CLICKER TRAINING! Question...

[kt_luvs_kitties]

Thank you Giselle.

Even though Joey knows a few tricks, I want him to learn more and since he is having a very hard problem learning stay and drop it, I thought maybe a clicker would make him focus more. He is very hyper, and can not concentrate for longer than 1 minute!

Maybe we will try one and see if that helps.

[Freedom]

Excellent description!

Kate, have you considered an obedience class? I have taken Marlin, Sugar and Lacey, first time in my life I took a dog to classes. I was amazed at how much I learned! Now I'm "sold" on a class. The dog gets socialization time, and the owner learns HOW to interact with the dog, great stuff!

[Giselle]

Part of teaching stay is teaching a calmer state of mind.

A dog cannot stay for an extended amount of time if s/he's mentally bouncing off the walls. So to teach an extended stay, you should be doing it frequently and in a very quiet area with low distractions. You really just have to start with baby steps. Every time Joey gets up, just step forward into him and repeat until he starts getting some self-control. You might have to do this 20 times the first day. But the second day, you'll only be doing it 5 times. The third day, you'll only have to do it once, etc. etc.

But, yes, a clicker could definitely help! A clicker is so wonderful because it's crystal clear to both human and dog, and I certainly think it facilitates more efficient human-dog-communication.

[kt_luvs_kitties]

Thank you for the advice. I do take him into a spare bedroom, I tell him "school" and then we start training. He gets SO excited about the treats, that he jumps around and does not listen to my words, he just goes from one trick to the next, to get the treat

Sandie, I did sign him up for training, but then I backed out because they did not do any "small dog only" training, and I know Joey would not do well with huge dogs everywhere. He would not be able to think straight...

But I am going to look into a private trainer, one on one, but they are VERY pricey. So we will see

[Jessika]

It was explained to me as taking a snapshot of the instant the desired behavior takes place, because think about it -- rewarding with praise or treats happens seconds AFTER the desired behavior took place, which could prolong the training. With the clicker they learn to stop expecting a treat but instead expect the clicker to click, because they know if they can get the clicker to click they'll be rewarded.

You also have to "charge the clicker", otherwise it doesn't work as well. To do this you just walk around and click and give a treat after you click, so the dog starts to associate the clicks with treats, like Pavlov's Dog.

[dreamparkingspace]

I'm hooked on dog classes. Shawnee and Tatum have both gone from beginner to intermediate to advanced at the local PetSmart. Shawnee now has learned a ridiculous amount of tricks (go lay down on your rug, bang!, go around, target, peekaboo, speak, etc.), Tatum has passed the CGC, and more importantly Tatum and Shawnee are now both very responsive and social dogs. They both actually occasionally used to try and fight dogs at their first classes. They never do it anymore. As for the clicker, I've tried using it a few times in the past but I always found it annoying and difficult to hold a leash in one hand, a clicker in the other hand, then switch both to one hand so my other hand is free to give the dog a treat. That sounds confusing, but anyway, I always have marked behaviors with "yes!" which is often followed by "good girl..." which is when the dog gets a treat or affection. I think dog classes are really fun too. I struck up a good friendship with the main trainer at the PetSmart near me, and I also realized I had a passion for dogs I never knew about after taking so many obedience classes and enjoying them so much. Also, you mentioned you thought about taking a private dog training lesson, you're right that they are MUCH MORE expensive. That is actually what I wanted to do with my dogs when I first started obedience classes but just 'cause I'm such a socially anxious person. When I talked to the trainer though she was very nice and talked me into going into a class with a bunch of other dogs because it would be better for my dogs in the long run and it would save me lots of money.

[Giselle]

Is Joey fearful of large dogs?

My theory is that all dogs should be socialized with all dogs, in all shapes and sizes. If the dog is fearful or extremely prey driven, training should be done to bring the drives down to a fairly normal and manageable level. Of course, there are some instances in which the prey drive, fear, or aggression is very ingrained and can only be shaved back to a certain point. However, those cases are very few and far in between.

Try enrolling Joey into a puppy class. Most of the dogs in that class will not be more than 20-30 pounds. If he is fearful of large dogs, he's got to learn how to cope with his fear at one point. The more you seclude him from his triggers, the more severe the behavior will become =)

It's good that Joey's excited for training, but don't feed into it. Only treat him when he's calm. With "stay", you're promoting a calmer state of mind. If you give him a treat when his body is wriggling and barely staying in one spot, you're rewarding for his hyperactivity. Put him in a Down and do NOT treat until his body is still. You can even manually hold his collar in one spot. Remember: you get what you reward.