Dog Training and Behavior

[CharcoalDragon]

That makes sense! I never even thought of that... that the clickers could all sound similar! Although I guess I figured they could tell the slight differences between “their” clicker or not? But maybe they are all too mechanical and too minute and difference for even dogs to tell? Maybe there isn’t even a difference because they’re all mass produced to sound exactly the same? Never thought of that. Just out of curiosity... do you still have to “load” your voice the way you would load a clicker or do they just know what it means easier/naturally cause it’s your voice?

Brands of clickers would sound more dissimilar rather than clickers of the same brand. It's harder to distinguish between either of those cases rather than voices of similar sex/age/etc people due to the consistency of the manufacturing process.

Loading is always required regardless of the marker you're using. Otherwise a sound is just a sound and holds no specific meaning. I don't think that using your voice makes meaning come more naturally to dogs, but because they are hearing your voice more and more (and because your voice means good things), they will be more attuned to your voice and variations thereof. Easier for the brain to pick out in the din- like your mother/father calling to you when you're at the playground.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Brands of clickers would sound more dissimilar rather than clickers of the same brand. It's harder to distinguish between either of those cases rather than voices of similar sex/age/etc people due to the consistency of the manufacturing process.

Loading is always required regardless of the marker you're using. Otherwise a sound is just a sound and holds no specific meaning. I don't think that using your voice makes meaning come more naturally to dogs, but because they are hearing your voice more and more (and because your voice means good things), they will be more attuned to your voice and variations thereof. Easier for the brain to pick out in the din- like your mother/father calling to you when you're at the playground.

Thanks! That makes a lot of sense! I guess I just kind of figured if you said it in an excited tone and gave treats right after they would pick up on it? Like they would good boy or whatever?

 

[CharcoalDragon]

Thanks! That makes a lot of sense! I guess I just kind of figured if you said it in an excited tone and gave treats right after they would pick up on it? Like they would good boy or whatever?

I guess I don't know what you mean, because that's basically how you load a marker.

 

[ShrekDawg]

I guess I don't know what you mean, because that's basically how you load a marker.

Well I thought with clickers you were supposed to like load it before you use it? Like just click it and feed treats so they associate the sound with it? And do that a bunch of times until they’re looking at you or moving their head or whatever and reacting to it? I’m not sure if I’m making sense but I wasn’t sure if you still had to do that, like mark and reward for nothing, or if you could just start training and they’d pick up on it?

 

[CharcoalDragon]

Well I thought with clickers you were supposed to like load it before you use it? Like just click it and feed treats so they associate the sound with it? And do that a bunch of times until they’re looking at you or moving their head or whatever and reacting to it? I’m not sure if I’m making sense but I wasn’t sure if you still had to do that, like mark and reward for nothing, or if you could just start training and they’d pick up on it?

As I understand it, either case is technically 'loading the clicker'. "Loading" is just another way of saying "assigning meaning". Whether you do it by marking nothing, or by jumping in and marking whatever you want, it doesn't matter. If you're teaching something brand new with a dog that isn't marker-trained, chances are they're going to pick up "click = treat" before they make the connection that "correct behavior = click".
I started marker training by creating a stronger association with my dog's name. She obviously didn't know her name when we adopted her, but had 'kinda' picked it up over the first few months. By saying her name, waiting for a response, then marking and rewarding, I was loading my marker word. Now, she looks up at us when we use her name in casual conversation, whereas before, it was more about the tone of the name than the actual name itself.

 

[EmmaDonovan]

For those who have bought dog treat pouches and/or training clickers: Any recommendations?

We use Clik-R and a generic brand. They have different pitches and each dog is assigned his own. A wrist strap is very convenient, too. I wear a treat pouch on my hip that has an easy-in-and-out magnetic snap closure. I’m not sure what that closure is called but it was popular in coin purses in the 70s, for those of us who can remember back that far. Bought everything at Amazon.

I’ve never had a problem using a clicker and a treat pouch together, but that might be because I only have two dogs. For training, one gets a Kong with peanut butter in the house while I work with the other in the backyard, no leash. After a few minutes they switch. Easy-peasy.

A clicker and treat pouch are also effective for training donkeys!

 

[ShrekDawg]

As I understand it, either case is technically 'loading the clicker'. "Loading" is just another way of saying "assigning meaning". Whether you do it by marking nothing, or by jumping in and marking whatever you want, it doesn't matter. If you're teaching something brand new with a dog that isn't marker-trained, chances are they're going to pick up "click = treat" before they make the connection that "correct behavior = click".
I started marker training by creating a stronger association with my dog's name. She obviously didn't know her name when we adopted her, but had 'kinda' picked it up over the first few months. By saying her name, waiting for a response, then marking and rewarding, I was loading my marker word. Now, she looks up at us when we use her name in casual conversation, whereas before, it was more about the tone of the name than the actual name itself.

This is all extremely helpful!!! Thank you so much!!

 

[ShrekDawg]

We use Clik-R and a generic brand. They have different pitches and each dog is assigned his own. A wrist strap is very convenient, too. I wear a treat pouch on my hip that has an easy-in-and-out magnetic snap closure. I’m not sure what that closure is called but it was popular in coin purses in the 70s, for those of us who can remember back that far. Bought everything at Amazon.

I’ve never had a problem using a clicker and a treat pouch together, but that might be because I only have two dogs. For training, one gets a Kong with peanut butter in the house while I work with the other in the backyard, no leash. After a few minutes they switch. Easy-peasy.

A clicker and treat pouch are also effective for training donkeys!

This is awesome!!! I use the same clicker when I used one haha and I have a bunch of random Amazon ones too. I do sometimes use the clicker for other animals. My treat pouch was really awkward didn’t really fit on my hip (it stuck up really high) so it was kinda hard to reach in. For me though it was more about trying to juggle a leash and control/pay attention to the dog at the same time haha idk, it’s just one extra thing. I like being able to have a free hand if I need it.

 

[CharcoalDragon]

I know this thread is more or less dead, but I'm excited, so I wanted somewhere to post.

I finally got around to buying some time with a CPDT-KSA to work on some minor stuff, along with some brainstorming and troubleshooting, and it was so much fun. She was so great, and we had a great talk. She gave me some 'homework' on advanced topics, and I was thrilled that she put that trust in me, as it's not usually recommended for anyone, as it can be so easy to screw up.

Hoping to get more opportunities later to pick her brain.

 

[ShrekDawg]

I know this thread is more or less dead, but I'm excited, so I wanted somewhere to post.

I finally got around to buying some time with a CPDT-KSA to work on some minor stuff, along with some brainstorming and troubleshooting, and it was so much fun. She was so great, and we had a great talk. She gave me some 'homework' on advanced topics, and I was thrilled that she put that trust in me, as it's not usually recommended for anyone, as it can be so easy to screw up.

Hoping to get more opportunities later to pick her brain.

That’s awesome!!! So exciting!!!

And maybe this thread could become not dead!!! Hahah I forgot about it tbh