Home » Dogs

Dogs

Dog Scared of Clicker

By Karen Pryor on 06/01/2002

I have used clicker training with great success in the past, particularly with a dog of mine that had dominance aggression. It truly changed his life.

However, I now have a dog that I believe was badly treated while training. I don't know his history because he is a rescue, but when I tried teaching him that the clicking sound was a good sound, I basically trained him to hate hot dog bits. He now shrinks away if I offer him a hot dog piece, even without the clicker. The sound of the clicker made him run and hide from me and refuse to come out for at least an hour. I don't know what he associates with this noise, but clearly it is not good.

Reducing Barrier Aggression In Your Kennel

By KPCT on 06/01/2002

Some dogs will charge and bark aggressively at any dogs walked in front of their kennel indoors or at outdoor edges of their kennel. It is seeing the other dog moving closer that triggers the barrier aggression. Very likely these dogs were left alone many hours fenced or tied in locations where they were often stimulated visually by people and other dogs. Along with clicking for not barking and for not jumping up on the front of the kennel, UVHS has added nylon fabric panels to cover the chain link panel of the offending dog's kennel door. The panels are hooked to the chain link and can be removed as the dog develops self control which will happen as your clicker wise shelter staff and volunteers reinforce for calm, quiet, and not jumping up.

Implementing a Clicker Program in Your Shelter: An Overview

By Karen Pryor on 06/01/2002

Clicker training is fun and easy to learn, for animals and people both. The clicker is a consistent signal, giving the animal confidence, no matter who is clicking. From a click and treat here and there shelter dogs can learn desirable behavior such as sitting instead of jumping up at the kennel door, or being quiet instead of barking. Dogs that have learned how to "make people click" tend to become calmer and more confident, and thus more adoptable. Even two or three extra minutes spent clicking and treating an individual animal can be time well spent.

Clicker Training Teaches Impulse Control

By KPCT on 06/01/2002

It's a lesson in non-judgmental teaching 101. Lynn Loar, a California-based social worker, asks a recent violence prevention workshop in Whitehorse what task the learner, who is waiting outside the meeting room door, will attempt through clicker training.

Entering and Exiting Kennels Calmly

By Dee Ganley on 06/01/2002

Kenneled dogs exhibit wild behavior upon entering or leaving the kennel because they need company. Our instinct is to respond to this need. It flatters us and triggers our sympathy. However, offering no response or actually withholding our entry is the kindest action you can take. Nobody has taught most shelter dogs how to greet people, so they greet us like they would other dogs - they touch, sniff, jump up, lick, try to wrestle and play. To be successful when adopted they have to learn self-control. We can give them a real start by how we handle our entry and exit from the kennels or outside pens.