Training the Clicked Retrieve…with a Wild Pig!

After receiving the book Don’t Shoot the Dog, I was itching to try clicker training—but failed to get my cocker spaniel Anna to accept a clicker, even muffled. As I do not have another dog, you gave me an idea. Instead of a dog, I have “clicker voice trained” a Florida rooter to retrieve. (A Florida rooter is a wild hog living off the land, like all wild animals, free ranging.) 

What would have taken you less than a day took me ten days to shape and capture—the entire retrieve exercise to a target. But it was SO EASY and FUN. Clicker training has me sold now; I am a firm believer! How easy can it get? Thank you for passing on your knowledge. 

—Karen Hatch

Step by Step

“Here is Karen Hatch’s step-by-step account of how she clicked retrieve with a wild pig. (I think it’s pretty impressive that she did it in ten days, her first clicker experience, too!)” –KP 

A month ago, my neighbor, who is being overrun with wild hogs, had been trapping and moving them off his property. I asked Steve to bring me a little young one. This gilt, that we named Myrtle, was perhaps two months old at the most. We wormed and de-liced her, put her in a pen, talked to her, and fed her. 

After a couple of weeks of gaining her trust enough to touch her a little, I started the “clicker program” of 100% capturing the behavior I wanted. Never having done this, I had no plan in my head. 

Days One & Two

I used a mouth-sound click and treats (dog food kibble) for two days—two meals a day, each kibble for her meal was hand fed and clicked. Myrtle was hungry enough that when I let her out of her pen she stayed with me, wanting me to feed her, which enabled me to start the clicker training outside of her pen.

Day Three

I waited until, by accident, Myrtle touched the small flyball tennis ball that was sitting next to her “target”/food bowl. Nose touch ball—>click and treat. Myrtle caught on immediately and surprised the pants right off of me!

Day Four (a.m.)

Myrtle is having a grand time making me work. She is actually having fun walking to the ball now a foot away—touching it—click—then running back to the target bowl for kibble. This target bowl is a MUST. She has very sharp teeth and has bitten my fingers no matter how flat I hold my hand.

Day Four (p.m.)

Myrtle is running to the ball two to three feet away, touching it, and running back to the target to get her kibble. At this point, I can move the ball around to different locations. She will hunt for the ball to touch it with her nose.

Day Five (a.m.)

I was able to capture Myrtle opening her mouth and biting the ball. Click and jackpot. Now no more just touching the ball—she needs to bite the ball.

Day Five (p.m.)

She gets really excited—I was able to capture Myrtle putting the ball in her mouth. Now only putting the ball in her mouth gets a click and treat. She is having a “ball.” She does all this very, very fast with her tail just a waggin’. I am now able to touch her more, and even brush her.

Day Six

We are staying with her putting the ball in her mouth but getting the ball farther and farther out and in different locations and even rolling the ball away from her. If she doesn’t see where the ball goes and if it rolls past a couple of feet, she has trouble finding the ball. I have not put a cue word on the activity yet.

Day Seven

The same routine. Myrtle will take long walks with me now. Staying close as if I’m her mommy. No lead. No collar. All training is done outside of her pen. 

Day Eight

Now I’m wondering how I will ever get Myrtle to actually retrieve the ball. I started teasing her with the ball, getting her revved up, then I rolled the ball a very short distance. Myrtle ran to the ball and did all kinds of things to the ball: no clicks. She went through every behavior from touching it to rolling the ball to biting the ball and then she would run to the target … no kibble. I picked the ball back up … teased her with it … rolled it … she ran to it and got nasty with the ball by picking up the ball and throwing it. Click … kibble. Now I’m able to capture different variations of picking up the ball and, not only throwing the ball, but rolling the ball to me, which really gets a click and jackpot.

Day Nine

Was able to capture Myrtle bringing the ball to me from a very short distance away from me. I am looking forward to starting to put a cue word with the retrieve behavior I want.

Day Ten

Myrtle is now bringing me a toy every time I throw it out! Right to the target bowl where I am standing. I am having a blast watching all this take shape so quickly. I am sold on clicker training! I am using a large rope toy instead of a ball now. 

(All of this occurred in May 2002.) 

Please note this article was originally published on 02/01/2002 and last reviewed on 07/31/2025. We regularly review our content to ensure that the principles and techniques remain valuable and relevant. However, best practices continue to evolve. If you notice anything that may need updating, please feel free to contact us at editor@clickertraining.com.