Brammie Posted January 22, 2006 Report Share Posted January 22, 2006 I used target training to get my three interested in the clicker as its such a simple command. So once you have your dog tuned into the clicker you are ready to start. You can use anything as a target - i started with a bit of bamboo with a white mark painted on the tip and a clicker attached to the bottom, its less fiddly that way ;) Rub a bit of something very tasty on the white mark, dogs are curious beasts and stick their noses into everything so as soon as your dogs nose touches the white mark C/T - if you are slow and he licks the mark thats what you will have reinforced. Ive found with my three that they can sometimes "forget" a command about 6 times after repeating it so if your dog sits back and looks at you with a "What the hell do you want" expression dont panic, put the stuff away and try again later. Once you have your dog touching the target everytime you can add a command word, as your dog touches the target say the word (touch is always good lol) and then C/T repeat, repeat, repeat. Dont forget to make sessions fun and SHORT, if you or the dog arent in the mood try again a different day. If anyone else has a better way or tips feel free to add here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophie Posted January 23, 2006 Report Share Posted January 23, 2006 Tip: If you find your dog is tending to bite the end of the stick (or your hand if you start with hand targetting), put it up against a wall. They won't be able to get their mouth round it, and you can reinforce that it is touch not chew. Alternatley, click just before they touch the target for a few times, and they should pick up on the idea that it is moving to the target, not biting it that gets the click. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
selina Posted January 23, 2006 Report Share Posted January 23, 2006 If your dog has a poor recall, you can also teach the dog to touch your hand, then when you are out on a walk you give the command touch and your dog comes running to touch your hand, Ruf loves this and you can almost see him smiling as he's running towards you, not me he's pleased to see though that'll be the liver cake :lol: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waggi Posted March 22, 2006 Report Share Posted March 22, 2006 i have a question where can i get a really really nice target stick with one of those coloured blobby things on - im terrible - i have a lovelly short garden cane i have prepared - painted the end white and even made a ribbon handle BUT i always want a nice fancy one !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandymoss Posted March 22, 2006 Report Share Posted March 22, 2006 helen, you can get them at traininglines.co.uk and prob from other places online too are u clicker training Flyte? - Teresa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waggi Posted March 22, 2006 Report Share Posted March 22, 2006 they only have the ones with balls on the end ive seen them at agility shows with a colourfull ballie wiggly thing that i want Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brammie Posted March 22, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 22, 2006 (edited) If your talking about the ones i think you are Mary Ray has them on her site Eta: Link to page If thats not what you meant you could try one of those proffesional pointer pen things and add a painted ping pong ball Edited March 22, 2006 by Brammie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waggi Posted March 22, 2006 Report Share Posted March 22, 2006 owwwwwww yeh can i justify paying that when i can make something that does the job just as well ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandymoss Posted March 22, 2006 Report Share Posted March 22, 2006 hmmmm... not seen one of those before... think i prefer my "normal" one! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waggi Posted March 23, 2006 Report Share Posted March 23, 2006 but its nice colourfull and chearfull Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cycas Posted March 24, 2006 Report Share Posted March 24, 2006 Do you think it is OK to use 'touch' as a generic touch command meaning 'bop that with your nose' or would it be better to name each item to be touched? I ask because Mollydog already knows how to 'touch' her bell-ball and make it ring - I started making her 'touch' a bamboo stick as well today, but she seems a bit confused (not that she doesn't always when starting something new!). Do you think she'd find it easier if I used another word for 'touch stick'? I have taught her names for other specific objects, like 'beanbag'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waggi Posted March 25, 2006 Report Share Posted March 25, 2006 am still waiting for my lovelly colourfull thingi mi bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest rayemond Posted March 25, 2006 Report Share Posted March 25, 2006 I find this command really useful as I have a large dog, and if he's in someone's way I put my hand where I want him to go and get him to touch it (if I try to shove/ drag/ tempt him where I want him he just resists). Useful when someone wants to get past him on buses, trains, cycle tracks and pavements. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzycharm Posted March 26, 2006 Report Share Posted March 26, 2006 Thats a good idea. I just say move you fat arse out the way, which seems to have the same effect Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kimthecat Posted March 26, 2006 Report Share Posted March 26, 2006 You can train cats to follow a target too as described in Clicker training for cats by karen pryor. My cat picked it up really quickly, you dont need to put something smelly on the end as cats naturally sniff things. It comes in handy if you want to teach your cat to leash walk of to jump up onto or off surfaces. Alison Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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