Is it too late to try clicker training?

[JodieO]

Our puppy is 6 months old now and I've been thinking about trying clicker training; but would it be too late to start now? If not, does anyone have any advice on where/how to start? Good books on it or any tips?

She's a staffy cross shar pei and strong willed if that makes any difference.

This is so great, I heart minimu!

I'm having so much fun with this! I introduced the clicker this morning with my 4 month old puppy which he 'got' really quickly - gets very interested now as soon as he sees me with the clicker. This afternoon we've been trying to teach 'touch' as a first step in teaching him to bring stuff to us. Can I just check at what stage you introduce the 'touch' command?

The idea is that they learn the behaviour first so when he is still thinking what do I do eg touch then do not confuse him with a word. If you do say words too soon they tend to look to you for advice and stop thinking for themselves.

So I would be in no hurry to add the word probably don't add the word for several days.

A few 5 mins burst of training and he will get it so quickly. Well done you!

As they get more used to clicker training and thinking I do free style. This is where you just bring in an object and see what behaviour the dog give to you. Eg if you have a large cardboard box some dogs will stand on it, some will jump in it, some will push it with their nose, whichever behaviour your find fun click and treat.

An upturned washing up bowl is quite good as they tend to stand on it with their front feet and then if you can get them to walk around it with their back feet but front feet still on it. It is a great way to start them off skateboarding of surfing.

I wouldn't do this with a puppy but they will soon be able to do it.

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I was clicker training DD at the school gates the other day (at her request).
Not quite sure what the other mums thought, but we had fun

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Minimu, if they're doing something like shoving the washing-up bowl around with their paws, when do you click? I'm not sure what to do about those sort of continuous actions, rather than a 'touch' or 'sit' or whatever, where there's an obvious moment.

I am LOVING this!! I know he's my PFD but he's soooo clever and getting the hang of this up so quickly. We've already done lots of basic training with him, but it does seem to be quicker and more consistent with the clicker.

OK, can I check if I'm doing this right? My aim at the moment is to get him to find and bring something to me (Pringles lid to start off with). We've practised touching my hand, moved onto touching the Pringles lid, then taking it from my hand, now picks it up off the floor. My plan was to next get him to bring it to me when it's out of sight, and then add a name. Is that right? I'm trying to take it slowly, but he picks up each stage so quickly and I'm enjoying it so much!! Hope you're not getting bored of the questions minimu - it is your favourite subject

Romanarama when there is more action involed click after a sec of them doing the activity. This is where you must be accurate do not click if they pause on the activity. If you don't click immediatley you will find that he will probably push harder as he knows it gets a treat and he will try a bit more to get the treat.

Daisymoo This time put the lid on the floor he will bring it to you click and then throw the treat away from you and the lid so he has to move to the treat. Then put the lid down again maybe a little away from you and him and click and throw the treat away for him to find the treat.

This consolidates the action you want him to do eg if the behaviour is solid eg he remembers what to do after he has been distracted by throwing the treat then you can add the name to the pringle lid.

It does sound like fin in your houses

PS Have just ordered 'Don't Shoot the Dog' I can't wait!!

I've ordered it too, and 'Culture Clash'. I'm starting to wonder whether I could use the clicker to help ds2 (5yo) write his letters the right way round, and put his shoes on the right feet. What do you think Minimu? Maybe I'll wait until the book arrives before I start

Don't Shoot the Dog is really good - very funny too. I found myself chortling out loud at it

I'm having to do some research on the dominance myth at the moment and went to my local library. Cesar Millan was already on loan (very depressing - people actually read that?) so I had to make do with Jan Fennell. Put me in a quandary - by borrowing it at least no-one else could read it, but the library's borrowing stats would show it was popular. Hmm. Very sad to see it has been borrowed almost continuously for the past 3 years. My library doesn't have Karen Pryor or Jean Donaldson or Ian Dunbar or any humane, respected training books

At least the Jan Fennell is funny. The gesture eating had me rofl. You have to prepare your dog's meal twice a day on the worktop, and each member of the household has to simultaneously eat a small snack off the worktop while the dog watches, Only once all the humans have finished can you feed your dog. Such bollocks. It isn't even how wolves behave, let alone dogs.

Top thread, and just what I have been looking for (having watched too many YouTube dog training videos and got myself in a muddle).

minimu (and other clickers) can you eventually wean the dog off the clicker?
I can see how it is really effective but ultimately I don't wan't to be carrying a clicker (or treats) about with me everywhere I go, I just want to be able to say a command and the dog does it.

My puppy is currently in utero (in it's mother, not in me, natch) so I have a bit of a way to go before I need to worry about such things but I'd quite like to decide before I start training what method I want to use iyswim.

Slubberdegullion yep you can wean them off the clicker - as soon as they understand the behaviour you add the word and then in future you use just the word. The clicker is just a teaching aid not what determines the behaviour. But if you have a clicker on you you can catch many a good trick eg when they sneeze mine got dust up his nose keep snezing and I clicked etc. He now shakes his head as if he is sneezing on command.

Bella I hope you are there eating your biscuit so your dogs can see that you are ooh so dominant before they have their food and whatever you do don't let them stand on the top of the stairs of they will begin to take over the world.

nrama it would be great to use on the kids! I guess though that the reward would have to be pretty amazing and probably expensive - can't see them working for a bit of sausage

Thanks for that minimu

I have spent half the afternoon reading through most of the puppy threads in the archives and see your name cropping up frequently . I'm going to be a giant pain in the arse on here, asking gazillions of questions when my puppy finally arrives, so I feel the need to give you cake now by way of a thank you.

I actually have a load of breeder questions right now (am going to another breeders tomorrow) so I might start another thread.

Cake is great Slubberdegullion but not necessary. I can bore on dog training for hours aby excuse and I am off! Lucky you getting a new puppy.
Midori and Bella are great with breeder questions or more importantly answers.

So are you a professional dog trainer then?

I have read the Perfect Puppy, and Dog Whisperer, and a book about labs, and the RCPCA book with lots of anatomical pictures, and the idiot's guide to puppies is by the loo, and Labrador Forum is on my favorites ...and should I just stop reading now and wait till the puppy arrives?

'add distractions-roll a ball'

Tear up your copy of the Dog Whisperer and use it to line puppy's crate in case of accidents.
Trust me, that's all it is good for

I think the library might be a bit upset if I did that Bella .

Trust me - you'd be doing dogs all over the county a huge favour

Are you up north? I tried to request one from my library today and they are all out! And the council has ordered 10 copies of his new puppy book that's coming out
So many poor dogs are going to be ruined by the advice of a man who shocks and throttles dogs

Sorry, minimu - missed that. Yes, we all ate our biscuits before the dogs had their dinner. I am also investing in stilts for the entire family so the dogs realise just how dominant we are. DH is all for peeing on the dogs' beds but I'm not sure -wwyd?

I am indeed up north

So the pebbles in the bottle is not a good idea then? I have to say I did read his book with a fair old amount of s going on. Seemed to me a lot of the training involved striding about in wales or theme parks and showing your dog a sheep.

I must add however that ANY book that encourages me to eat biscuits at any time is going to get a small nod of respect and appreciation.

Slubber - take Dog Whisperer back to the library please. I really need it for my essay and I'll be darned if I'm paying for it.

Fell off my stilts today - was careful to make it look like I meant to do that, lest my pack interpret it as weakness on my part and start jostling for Alpha, you know? 'Only I am allowed to breed!' I chirruped at them. Lab boy looked a bit bemused, puppy sighed and looked away, while old girl sat at my feet and looked hopeful for a biccie.

Do you think it's working?