Comments on: How do you do clicker training on dogs?

By: Tree Bag

Tree Bag — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 04:34:15 +0000

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By: jamie

jamie — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 01:43:00 +0000

Clicker training in this case refers to counterconditioning and desensitization (CC&D), not to obedience training. It can be achieved but you must first understand the concepts of CC &D. The counterconditioning/desensitization is achieved by pairing something good (usually a treat) with the thing that is currently causing the problem (in this case the clippers or other grooming tools – each tool should be counterconditioned separately). Note that this doesn’t happen overnight – it takes many successful sessions before you can consider the dog counterconditioned. You will also need to ‘load’ the clicker first by doing many repetitions where you just click and treat repeatedly without asking the dog to do anything at all (this is so that the dog understands the association between clicker and treat – it’s really just a bridge that helps the dog understand that the treat is coming). Here are some websites on clicker training and also on CC&D (on the fearful dogs website under training concepts).

By: fearfuldogs.com

fearfuldogs.com — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 09:53:34 +0000

Do a search on youtube for ‘tuckers nail trim’ you’ll see a great video by canines in action that shows how clicker training worked to help a dog with its fear of clippers.

Basically the click marks the behavior you like and the dog has learned that the click is associated with a food reward. Dogs will repeat behaviors that they get rewarded for and the click is a very clear way of helping the dog understand what the behavior is that he’s doing that is getting him the reward.
for books on clicker training.

There is also a yahoo group called clicker solutions where you go to learn more.

By: rjn529

rjn529 — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 09:25:38 +0000

I have not heard that clicker training will work for behavioral problems – clicker training is a way to reward the dog for good behavior – i.e., they do something right, you give them a click, followed by a treat. Eventually they learn the sound of the clicker and associate it with something positive coming their way.

Instead of trying to clicker train for the issues you are having, I would suggest a slow, but powerful, method of desensitizing the dog. Get the clippers out, but just leave them where the dog can see them, don’t touch them, don’t make any fuss, just leave them out. When the dog is able to handle them sitting on the floor or coffee table, then pick the clippers up and just hold them in your hand, not turned on. Again, give the dog adequate time to get comfortable with this. Do this for 10-15 minutes at a time, then put the clippers back on the table. When you can pick up the clippers within the dog’s sight and he is okay, then turn them on, but don’t attempt to go near the dog. Again, 10 minutes or so at a time, with you just holding them.

Once the dog is okay with the noise and you holding the clippers, have the clippers out, and pick up the dog. Just hold him with the clippers in sight, but not in your hand. After he is okay with this, then hold him in one hand and the clippers in the other, not turned on. As this becomes okay, then turn on the clippers while holding him, but do not bring the clippers near him. As he become okay with this, then bring the clippers gradually closer and closer until he is able to handle it.

Biggest thing here, do not try to soothe the dog by telling him “it’s okay”. This only reinforces that it is okay to be afraid and okay to be aggressive. Just be firm and matter-of-fact, and don’t try to pacify the dog. This will feed into his aggression.

This will take some time, however, in the long run, you will have a dog that is okay with clippers as part of the normal routine of life.

By: pet_train

pet_train — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 04:00:44 +0000

Clicker training is like taking a ‘picture’ of what a good behaviour is.

A click is a unique noise to the dog, not heard any where else in the environment, hence why it is such a useful training tool.

A click must always be followed by a treat. For example, if you want to train your yorkie to behave well around just the sight of hair clippers, you would wait for an appropriate response (eg. calm), click it and treat instantly.

It’s a good method because it is very clear to the dog what it is being rewarded for because you can mark the behaviour very quickly, the second he does it.

If you want to get into clicker training, maybe practise some obedience tricks first to get used to it, as timing is everything in clicker!

Hope that helps a bit.