bashed for clicker training

[ankittanna87]

just wanting to chip in, I spoke to a professional trainer here who's been training protection, obedience, tracking & ScH for quite some time & I told him I've been using the clicker with Kaiser & he told me that he uses only marker words which I think is fine since he's been training dogs for quite some time & he's mastered the art! I'm getting Kaiser trained in protection work/ScH & advanced obedience training.. I know he's quite young now (8 weeks) but the trainer said he will only instil the foundation of ScH now & we will pick it up when he's a year old!!

[KZoppa]

The only difference between a clicker and a marker word is just that. A click and a word. They mean the same thing. It's just a different way. Some people find a marker word easier while others find a clicker easier. Some trainers have NO idea how to use a clicker which IME leads to the bashing. If you are doing your training correctly, the clicker is really only necessary for the dog to learn to connect the command with the action. Its the same with a marker word. Once they have it down, reinforcement periodically with the clicker works but the dog still knows the action for the command.

[onyx'girl]

The only difference between a clicker and a marker word is just that. A click and a word. They mean the same thing.

The clicker will take the emotion out of the marker....so it works best if someone is getting frustrated or anxious while training. Especially when using it for reactive behaviors.

[Marc]

I think anyone who uses a clicker CORRECTLY will have the same results as someone who uses marker words CORRECTLY. Having said that, we all have preferences and when one person may be good at using marker training, another may be better at using clicker training.

Personally I find it much easier to mark a behaviour with a quick "Good girl" rather than use the clicker. For reasons that I dont understand I seem to enjoy the training more BECAUSE i am getting emotionally involved, and as such, my dog picks it up easier. I found using a clicker helpful at first, but when you have distractions around, I think the dog picks up on your voice better than the clicker, although this is just my own experience, I cant speak for others.

Bottom line is, anyone who bashes clicker training does not understand the concepts of dog training, so you where right not to call this person back. sure you can have a preference in using marker words over clickers, or vice versa, but the principal is the same, and the dog needs to know EXACTLY when he/she has offered the correct behaviour, so that they can replicate it.

[FlyAway]

Originally Posted by jessac

What if my pup ran into the street and I didn't have the clicker, he'd be hit by a car...

That's stupid. I hear this all the time from people who don't understand what clicker training is.