new to clicker training - questions (long)

[cuppacoffee]

Hello,
I'd be shocked if any of you remember, except maybe Gretchen, my first post here. I was unhappy with the level of force that the training facility I was attending used. The training basically was very sparse on rewards and heavy on training collar corrections. So we found a new place to train.

Our first session was this past Wednesday and I'm not sure I'm feeling great about this training either (ugh) This new facility uses clicker training, but is entirely reward based with no corrections (???) I was told to leave the prong collar in the car. Since I was new to clicker training and this was an intermediate level class, the instructor took some more time with me to make sure I understood how to do it properly (there's only four dogs total in the class)

I didn't know we were doing clicker training, so I hadn't bothered to read up on it, but I'm now waiting on a few books from the library. It was galling to have to reward the dog every time he pulled on the leash "to get his attention" I have no problem starting over from scratch with this dog for a more positive, rewards-based training, but can that work without any appropriate discipline for bad behavior? Should I get a refund and search out another facility? Should I back up and do a beginner clicker class first? Is this how clicker training works?

Kate

PS Ironically, we had one final one-on-one training with the previous trainer and it was fantastic, I'm considering going back and working with her on an individual basis, but the costs of one-on-one vs. group training is tough to justify - I can do 8 wks of training for the cost of 3 individual sessions

[Judi W]

Even Gary Wilks (big poobah of clicker training) states that there must be two sides, not just reward. That is one of the reasons positive only takes so long and doesn't really work to the extent that its one-sided proponents would like. In general when I see someone who denies that there is such a thing as balance, it is because they are timid and do not want to assume authority. They are working on "hope". The positive only people have simply misread and misinterpeted the clicker training basics. Clicker work can be excellent but does not work in a vaccum

[GraceAAA]

I noticed you were in Boston...am I assuming correctly that you are in Boston, Massachusetts?

We clicker train at places in Littleton and Boxboro, Massachusetts...not sure how far you are from there. With clicker training, you C&T the correct behaviors...not the incorrect such as leash pulling...you would C&T when your dog is NOT pulling. I would talk with the instructor to clarify the principles of operant conditioning...and if things do not progress, I would search out other clicker trainers...as it is a very help-full when used appropriately.

[frontierrots]

I agree, you need to clarify what they are teaching you. IF you are truely click/treat for pulling you are TEACHING the dog TO pull. Clicker training is done wrong by lots of people, trainers included. The clicker is like a camera, you click for what you want to see

[cuppacoffee]

So should I be doing clicker training with the prong on? I have a feeling a lot of my questions will be answered by the books I'm getting.. I'm trying some very very basic stuff with the clicker now. Spoke with the owner of the training facility yesterday and voiced some of my concerns, but I'll go back for one more class and see how it works out.

Grace, thanks for your suggestions. I'm in Hyde Park and Boxborough is not much farther than how far we're driving now. I'll look into it.
Kate

[frontierrots]

If for example you are teaching walk on a loose lead you would click/treat for 1 or 2 loose lead steps, then progress to more. You're not supposed to let the dog pull and then reward them

Everyone has different needs and beliefs but my prongs went into the closet years ago

Clicker training done RIGHT is very effective, clicker training done wrong or with bad timeing is ineffective