[Superpup]

I have started fun obedience training with my 12 week old puppy. she is doing awesome with her sits and downs and heeling. I use a clicker with her and she is responding to it really well.
Someone told me that I should not be using a clicker because it does not build the bond between the handler and the dog. Especially if I want to do SchH... and I want to do SchH with her.
Has anyone else noticed bonding problems because of clicker training???

He said that using your voice as a praise is better and in a trial you cannot use a clicker anyways... but you cannot have treats, toys or use praise at a trial either.. Sure a little verbal praise, but I use that with her all the time along with the clicker..
Thanks for your input!

 

[lhczth]

Quote:Has anyone else noticed bonding problems because of clicker training???

No. I don't use them all that often, just something else to carry, but it will not affect your bonding. I do prefer my voice since it is something I always have with me, but training creates a bond no matter the type of tools.

 

[Brightelf]

The first person I saw using a clicker for training was the president of a Schutzund club, and he's a police officer! He uses a TON of positive training, likes to use the clicker as a speedy, effective no-nonsense marker for correct behaviors, and his dogs are amazing on the Schutzhund field. The idea is that the dog is rarely stopped from doing the wrong thing, is forced to use his brain more to figure out the right thing, and hasn't many inhibitions as a result of this type of training. He even sent me a clicker training book here. Bonding is something that will happen with your dog, clicker training doesn't diminish that.

 

[Deejays_Owner]

Like Lisa I don't use one, but have a Friend that does for Ring Sports, and had in the past for SchH also.
And he does very WELL will with them in his training! He starts all his very young pups on them.

Good Luck

 

[Superpup]

Thanks guys!!

I kinda figured this was the case. I use it as a marker of the correct behaviour and then she gets a treat. And like someone said, training builds the bond, that is for sure!!

 

[big_dog7777]

A marker is a marker, whether it's a clicker or your voice. The type of drive building and foundation work you are and will be doing will build your bond regardless of the marker. I know of a few very successful handlers that use clickers all the way through SchH training including OB in protection.

 

[Achielles UD]

The clicker is used to mark a behavior as rewardable. I recall reading somewhere that it has been shown to reach a certain part of their brain for learning faster than using a verbal cue.

Anyway, the click itself is not a reward. It just lets the dog know that what it did at the second that it heard the click, was a behavior that will be rewarded. This in turn, encourages the dog to repeat the behavior because it was rewardable.

Training is bonding. Reward is praise/play/food. The clicker is just a way to bridge the gap between behavior that is rewardable and the reward.

Keep using the clicker

Your dog will learn and love to train.

Remember the reward is not the clicker. The reward is what you do after the click.

 

[Deejays_Owner]

If you don't mind using food this link has some nice video's of puppy training with food.
No food bowl, you get yourself a nail-belt for home depot and pup works for meals.

Free heeling
http://www.grammozis.de/Freeheeling.htm

 

[Superpup]

Thanks everyone. Jessi makes absolute sense, clicker is only a marker not the actual reward. I mark her behaviour and she gets a treat right away. It works out REALLY well with her and she is looking forward to training when she sees the clicker

 

[chruby]

Originally Posted By: SuperpupI have started fun obedience training with my 12 week old puppy. she is doing awesome with her sits and downs and heeling. I use a clicker with her and she is responding to it really well.
Someone told me that I should not be using a clicker because it does not build the bond between the handler and the dog. Especially if I want to do SchH... and I want to do SchH with her.
Has anyone else noticed bonding problems because of clicker training???

He said that using your voice as a praise is better and in a trial you cannot use a clicker anyways... but you cannot have treats, toys or use praise at a trial either.. Sure a little verbal praise, but I use that with her all the time along with the clicker..
Thanks for your input!

Paivi,

My TD uses a clicker and there is no bond problem between him or his dogs and it shows on the field.

 

[Superpup]

Chris,
I know that and therefore I was surprised to hear this statement from someone. I thought it would not really matter what you do as long as you reward the correct behaviour and the use of sometype of marker word or clicker definetly helps to mark the behaviour at the exact time.
thanks!

 

[grmnshpd21]

I think it also comes down to who told you this info. Was it someone that "thinks" they know everything about training or someone that actually knows what they are talking about

 

[luvsables]

You can praise and stroke your dog during a trial but it must be done in between exercises during obedience. I have seen this in trials and no comment was made by the judge. I have also seen this done during tracking after the article was found and before the dog was sent again.

I am looking forward to using the clicker with my next pup. It will be hard for me to transition to the clicker since I have done verbal markings with my current dog. Timing is soooooo important after you get the behavior you want and the clicker is a great tool for that.

I also plan on using the clicker with the retrieves.

Here is a video that is OUTSTANDING when it comes to clicker training and the retrieves.

http://www.og-schwabmuenchen.de/download/Isa_2008-01-05.wmv

 

[Superpup]

Awesome video!! I am already doing dumbbell stuff with Brandie, and she loves fetching the dumbbell as well as bringing it to me, I just gotta make the holding time a little longer after a while... I think we got still time.. she is only 12 weeks old...

 

[Skye'sMom]

Just a reminder - when we use a clicker we also use verbal praise and touch. The clicker is phased out as the dog learns the new behavior. It's only our praise and touch that goes everywhere with us.

A click is a fast marker for a precise nan-second of brillance by our dog.

I've been clicer training for 14 years and I never carry one with me. Mine are in my training bag and come out when we have something new to process.

Anything you do positive with your dog will help bonding.

 

[AnnaRiley]

Can I PM you about clicker training?

 

[Brightelf]

Actually, for problem-solving, I do bring the clicker with me... here's why: We go to a chaotic location with my puppy, and let him down-stay for 20 minutes to learn to r-e-l-a-x in new settings, no matter how busy it is there. THEN out comes the clicker-- for stuff he already knows!-- and we drill. The clicker reminds him to get into that working mindset. Grimm thinks:
"Oh, Mom is working me, just like in our livingroom! I guess at new places, Mom might want my attention and work me!" We get into a focus-command-click-treat rhythm. The treats can be switched with chest-scritches (he LOVES them).

Clicker is super for putting a reactive, or excitable young dog into working and concentrating mode.

 

[JAguirre]

I've tried to use the clicker and have seen it used with good results, but ... I am not that coordinated. I never got used to feeling akward.

 

[Brightelf]

I had to get a special clicker.. the normal clickers that many use, like the thumb-in type, are too akward for me to use, too. So I got a clicker with a button.. much easier for the chronicly klutzy & befuddled. (me)

 

[JAguirre]

Even the button might be "funky" for me - it's a timing thing. Everybody told me that I'd get the hang of it, but I ended up marking with my voice regardless of the click, so ... I copped out and just ended up going w/ what I know best.

Patti, can you post a picture of the clicker w/ the button in case I feel the need to revist clicker training?