as much a course in training the trainer in learning to reward and mark correct behaviour as it is in training the dog. The clicker is an unemotional confirmation for desired behaviour. Meaning that it does not exaggerate the praise or minimize it. It is as safe a method as can be and certainly is not habit forming as the dog learns that when he hears the click, he will be rewarded, even if more exercises are being required during the course of the run. Many people in agility use it because negative reinforcement or even the emotional voice of the handler indicating disapproval will usually bring the dog down, make him worry and hold up the enthusiasm of the dog while doing his exercises. Clicker at some point does not always equate to food. At the end of any rountine, any positive reinforcement can be used, including the tug. Its genesis came from Karen Pryer and the training of Dolphins. Read her book: Don't shoot the Dog. It is just one of many tricks in the bag for a trainer. A very simple "test" for humans: Have 2 people take out a slip of paper describing a human "action" such as "touch your nose with the right hand". Each keeps their slip secret and marks the behaviour using only the clicker as the other person attempts to perform this action. It is really interesting to see the person experimenting to try to perform the action. And the same will happen to your dog, he will start thinking and experimenting to try to find out exactly what it is you want from him.

I am currently working 2 dogs. One in Search (diaster) and rescue and 1 in recovery (cadaver) I have used a cliker to get the dog to 1) focus on me and check in and two, to know that yes, they have done well and will receive the treat later. I have also used it to reward a dog learning to climb a ladder , rung by rung when reaching for a treat would disrupt the dogs balance etc.

Wow, thanks guys!! This is all great information, as I was "trained" a long time ago in compulsion training. So this is new to me. I don't want to break the drive or enthusiasm, or create a "robot". This is sounding like the way I need to go. I have lots of reading to do!! Again, thank you VERY much for your advice and tips...they are greatly appreciated!!

bigdoglover, check out alibris.com You can get some used books fairly inexpensively. There have been previous posts with recommended dog training techniques, which you might also want to check out. Happy heeling.