Click, click, click

Clickers are powerful tools and dangerous weapons...and I must admit I've used them for evil.

It has been two weeks now since we started using the clicker. Meredith, the Canine PhD trainer, recommended that we use it to create consistency in the praise the dogs get while we're out of the house. It turns out, she told us, that the reason the puppies react the way the do while on the leash is because they're scared. They feel less able to protect themselves and, therefore, their behavior escalates to get rid of the "threat." Then, the reaction is reinforced because, in their heads, by barking and lounging they get exactly what they wanted -- the truck is scary, so they bark and lounge as it goes by. While you and I know the truck kept going because it meant to kept going, to them, the truck went away because they barked and growled at it. Makes sense to me!

So now, the plan is to condition the dogs to associate the things that scare them with positive things...read, "delicious treats." The clicker is a consistent way to reinforce the good behavior. A great tool if you know how to use it. It was amazing how on the first hour of working with the pups, she got them within a foot of a cat and no one lost any fur!

On the other hand, the clicker can be used to accomplish many other things, like, a small dose of revenge. Take for example night number two of our clicker training. M had been a pain in the butt ALL afternoon...one of those grumpy, menopausal days guys go through; so, I thought it would be a great idea to do some clicker training in the room, under the light of the lamp, with smelly hot dogs as M was about to go to sleep, at midnight.

It wasn't so mean. I wanted to make sure he felt involved in the experience..after all...we're supposed to all be working on this together, right?

click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click