Training A Dog

Question: What's an alternative to using a clicker for training a dog?

(Posted by: Groove on 2010-02-25 14:08:05)

Can I just clap my hands, or whistle? I can't seem to pick up a clicker anywhere, not even the local pet store. :/

Posted by: Christ on 2010-03-01, 11:45:21

You may use blowing a whistle, clucking your tongue, snapping your fingers, or any other noise along with food rewards alternative to using a clicker.

Posted by: ♪Majestik moose© ★RAWR★ on 2010-02-25, 14:09:23

You can try using a vocal marker, such as "yes ".

Posted by: I am you are we are CRAZY on 2010-02-25, 14:09:49

I don't see the point of using a clicker, I'm sure anything that makes a distinctive noise would work. Why not just use your voice?

Posted by: Greengage on 2010-02-25, 14:10:27

No you need a proper clicker for training, the timing is crucial. Look on line for one and get it sent to you. Its well worth it...

Posted by: DaBasset *talk to the paw* on 2010-02-25, 14:10:44

Any noise that's unique and easily repeated. I use "yes " frequently. Clapping your hands can be difficult if you're holding something (like the leash).

Posted by: Z on 2010-02-25, 14:11:07

Go clicker! Go to clickertraining.com and get a clicker and while you're at it, watch their great free videos. They have good reference books too. Clicker training is so much fun for dogs, and you can teach tricks that you just cannot do otherwise. And you can say 'Yes!' to mark behaviors. It's faster and more consistent than a clap or whistle. Add: A clicker can be better than voice because it: 1. Is unique and stands out from other sounds, 2. Is a consistent and distinct sound, whereas our voices can change in intonation and volume 3. Forces you to be hyper aware of your dog's behavior and your own timing. Anyone that thinks it's a 'fad' simply does not understand it's power. It gets you there so much faster than just voice.

Posted by: Jenny on 2010-02-25, 14:11:30

Snapping your fingers together always works :)

Posted by: mandas on 2010-02-25, 14:13:05

A clap or a whistle are somewhat common sounds.. you'll want to use a little more unique sound.. i think the lid to a snapple bottle makes a clicking sound.. there are also dog whistles, that is what i used to teach my dog to come. you could prob also make a unique sound like clacking your tongue..

Posted by: petstore sell puppymill pets on 2010-02-25, 14:13:13

What about Food reward method? Reward the 1st few times with food treats, then ease of the rewards with pats.

Posted by: Troll Patrol on 2010-02-25, 14:15:20

You don't need a clicker, it will be faster if you don't use one. You can use "good dog " as a marker if you feel you need one, but it is more effective to immediately give the reward (food/ praise/ whatever) and then increase the intervals between rewards. Clicker training is a fad that some people have made money off of. Fads come and go. If you look at the top trainers in obedience/ agility/ tracking/ field trails/ rally and so on competitions, hardly any of them are clicker trainers.

Posted by: Cara T on 2010-02-25, 14:17:10

Clickers are great training tools, and you should be able to find one online, if no where else. I know PetSmart carried them in my area last time I was there. Hand signals work REALLY well. The main thing to keep in mind during training is consistancy. Choose a method and stick with that. Dog Training For Dummies has a lot of great tips and advice, and is really easy to follow. Good luck!

Posted by: thing on 2010-02-25, 14:19:13

A clicker is just a way of telling the dog that it's done something right. The traditional way of doing this is saying "good dog ". It doesn't really matter what the sound is. It's consistency, repetition and timing that are important.

Posted by: My BF is my BC <3 on 2010-02-25, 14:20:30

Lots of things, but you voice is your most powerful tool.

Posted by: ♥ on 2010-02-25, 14:22:14

Tried amazon.com/ co.uk?

Posted by: snoppy on 2010-02-25, 14:26:09

Whistle there great only couple pound from ya pet shop i use mine and when its windy or very fair away she can hear it just remember if ya out on walks on a very windy day and its off the lead miles a head of you it will not hear your voice a click a clap or screaming

Posted by: T J on 2010-02-25, 14:31:57

There is no need of having an official Captain Midnight clicker and wrist watch radio to train a dog. Any sound maker will work for a clicker, if that is your training method of choice. My problem with trying to clicker train was that the darn thing was always sitting on the kitchen counter when I was outside and needed it. So it didn't take me all that long to figure out that "good dog " was just as good a marker as anything else.

Posted by: Sharon on 2010-02-25, 14:35:00

Clicker training is great for shaping and training new behaviors! Since you can't seem to find a clicker, try using a click of your tongue. Mine sounds a bit like a clucky chicken sound, but - it's similar to the clicker in that it's a short, distinctive, non-emotional sound that can mark exactly when the dog is doing something correctly. I think someone has already given the clicker training website - regardless, try clickertraining.com and hit the store there to have one shipped to you. I will say that I love clicker training, I train my agility and freestyle dogs with a clicker and my sister-in-law trains dressage with her horse using clicker training. I won't go on a rant into the viability of clicker training as it is off topic. (tho I really, really want to!) Good luck!!

Posted by: tiptoptraining on 2010-02-25, 14:48:46

Snapple lid, ballpoint pen, verbal marker (I prefer to use a nonsense word such as zip, to avoid using it inappropriately) are all good options. visit clickersolutions.com and clickertraining.com for more info on clicker training.