Hi all,
we've had our little terrier mix rescue dog for just about a year now and are trying clicker training for the first time. We both went to six weeks of classes together and seemed to be on the same page. But now months after we are still struggling with some training issues, particularly recall. I see him get frustrated and use our recall cue in an exasperated tone with the dog which I think poisons the cue. I'm a complete convert to clicker training but I feel like he just doesn't 'get it' the way I do.
My husband is all for clicker training when it comes to tricks, but for the basics he still seems to be old school.I even stealth trained the dog to go into his harness since my husband didn't think the dog should get treats for getting into his harness, because the walk should be the treat. I tried to explain that I didn't think the dog could even make that connection while he was still afraid of the harness.
We've basically stopped doing recall training since we are all getting frustrated!
it can work
If your husband is messing with your cues, then use a different cue! I think it's ok to have several different ways to call your dog, as long as you have one very specific way for life-or-death situations. But don't stop training recalls, because you need to build a reinforcement history. If your dog wants to chase a squirrel into the road then it probably won't matter what kind of treats you have in your hand--what will matter is whether you have a strong history of reinforcement built into the recall.
As for the harness, have you tried luring the dog into his harness? My husband needed to wear a ridiculous amount of layers in the winter, so I would use a piece of food to lure his head into his clothes, and that way he never gets scared of the harness approaching him. It takes no time at all for them to figure out that harness means walkies, but you might also try putting it on with him facing away from you because sometimes they get scared when you lean down over them.
Thanks so much for your
Thanks so much for your encouragement and advice. We had a great session today, partly because I wasn't as stressed about cues and just focussing on a fun back and forth recall behaviour and not worried about building one specific cue. I also tried your suggestion about the harness and positioning (although on my dog, not on my husband :)) & that is also working. I never thought about how my body position might affect even something like putting on a harness. I'm learning at least as much as my dog :)