To clicker train DS?

[FairfaxAikman]

Lighthearted.

I clicker trained my dogs and as a result have a couple of them still kicking about.

DS found them and loves the noise.

DS is 2.5 and where the dogs listen and return when told, DS increasingly refuses to hold hands and runs off - to the point it's becoming dangerous.

I've tried long line work (reins), which is fine at the moment but I want to be able to give him a bit of freedom.

WIBU to clicker train him so his recall is more like the dogs? 😁

Ha! Will you reward him with a bit of chicken when he comes back?

That's awful

I've always found the basics of child rearing and dog training to be very similar: reward desired behaviour, ignore unwanted behaviour as much as possible, be consistent and stay calm, be loving.

My children also love the clicker!

Hahaha I would try it

Dr house is that you...

Toddlers are very much like dogs - regular exercise and positive reinforcement of desired behaviour.

Go for it! Let us know how it goes.

You might have to switch out the chicken for chocolate buttons but I can totally see it working 😁

We clicked trained our 5 year old lab and I have often wondered the same with my 11 month old DS. I often find myself saying 'good boy' and 'leave it' so clicker training seems the logical next step 😆

@Funnyface1

That's awful

You can try it and he may enjoy it, but I would never trust a 2yo to be as reliable as a dog in a life and death situation (that is, anywhere near traffic). He may find it a fun game to come when you click but he also has a human 2yo imagination and there will be too many things on the other side of that road to compete in interest.

Might work in the park, but don't try it near roads. Near roads he doesn't need more freedom.

Do it! You can use little chocolate chips or bits of fruit roll up, whatever. Why not, it'll work and will keep him safe
You could just say "good boy" in place of the clicker if you dont want weird looks

In reality yanbu.. however i do tnink keep them on the reigns till you have confidence in them.

I ama chikdminder 2 1/2 year old here just coming off reigns.. He is so proud of himself , makes him walk extra well.

I've always maintained that when I had my dc I knew nothing about rearing children. Having been a keen horse rider and growing up with animals I did have an understanding of their behaviour.
So I used those skills with my dc. Feed when hungry, exercise, access to drinking water, reward when good, reins until they understood the rules, putting in boundaries.
Clicker training sounds fab.
Yanbu

I tried clicker training on myself once... was trying to get into the habit of folding my clothes neatly kondo-style and had read about dopamine reward loops. So I decided to try out rewarding myself with a click after folding each item. Problem was, DPup was downstairs with DH and was so confused about what was going on, I had to give up on the idea

I work with dogs and I have said they are much easier than children! BUT check out TagTeach that uses clicker training with kids:

m.youtube.com/watch?list=UU_4qvT3h2tPITtveMcWCRsQ&v=5uPSa--Nlt4

My toddler has found my clicker and loves playing with it and DH was using it to get her attention and people thought we were clicker training our child!

@JimandPam

We clicked trained our 5 year old lab and I have often wondered the same with my 11 month old DS. I often find myself saying 'good boy' and 'leave it' so clicker training seems the logical next step 😆

The boy was born to run. I swear he was a husky in a previous life.

We do use vocal marking such as "good boy" but it goes out the window with "recall". And as you say, clicker is the next logical step. 😁 (I know I'm only joking, but for the naysayers a clicker only marks a desired behaviour - it's just that it's sharper and more accurate than vocal marking).

That tag teach was so impressive!

I watched Sound of Music with my young grandchildren and they liked the idea of them each having a whistle call, like Captain Von Trapp. We took them to the park and when dh whistled they would march toward him then salute Fortunately they tired of it after a couple of days, before anyone reported us to social services!

I did wonder whether clicker training might work with our autistic son, as a simple understandable command ....

Give it a go...he will either behave better (oh no...the horror ) or nothing will happen at all

Either way no harm no foul

I do spot a snag- or is it just me that had the wrong kind of 2yos? How often does a lab turn round and say with a serene smile "but I don't want to be a good boy because it's much more fun being naughty"?

Not saying you can't get children to behave- I am a firm believer in keeping children on the straight and narrow- but I can see some ways in which the dog analogy might not hold up.

(That might of course be one of the great advantages of keeping dogs instead: I don't suppose they tell you that when they're grown up they'll be able to do what they like because you'll be dead by then).

Dogs and children both respond well to tone of voice, clear instructions, rewarding positive behaviour and ignoring unwanted behaviour. They both need plenty of exercise, regular meals and like routine and naps. I can see that toddlers would respond quite well to a clicker!

Not much difference between clicker and “uh uh” or “NO”. But children do developmentally (in most cases) move past the clueless sprinting off stage. Unfortunately, they move on to considered sprinting off.

Well it's going brilliantly!

He's worked out that click=chocolate so keeps trying to grab and click the clicker himself 😂

He might be wilful but he's smart as hell.

It’ll not work properly...

Toddlers are much less handled oriented and biddable than any breed of dog... and too many self rewarding behaviours.